The following is a quick link to recipes for Natural Farming inputs that I acquired from a workshop that I took at The George Jones Farm in 2011 by Aaron Englander. He learned them from a farm that had been practicing Natural Farming techniques in Hawaii. These recipes are not easily accessible online, so I am posting them here with the intention that they are spread and used far and wide so that farmers and home gardeners have the tools to grow foods that are healing to themselves, their families, their communities and the Earth. These recipes are a baseline to start from. I have added some notes about my personal experiences using these methods as well that I hope will be useful. The best way to start is to just jump in and try it for yourself. Experimentation and variation are part of the Natural Farming way. Adapt as needed to your specific situation.
Please keep in mind the different phases of the Plant Nutritional Cycle when applying inputs:
Nutritional Growth Phase = Vegetative Growth
Changeover Growth Phase = Flowering Growth
Reproductive Growth Phase = Fruit Growth and Maturation
1. Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) - Culturing IMO is the basis for Natural Farming. It is a 4 step process with the final product, IMO 4, being used.
IMO 4 Uses:
2. Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) - This is a great overall health tonic for plants, animals, microbes and people! It is used all the time in Natural Farming, so start to make some today!
OHN Uses:
3. Brown Rice Vinegar (BRV) - You can also substitute Apple Cider Vinegar, which is what I use because I live in Ohio where we have apples and I have a local source of the best naturally grown apple cider vinegar with the mother in it.
BRV Uses:
Do Not Use BRV: During Reproductive phase, can decrease fruit sweetness.
4. Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ)
FPJ Uses:
5. Fermented Fish Amino Acids (FAA)
FAA Uses:
Do NOT Use FAA: on crops in changeover phase or reproductive phase. FAA induces vegetative growth.
6. Water Soluble Calcium (WCA)
WCA Uses:
7. Water Soluble Calcium Phosphate (WCP)
WCP Uses:
Please keep in mind the different phases of the Plant Nutritional Cycle when applying inputs:
Nutritional Growth Phase = Vegetative Growth
Changeover Growth Phase = Flowering Growth
Reproductive Growth Phase = Fruit Growth and Maturation
1. Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) - Culturing IMO is the basis for Natural Farming. It is a 4 step process with the final product, IMO 4, being used.
IMO 4 Uses:
- Livestock Bedding: Mix with Straw and Manure. Animal stables won't smell bad
- Livestock Feed: Ferment feed with IMO 4 to make more nutritious. Utilize waste products as nutritious feed.
- Potting Soil Mix: Mix with peat moss, pearlite, compost. Gives seedlings microbes boost.
- Foliar Spray: Make IMO 4 tea in non-chlorinated H2O, aerate. Spray soil, seeds, seedlings.
- Compost Booster: Add to compost to increase microbial activity and decomposition. Watch the magic happen!
2. Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) - This is a great overall health tonic for plants, animals, microbes and people! It is used all the time in Natural Farming, so start to make some today!
OHN Uses:
- Basic Dilution 1/1000 in water (1/2000 or less if OHN old) ~1/2 TBS for a 5 gallon bucket of water
- Used to make IMO 3&4, Fermented feed
- Soil Seed, Seedling treatment
- Foliar Spray in all growth phases
- Compost Booster
- General health tonic for plants, animals, humans, microbes
3. Brown Rice Vinegar (BRV) - You can also substitute Apple Cider Vinegar, which is what I use because I live in Ohio where we have apples and I have a local source of the best naturally grown apple cider vinegar with the mother in it.
BRV Uses:
- Used to Make Water Soluble Calcium (WCa) with BRV and Eggshells (10:1)
- Used to Make Water Soluble Calcium Phosphate (WCP) with BRV and Animal Bones (10:1)
- Use as anti-fungal Foliar Spray (1/500 - 1000) in H2O
- Use for soil Groundwork (1/500 - 1000) in H2O
- Make IMO 3&4 and ferment feed (1/500 - 1000) in H2O
Do Not Use BRV: During Reproductive phase, can decrease fruit sweetness.
4. Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ)
FPJ Uses:
- Used to make IMO
- Compost booster
5. Fermented Fish Amino Acids (FAA)
FAA Uses:
- Rich in Nitrogen, use as foliar spray to enhance nutritional phase
- Use to make IMO 3 & 4, Fermented Animal Feed
- Add to compost to increase microbial activity and decomposition rate
- Use for Soil, Seed, and Seedling Groundwork
- Spray on leaves for insect repellent
Do NOT Use FAA: on crops in changeover phase or reproductive phase. FAA induces vegetative growth.
6. Water Soluble Calcium (WCA)
WCA Uses:
- Use as foliar spray
- Spray during Changeover and Reproductive Phase
- Increase flower production and fruit sweetness
- Helps overgrown crops, with excess Nitrogen
- Use with mix of OHN (1/1000), FPJ (1/2000), WCP (1/1000) and Sea Water (1/30) as Master Fruit Foliar Spray
7. Water Soluble Calcium Phosphate (WCP)
WCP Uses:
- Basic Dilution rate 1/1000 in water or about 1/2 TBS per 5 gallon water
- Spray during Nutritional and Changeover Phase
- Helps overgrown crops with excess Nitrogen
- Spray for weak leaf and flower growth
- Spray during poor weather conditions
- Dilute 1/500 for pregnant or ovulating livestock
