Questions & Answers
413 questions from farmers and gardeners since 2018, with 831 written answers. Search here and you also get the moment it was answered live on Office Hours.
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60 questions about “IMO”
When and how to use I'm?
From the KNF library Cho's guide labels IMO2 as stable storage. (Cho's Solutions, p. 11) It names IMO4 for top dressing and IMO5 for feeding established crops. (Cho's Solutions, p. 11) So Drake would not put IMO2 straight on the beds. Make IMO3 from it. IMO2 is ready to be made…Black mold in IMO1
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional I operate on the 80/20 rule. If 80% of it looks good, I go with it.Storing IMO4
jryan1074 Hello Aunty, I make my IMO in big batches as well and i store my IMO3 in burlap sacks and take it out when i need to make more IMO4. I store my IMO4 in a cedar chest which has worked out great. JeffIMO tea
dagoofman the amount should be fine and in fact might even be a bit of overkill since in the LIMO we are propagating the microbes ....the rice is normal wile some will dissolve there will be a bunch that do not ....its best to make LIMO out of IMO3 cause propagated IMO…Ferment chicken feed with leaf mold or IMO2?
cristthomas365 L3 · provisional If you have a solid IMO2 collection then I don't see much of an issue with using a small finger full of that into the amount of water you are adding to the feed especially if you are adding Cleanser(vinegar), Medicine(OHN), Food(FPJ) and Protectors(LAB). If…IMO 2 Question
dagoofman i would guess that the rice may have been overcooked in those batches and the sugar pulled out to much water causing the separation (IMO2 should be like a thick paste or putty when finished) ....i would use them up first cause they do risk mold with the high…Imo 3 pile not heating up
liv2hik I'm having the same issue in Colorado in mid-April. It's been 36hours and it's not heating up. For the record, I used 50lbs of rolled oats and wood shavings with the IMO3 liquids per the manual (2x different IMO2's). The pile is outside on dirt and covered…Storing imo3 material
dagoofman IMO can be stored in any breathable container ...pallet wood will be fine if has been Heat Treated look for a HT on the pallet ...plywood would be fine if its built to let air through it ...canvas bags like potato sacks work great theres lots of different…Ferment chicken feed with IMO 2?
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional Yes, it is possible to do with Seed IMO, but of course making Propagated IMO or Activated IMO is better, but if you do not have time to make those solutions, go with what you got. One of the best things to add to the feeds is KNF Protectors! The lactic acid…Imo4
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional IMO3 is considered Propagated IMO (PIMO) where the microbes you collected in your Seed IMO (IMO 1&2) are grown to immense populations. IMO4 is considered Activated IMO (AIMO) where the PIMO is mixed in equal proportion by volume to field soil and/or red clay…What imo 2 final result should looks like
From the KNF library Drake's IMO2 is IMO1 mixed with an equal weight of brown sugar, then packed into a jar 2/3 full. (Cho's Solutions, p. 17) The library calls IMO2 the stable storage stage. (Cho's Solutions, p. 11) It is ready to become IMO3 3 to 7 days after mixing. (Cho's…Brewers Spent Grain to make IMOs
dagoofman i think this would be best used in a IMO5 not a IMO3 the spent grain has all ready had its starches/sugars removed by the yeast its at this point just more of a organic materiel in the garden terms a green a good source of nitrogen as u said and it would have…Greenish IMO4 // trichoderma // pig pen
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional 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.IMO 4
From the KNF library Cho's collection recipe says red and blue molds may appear in several spots on the collection box. (Cho, Recipe, p. 12) That means anaerobic microbes were collected too. (Cho, Recipe, p. 12) Anaerobic microbes are indigenous too. But if they are in the…Where to find IMO's in city
dagoofman you are looking for old growth trees with very little human interference and lots of old fallen leaves...if you have to travel a bit to find it and have the means to do so theres a few options, one would be to make a few IMO baskets put them out in different…Storing IMO 3
gurkan.yeniceri It should be alright. Freezing conditions may reduce the potency add more KNF preps when it is time to useFAA half full bucket no ohn or imo
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional 2/3 is the sweet spot in KNF for various reasons. One of the main reasons is 2/3 is a close approximation to the golden ratio which is the key to all life as we know it. The closer you get to this ratio, the more easily energy will emerge out of the infinite…Imo 3 ingredient..
