Korean Natural Farming

What is Korean Natural Farming? 🌱

Korean Natural Farming (KNF) is an organic agricultural method that emphasizes building healthy soil through fostering its natural microbial population. Korean Natural Farming (KNF) is an eco-friendly 🌍 and self-sufficient agricultural system that utilizes indigenous microorganisms and locally available materials to create fertile soil 🌱, increase plant growth 🌿, and control pests 🐛 and diseases 🦠 without synthetic chemicals. Developed by Dr. Cho of the Janong Farming Institute in South Korea 🇰🇷, it focuses on growing your own inputs for soil fertility to create a closed loop system.

This guide offers a basic overview of KNF principles and practices:

Core Elements:

1. Microbes (IMO) Indigenous Micro Organisms 🦠
   Leaders. 🤝 Diverse native microbes working in unison to get the soil into balance and use natural resources around to support vibrant growth. Healthy living soil microbes form the foundation of Korean Natural Farming! 🧑‍🌾

2. Police (LAB) Lactic Acid Bacteria 👮‍♂️
   Emergency Workers. Microbes that act as the police or National Guard to restore balance and maintain peace after a disturbance or emergence to the microbes.

3. Food (FPJ) Fermented Plant Juice 🌿🥤
   Food. Pure essence of a plant containing a complete nutrient profile including complex hormones and enzymes in a plant available form. Mimics plant exudates.

4. Cleanser (BRV) Brown Rice Vinegar 🧼
   Cleanser. Vinegar made from grain or ripe fruits act to flip the polarity of a cell upon metabolization going from acidic to alkaline thus enabling the cell to clean itself and be open for the absorption of new foods. Many other exciting functions!

5. Medicine (OHN) Oriental Herbal Nutrient 💊
   Medicine. Common theme is traditional oriental herbs aiding in digestion and reproduction first fermented then tinctured. Gives plants pathogenic immunity.

6. Structure (WCP) Water Soluble Phosphate
   Structure. Used regularly, bones provides strong roots and structure making plants long and strong. Helps to harden a plant from pests and recover from being obese.

7. Fuel (FAA) Fish Amino Acid ⛽
   Fuel. Used sparingly, meat that makes plants luscious, curvy, and filled out. It contains amino acids which help to rapidly produce DNA to grow leafy material.

8. Reproduction (WCA) Water Soluble Calcium 🌼
   Reproduction. Calcium transfers accumulated carbohydrates into sugars and aids in the formation of fruits 🍇 and seeds making fruits sweeter and skins more flexible.

9. Minerals (SEA) Diluted Seawater 🌊
   Minerals. Every element is present in the sea and by diluting it to the same salinity as your blood, they can be absorbed by plants to fill trace mineral requirements and improve soil quality through flocculation.

Additional Resources:

Online resources: Several websites and online communities offer comprehensive information on KNF practices, including https://naturalfarminghawaii.net/category/video/.

Books: Dr. Cho Han Kyu's book, "The Theory and Practice of Korean Natural Farming," provides a detailed explanation of KNF principles and methods 📚.

Workshops and courses: Consider attending workshops or enrolling in courses conducted by experienced KNF practitioners to gain deeper insights and practical guidance. 🔬

Remember, KNF is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the continuous learning process, experiment with different techniques, and find what works best for your farm and local ecosystem. 🏡