North America: Cherokee, Haudenosaunee, and the Three Sisters
North America: Cherokee, Haudenosaunee, and the Three Sisters They called them the Three Sisters. Corn, beans, and squash β planted together, grown...
β’Sustainable Agriculture
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Natural Farming
Regenerative agriculture, Korean Natural Farming (KNF), sustainable farming practices, and soil health.
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Soil & Microbiology43 posts
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Restoring Soil Health
Restoring Balance β Returning Chemistry to Biology Throughout this series we have explored what happens when balance in the soil system begins to...
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Soil Biology as Earth's Buffer
When Biology Collapses β The Loss of Soil's Living Buffer In the previous article we explored how chemical reactions can accelerate when biological...
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Korean Natural Farming (KNF)13 posts
How to Apply KNF Inputs
## And What To Do If You Apply Them Wrong! Iβll be the first to admit it β even when you know your KNF inputs well, sometimes youβre rushing to get ahead of the rain (like I was this evening!) and you make a little mistake. Tonight, I went out to apply a **soil drench** of JMS (JADAM Microbial Sol...
Read β
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LAB in Action
## Building a System with LAB and Other KNF Inputs Now that youβve made LAB and tested it around the farm, itβs time to integrate it into a larger Korean Natural Farming system. Level 3 is where things start to get exciting β and synergistic. LAB plays well with others, especially Fermented Plant J...
Read β
Sustainable Agriculture11 posts
North America: Cherokee, Haudenosaunee, and the Three Sisters
North America: Cherokee, Haudenosaunee, and the Three Sisters They called them the Three Sisters. Corn, beans, and squash β planted together, grown...
Read β
Southeast Asia: Paddy Biology and the Water Buffalo
Southeast Asia: Paddy Biology and the Water Buffalo A flooded rice paddy looks, to an untrained eye, like a pond with rice growing in it. What it...
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Regenerative Agriculture7 posts
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Haughley Experiment Overview
Lady Eve Balfour and the Haughley Experiment Putting systems to the test By the time Lady Eve Balfour began her work, the questions facing...
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Dust Bowl & Conservation Origins
The Dust Bowl, Soil Loss, and the Birth of Conservation Thinking When failure forced a systems response Up to this point in the agricultural story,...
Read β
Soil & Microbiology43 posts
Premium
Restoring Soil Health
Restoring Balance β Returning Chemistry to Biology Throughout this series we have explored what happens when balance in the soil system begins to...
Read β
Premium
Soil Biology as Earth's Buffer
When Biology Collapses β The Loss of Soil's Living Buffer In the previous article we explored how chemical reactions can accelerate when biological...
Read β
Korean Natural Farming (KNF)13 posts
How to Apply KNF Inputs
## And What To Do If You Apply Them Wrong! Iβll be the first to admit it β even when you know your KNF inputs well, sometimes youβre rushing to get ahead of the rain (like I was this evening!) and you make a little mistake. Tonight, I went out to apply a **soil drench** of JMS (JADAM Microbial Sol...
Read β
Premium
LAB in Action
## Building a System with LAB and Other KNF Inputs Now that youβve made LAB and tested it around the farm, itβs time to integrate it into a larger Korean Natural Farming system. Level 3 is where things start to get exciting β and synergistic. LAB plays well with others, especially Fermented Plant J...
Read β
Sustainable Agriculture11 posts
North America: Cherokee, Haudenosaunee, and the Three Sisters
North America: Cherokee, Haudenosaunee, and the Three Sisters They called them the Three Sisters. Corn, beans, and squash β planted together, grown...
Read β
Southeast Asia: Paddy Biology and the Water Buffalo
Southeast Asia: Paddy Biology and the Water Buffalo A flooded rice paddy looks, to an untrained eye, like a pond with rice growing in it. What it...
