IMO
Top answer
From the KNF library
Cho says to bury the box where no one disturbs it and the soil under the leaf mold is loose and soft. (Cho, Theory, p. 51) He also lists leaf mold from near the working field as a good collection site. (Cho, Recipe, p. 9) Drake's Office Hours describe a greenhouse method. Gather the duff layer from the forest, bring it into the greenhouse, and remoisten it before packing it in. (Office Hours Feb 2026, 49:05)
Keep rain off the box. Cho says not to collect IMO in the rainy season. (Cho, Recipe, p. 11) Drake advises a large tarp, 10 to 20 feet, or making Disgustingly Cheap Microbes instead. (Office Hours Ep. 25, 35:44)
On spots, the library disagrees with itself. Cho calls a few spots of red and blue mold acceptable, but says to collect again if the whole box is covered. (Cho, Theory, p. 52) Drake's Office Hours say to toss anything with red. (Office Hours Ep. 138, 46:48) Cho names white aerobic growth as the sign of success. (Cho, Theory, p. 52) Less water in the rice fits his approach, since hard-cooked rice holds less moisture to favor aerobic microbes. (Cho, Recipe, p. 9)
The library does not cover pink specifically, a soil yard as a site, hedgerow plant health, or storing IMO in a fridge.
Sources
- 49:05 Office Hours (Feb 2026) — IMO Leaf Humus Collection, Rice Hay, Seed Soak Solution · “bring it into the greenhouse, and remoisten it before packing it in.”
- 46:48 Office Hours Ep. 138 (Aug 2024) — JADAM Microbial Solution, IMO Grading, No-Smell Pig Pens · “avoid mostly-yellow anaerobic collections and toss anything with red.”
- 35:44 Office Hours Ep. 25 (Apr 2022) — IMO4 for Trees, Worm Bin LAB, Goat Pellets · “Cover the collection box with a large tarp, 10 to 20 feet, or switch to making Disgustingly Cheap Microbes instead.”
- p. 51 Cho, Theory · “Select an area where no human disturbs and where the soil under the leaf moulds are loose and soft for burying the lunch box.”
- p. 11 Cho, Recipe · “Do not collect IMO in the rainy season.”
- p. 9 Cho, Recipe · “Hard-cooked rice (less moisture to collect aerobic microbes)”
- p. 52 Cho, Theory · “It is acceptable if there are a few spots of the red and blue mold. but if the whole box is covered by them, collect again.”