dagoofman for IMO 3 the basic idea is 50/50 carbon (home) and carbs (food) this can be any form of the 2 for example i once used shredded cardboard (carbon) and some old flour from the cupboard (carbs) and propagated some IMO3 for my compost was it the best NO did it…IMO Theory
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional The short answer is NO. This is the safest answer because even Master Cho says not to eat KNF Microbes, he says "grow the plants with IMO, eat the plants". Reasoning being that in IMO there is a LOT of stuff, especially if you go up to IMO4 where it is mixed…IMO 2 Care
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional When I am storing IMO for a long time, sealing it and placing it in the fridge keeps it from drying out.Hemp or other alternatives for IMO 3
dagoofman the main thing to think of is u want Carbs and Carbon at a 50/50 to 60/40 ratio to make IMO3 the Carbs r food the Carbon is the hotel if u think of it like this u will find 100s of alternatives and the ones that r cheapest or even better free are the best to…IMO3 pile indoors (living area)
From the KNF library White fuzz on the pile is the expected sign. Visible white fungi covering the top layer signal successful inoculation. (Unravelling the Mysteries of KNF, p. 59) Ventilation is the point to watch. Cho's rice bran recipe for massive IMO cultivation says to work…Any ideas on how to fight ganoderma
dagoofman grew up in FL so iv seen a lot of this shelf mushroom on palms and once it gets in the tree it eats the heart of the tree if u r seeing mushrooms its to late the tree is dead in 3-5 yrs its gonna fall so if its close to your home or anything where its a risk…Pig pen IMO4
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional Yes, the IMO should still be "good". It is best practice to top dress IMO applications, but without being able to directly observe the situation, in theory the IMO will begin to inoculate and persist in the environment and spread throughout the pig pen floor…IMO 3 substrate instead of Rice Bran
dagoofman looking at the nutrition in corn cobs https://madbarn.com/feeds/corn-cob/ it might work for the 50% that would be the carbs needed in IMO3 it does have some fats n proteins in it that is good along with other trace minerals but you would still need the 50%…Green mold (trichoderma)
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional To get the trichoderma under control in this situation, I recommend using KNF Protectors. The broad family lactic acid bacteria are adept at helping to control other pathogenic biology that gets out of control. In this case, you could dilute the KNF…Fruit in imo-3
dagoofman never heard of using fruits to make a IMO3 and i would not think it would be a complete carb sufficient for making IMO3, but a great source of complete carbs that can be found almost anywhere very cheaply is cheap bags of dog food it is packed full of grains…Compost toilets/KNF Raised Beds
dagoofman there is really good info in the jadam book on composting humanure iv also learned from others that time is what it take to process humanure lots of time even in the jadam method i think it says 1 yr to process if using a dry method id almost say wait 2 yrs…IMO 3 Substrate
dagoofman IMO3 is 50/50 carbon and carbs of any sort IE: drake has done wood chips (carbon) and dog food (carbs) go to your local feed store see what u can get thats cheep rolled/crimped oats, mill run, char, wood chips whatever u can get that meets the 50/50 mixCan i use Agar plates to collect imo 1?
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional No, agar can not be used for collecting IMO. The reason is that the agar is selective to the microbes. Soil microbes are diverse and will not culture well. You will get microbes, but they are not the microbes you want.IMO4 Smell Ammonia
From the KNF library The library does not say why an IMO4 pile smells of ammonia, or whether to cover it with straw for two days. Drake's IMO4 method holds the pile at 40-50°C and 60-70% moisture, and turns it for about a week. Staying under 50°C fits that (Office Hours Ep. 57,…IMO in the tropics
joelorusso As long as the areas aren’t under water for a period of time you should try it. Otherwise go up in elevation if you can to avoid anaerobic conditions. You can also collect from any other undisturbed area so you will have diversity in your collections.Rice hulls for IMO3
From the KNF library Drake's answer in the library is to use rice bran for IMO3, not rice hulls. Substrate changes how the microbes grow. Korean IMO practice always leans on rice bran for that reason. (Office Hours Ep. 158, 57:08) Mill run is the bran left from milling white…IMO 3 with wood chips
donohoe.darren I don't have much experience at all but I am currently doing a 50% wood chips 50% oats as per • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjQ-5dFgIEwHumic/Fulvic Acid
tom5436 Worm casting or worm tea from a worm bin are full of humic and fulvic acids.FAA made with land meat instead of fish
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional The KNF Fuel recipe does not change whether you are using fish or other land based animals. The concept is to use sugar to control the moisture content of the material so that it will slowly ferment and the microbes will have a chance to disassemble the…IMO
dagoofman check out this vid for indoor IMO collecting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kpjd9Sv7cY ..... IMOs should be stored with a breathable lid in a cool dark place KNF is intended to be shelf stable and IMOs dont really have a expiration date Happy ExperimentingIMO collection in winter old growth forest or use indoor soils?
From the KNF library Drake says you can collect IMO in winter. Do it indoors, not in the frozen piles. Bring the forest indoors. Put leaf litter and dirt in a box, moisten it, and cover it with paper and straw. (Office Hours Nov 2025, 46:54) Master Lee runs an indoor IMO setup so…IMO 2
dagoofman i want to say yes but no in the book i have it dont say leave 1/3 air but does show a air gap at the top of the jar so id say yes 2/3 1/3 does apply as in most KNF but i also see in vids much larger air spaces in chris trumps IMOs meaning as u use it u dont…Collecting IMO in southern california
tom5436 I just had the pleasure to go to one of Drake's workshops and asked him a very similar question. When collecting in a desert it helps to apply the maintenance solution on and around the collection area 3 days before you begin the IMO collection. Water the…Imo?
