Greenish IMO4 // trichoderma // pig pen
As part of a community project here in Otavalo, Ecuador, we've built an amazing raised KNF pig barn (w/biochar, logs, and cornstalks, with these covered by rice hulls (90%) mixed with soil (10%); plus the pen has a split roof, well-drained water nipples, etc.)
We seeded IMO4 on top of the cornstalk layer and covered all this with 10" of rice hulls/soil. However, this was about 3 months ago!
As we're FINALLY ready to bring in the piglets, we've begun spraying the corral with the "protector" (LAB), "food" (FPJ) to activate the IMO4. Sea-salt water sprayed on as well.
Me, being worried that the 3-month-old IMO4 may no longer be effective, I made up a new batch of IMO4. The problem is that the little IMO4 clumps have a faint aqua-green color, which I assume is trichoderma.
MY QUESTION [no. 1 of 2]:
Is the second (greenish/trichoderma) batch of IMO4 bad? ...meaning unusable for a piggery
Gracias de antemano..!!
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Top answer
It sounds like you may not have made the IMO correctly. It is essential, especially when it comes to animals, that the IMO does not exceed 50 celsius during the fermenting process. It should smell like a rich forest floor when done properly.
From the KNF library
From the KNF library
Drafted by Claude from Office Hours and the books
·
Sep 2026
·
4 sources
Drake was asked about green Trichoderma mold on a pig pen floor. His answer: add lactobacillus, protectors, cleanser, and medicine, and try liquid seed IMO. (Office Hours Ep. 117, 31:30)
In the library's names, the cleanser is brown rice vinegar and the medicine is oriental herbal nutrient. (Pure KNF Manual, p. 31)
Drake scatters IMO3 or IMO4 after hosing the floor, then sprays LAB to activate it. (Office Hours Ep. 19, 1:07:11) Cho's notes say good IMO is typically fungal dominant. (Cho's Solutions, p. 1)
The library does not say whether green IMO4 clumps are unusable for a piggery. It also does not say how long stored IMO4 stays good.
Sources
- 1:07:11 Office Hours Ep. 19 (Feb 2022) — Powdered Milk LAB, FAA Storage, and Bokashi Balls for Ponds · “Scatter IMO3 or IMO4 after hosing the floor down, then spray LAB to activate it and crowd out odor-causing microbes.”
- 31:30 Office Hours Ep. 117 (Mar 2024) — Kefir vs LAB, Maltose for Old Seeds, Jadam Sulfur for Rice · “Add lactobacillus, protectors, cleanser, and medicine, and try liquid seed IMO.”
- p. 1 Cho's Solutions · “Good IMO is typically fungal dominant.”
- p. 31 Pure KNF Manual · “PureCleanser (BRV) Brown Rice Vinegar Cleanser.”
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