Five Kinds of Stone and a Drop: Gokseong's Mineral Water

What does a county government's natural farming center look like, and how does its mineral-water system work?

Gokseong County Agricultural Technology Center campus, Gokseong, South Jeolla, early afternoon of October 6, 2016 (stop photos 13:08–14:03). Three parts were seen: the Eco-Friendly Natural Farming Hall, with displays of raw materials and recipe panels and a lecture room; a greenhouse signed 'natural farming materials warehouse' (자연농업자재창고) holding the mineral-water tank, baskets of stone and input-making gear; and, outside, the county's Return-to-Farm and Rural Settlement Support Center (귀농귀촌지원센터) and the county's sprayer trucks (photos only). The county began teaching natural farming in 2009; the building named in the answer dates from 2014. Tank size, drop height, flow, stone names and how the water is used on crops: not stated.

• Mineral water (the uploader calls it BMW) — Ordinary water ('rainwater is the best', per one transcript) is pumped up and dropped onto stones inside a blue tank; the guide says the impact frees minerals from the stone and mixes in oxygen. Water recirculates through the stones until it is needed, then a valve opens a pipe to the farmers. Photos show an electric pump, a timer switch and a mesh basket of stones under the water.
• Stones — Five kinds of stone 'with different minerals' (spoken); granite is named once. Six baskets of broken stone were on the table. The guide did not remember their names and said any mineral-rich local stone will do.
• Microbes (IMO4) in the water — A small bag of IMO4 placed in the tank adds microorganisms to the water as well as minerals and oxygen.
• Hall displays — Recipe panels and raw materials for water-soluble calcium (eggshell, shell), water-soluble phosphate and water-soluble calcium phosphate (raw and charred pig bone), and tall jars of plant material. A spoken line calls one display 'a natural pesticide, not a chemical' and a poster 'the nutritional cycle'.
• Sulfur preparation board (sign only) — A board in the greenhouse shows a sulfur preparation (labels: 유황 sulfur, 가성소다 caustic soda, 황토+천매암+소금 red clay + phyllite + salt). Legible amounts include phyllite powder 500 g, sea salt 1.5 kg, caustic soda 20 kg and water 50 L; the rest is cut off. It was not discussed in the audio.

1. Water dropped onto stone picks up minerals and oxygen

   Claimed by the guide while pointing at the tank; no water tests were shown.

   ▶ 2:29 As spoken

2. Five kinds of stone, each with different minerals

   Spoken; six baskets of stone were on the table beside the tank.

   ▶ 2:58 Said and shown on the slides

3. A bag of IMO4 in the tank adds microbes

   'If you put the IMO4 in the small package, then they get the microorganisms too.' The guide calls the result 'medicinal water for the agriculture.'

   ▶ 3:48 As spoken

4. The water keeps recycling until farmers draw it off by pipe

   Spoken; the pipe and valve are visible in the frames.

   ▶ 4:00 Said and shown on the slides

5. No special Korean stone is needed

   'Whenever you go to your own country, you have certain kinds of stone that have lots of minerals.' Use your own area's stones.

   ▶ 5:36 As spoken

6. The county helps city people start farming

   A Return-to-Farm and Rural Settlement Support Center (sign on the building) teaches newcomers and helps with start-up money, per the interpreter.

   ▶ 6:22 Said and shown on the slides

7. Gokseong began teaching natural farming in 2009; this building is from 2014

   Answer given in Korean and interpreted. Talk 17, by Gokseong's Cho Kyung-hoon, also dates the start to 2009.

   ▶ 7:10 As spoken