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional Whitish mold will grow on all kinds of things. I have forgotten rice in a rice cooker for a week and come back to a nice bloom! Is this IMO, yes, it is indigenous micro organisms!Is this the KNF Microbes we are looking for to enhance our soil? NO. These…Pink Mould - IMO 1
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional Pinks and reds are not good. I want to be encouraging here, and I think you did your best with limited information to just move to the next step, so that is good, but sounds like you could get a better collection in the future. Most likely those certain pink…IMO rice substitutes
dagoofman one of the main teachings of KNF is to use what is available to you in your area so a substitute can be used for rice to collect IMOs ,what that exact thing is in your area you will need to test out ....since this would be your first IMO collection i…IMO collection during drought.
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional KNF Microbes can be collected in drought and in desert like conditions with ease, and it makes sense to do so, because you will be collecting drought tolerant microbes that will have added benefit to your region and changing climate conditions. The key to…IMO 3 bran replacement
From the KNF library Yes. Drake says spent brewery grain can go into an IMO 3 pile in place of bran. (Office Hours Ep. 70, 51:59) (Office Hours Ep. 29, 39:42) (Office Hours Ep. 113, 36:54) Brewing strips out the sugars, so the grain needs help. Drake says to blend in extra…injection rate per acre of KNF solutions (IMO extraction, OHN, FPJ and BRV) in drip irrigation line
dagoofman I use fertigation through a hose end sprayer and have calculated the ounce per gallon mix rate per growth formula not sure if this might be what you are looking for or might help you make your own calculations Soil - 7oz per gal Leaf - 1oz per gal Bloom - 5oz…IMO 3 bran replacement
From the KNF library Yes. Drake says spent brewery grain can go into an IMO 3 pile. (Office Hours Ep. 70, 51:59) (Office Hours Ep. 29, 39:42) Brewing strips out the sugars, so put carbohydrate back. (Office Hours Ep. 70, 51:59) Drake's examples are mashed potato, powdered potato,…Alternatives to rice hulls
toppert33 Were you ever able to get an answer to your question?Troubleshooting less than desired IMO culturing results
sef5224 I didn’t get the desired activity I was after until I started using worm castings from my woods next to some rotting wood, and I also used 3 times as many potatoes as the JADAM book recommends, like Chris Trump recommends in his YouTube video. Hope this helpsHow can I supply dried carbohydrates in IMO 3?
dagoofman dried carbs r important its the long term food source for the IMO think of the difference of eating liquid food or solid food eating candy or a sandwich and carbs r easy to find think of all the stuff your not supposed to eat and feed it to your IMO instead =)IMO Collection in Dry climate
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional Another recommendation is to make sure that you are burying the box into the soil and then cocooning it with leaf litter that is around. This will help hold in the moisture and with direct contact with the soil, it will 'bond' together and share the precious…Rice hulls for imo3
From the KNF library The library's IMO3 recipe calls for 1 part wheat mill run and 1 part wood chips by volume, with optional 5% biochar. (Cho's Solutions, p. 18) Drake recommends mill run as the carbohydrate. It gives the right balance of fats, oils, and carbs. (Office Hours Ep.…Mushroom rings
From the KNF library The library says nothing about mushroom rings at the drip line, so it cannot say whether they are a good sign. It also does not cover what causes them or what to do about them. It does say fungi matter. One KNF study calls the presence of fungi "of vital…OHN Recipes 1/3 or 2/3 - confusing
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional Natural Farming Hawaii has an excellent Guide to KNF Medicine with the recipe and explanations. The origin of this solution is with Master Han-Kyu Cho and he recalls the situation here: https://youtu.be/tsE_BUvOOHQ?t=49m (The whole KNF Medicine part starts at…Soil
dagoofman is there no dirt in your yard even if its mostly sand or clay any place where weeds or grass grows or thats not a pure sandbox i ask cause IMO4 is about using your native dirt to teach the microbes to live in it to acclimate them even if its poor dirt u r…root-drowned fruit tree
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional A lot of good questions here! As far as I know, Master Cho has given a prescription to solve the issue of drowning roots by spreading IMO4 and watering with the appropriate soil treatment solution around the drip line extending out 2-4 feet in a donut shape.…Brewing JMS ??
Drake Weinert L4 · provisional Young-san Cho does not recommend aerating JMS. From what I understand his reasoning is that this is supposed to be drenched into the soil in vast quantities, which will lead to anaerobic conditions. However in the brewing process of 16-72 hours, it is not a…Natural solutions for soil test help!
dagoofman compost is a very good place to start also making (IMO 4) Activated Microbes will help a lot also and using Soil Prep Formula ....start with adding a good amount of compost to the soil to bring up the plant matter and get a loamy soil to grow in ...spread the…White mold on FAA
dagoofman a lil white mold is fine as long as theres not a rotting smell or black or green mold... a lot of fermentations get a bit of white mold its mostly yeast from what i am to understand and id guess they r feeding on the oils floating on top iv noticed if i put a…Said on Office Hours
Dr. Drake on “IMO” during the live show. Each link opens the episode at that moment.