Read β
All Posts in Series
Southeast Asia: Paddy Biology and the Water Buffalo
β Southeast Asia: Paddy Biology and the Water Buffalo A flooded rice paddy looks, to an untrained eye, like a pond with rice growing in it. What it...β’Sustainable Agriculture
Southeast Asia: Rice, Village Seed Networks, and the Wet Season
β Southeast Asia: Rice, Village Seed Networks, and the Wet Season Rice did not begin as a crop. It began as a grass. Somewhere in the river valleys of...β’Sustainable Agriculture
West Africa: Parklands, Pastoralism, and Living Soil
β West Africa: Parklands, Pastoralism, and Living Soil If you fly over the agricultural zones of West Africa, you do not see bare fields. You see...β’Sustainable Agriculture
West Africa: Women, Seeds, and the Oral Record
β West Africa: Women, Seeds, and the Oral Record There is a moment in the agricultural year, in communities across West Africa, when the best seed is...β’Sustainable Agriculture
The Andes: Terraces, Llamas, and the Soil They Built
β The Andes: Terraces, Llamas, and the Soil They Built A terrace is not just a flat place to plant. That is what most people see when they look at...β’Sustainable Agriculture
The Andes: Seeds at the Roof of the World
β The Andes: Seeds at the Roof of the World There is a place in Peru where farmers still grow over three thousand varieties of potato. Not three...β’Sustainable Agriculture
Mesoamerica: Soil, Land, and the Living Earth
β Mesoamerica: Soil, Land, and the Living Earth When Spanish soldiers arrived at Tenochtitlan in 1519, they were not prepared for what they saw. The...β’Sustainable Agriculture
Mesoamerica: The Milpa and the Sacred Corn
β Mesoamerica: The Milpa and the Sacred Corn In the beginning, according to the Maya, there was corn. Not metaphorically. The Popol Vuh β the Maya...β’Sustainable Agriculture
Seeds Before Science: How Observation Built Agriculture
β Seeds Before Science: How Observation Built Agriculture Before I ever read a word about plant biology, I learned something true at a dinner table....β’Sustainable Agriculture
Restoring Soil Health
Premiumβ Restoring Balance β Returning Chemistry to Biology Throughout this series we have explored what happens when balance in the soil system begins to...β’Soil & Microbiology
Soil Biology as Earth's Buffer
Premiumβ When Biology Collapses β The Loss of Soil's Living Buffer In the previous article we explored how chemical reactions can accelerate when biological...β’Soil & Microbiology
Soil Chemistry and Biology Balance
Premiumβ When Chemistry Runs Away β Reactive Oxygen and the Fenton Reaction In the previous article we explored what happens when soil loses access to oxygen....β’Soil & Microbiology
Diversity of Earthworm Roles in Soil
Premiumβ Not All Worms Are the Same As a gardener, you have probably encountered worms while digging in the soil or turning over a compost pile. Most of us...β’Soil & Microbiology
Soil Oxygen Loss & Effects
Premiumβ When Soil Stops Breathing β Oxygen Loss and Redox Imbalance In the previous article we explored how phosphorus can become trapped in the soil. Energy...β’Soil & Microbiology
Unlocking Soil Phosphorus for Plant Growth
Premiumβ When Phosphorus Becomes Trapped β Energy Locked in the Soil In the previous article we explored what happens when nitrogen runs ahead of the system....β’Soil & Microbiology
The Essentials of Vermiculture
β Why Vermiculture? If you have spent any amount of time digging in your garden, you have probably noticed a wriggly friend or two moving through the...β’Composting
Nitrogen's Unchecked Growth Impact
Premiumβ When Nitrogen Runs Ahead β Growth Without Governance In the previous articles we explored how structural imbalance begins in soil. When calcium loses...β’Soil & Microbiology
Impact of Magnesium Dominance in Soil
Premiumβ When Magnesium Takes the Lead β How Tight Soils Begin In the previous article we explored what happens when calcium loses its place on the exchange...β’Soil & Microbiology
Impact of Calcium on Soil Structure
Premiumβ When Calcium Loses Its Seat β How Structural Imbalance Begins In the previous series, calcium appeared oftenβsometimes quietly, sometimes directly....β’Soil & Microbiology
Soil Balance and Antagonistic Cofactors
β When Balance Breaks β Understanding Antagonistic Cofactors in Living Soil In the previous series, we explored the chemistry of life through the...β’Soil & Microbiology
Sulfur's Role in Plant Metabolism
Premiumβ Sulfur (S) β The Finisher of Proteins and Stabilizer of Metabolism If carbon provides the structure, hydrogen drives movement, nitrogen builds living...β’Soil & Microbiology
Phosphorus in Agricultural Systems
Premiumβ Phosphorus (P) β The Carrier of Energy in Living Systems If carbon provides the structure, hydrogen drives movement, nitrogen builds living tissue,...β’Soil & Microbiology
Oxygen's Role in Agriculture
Premiumβ Oxygen (O) β The Regulator of Transformation and Respiration If carbon is the structure, hydrogen is the movement, and nitrogen is the builderβoxygen...β’Soil & Microbiology
Nitrogen's Role in Plant Growth
Premiumβ Nitrogen (N) β The Builder and Translator of Life If carbon is the structure and hydrogen is the movement, nitrogen is the builder. Nitrogen does not...β’Soil & Microbiology
Hydrogen's Role in Agriculture
Premiumβ Level 2 contentβ’Soil & Microbiology
Carbon and Mineral Interactions in Soil
Premiumβ Level 2 contentβ’Soil & Microbiology
CHNOPS: Key to Life's Chemistry
β Level 1 contentβ’Soil & Microbiology
The Green Deal Era and Agriculture
Premiumβ The Green Deal Era and the Rise of Industrial Efficiency When policy, scale, and necessity reshaped agriculture The Green Deal era did not emerge...β’Sustainable Agriculture
Haughley Experiment Overview
Premiumβ Lady Eve Balfour and the Haughley Experiment Putting systems to the test By the time Lady Eve Balfour began her work, the questions facing...β’Regenerative Agriculture
Sir Albert Howard's Composting Insights
Premiumβ Sir Albert Howard and the Return to Biological Process Compost, observation, and living fertility As the consequences of fragmentation became harder...β’Composting
Dust Bowl & Conservation Origins
Premiumβ The Dust Bowl, Soil Loss, and the Birth of Conservation Thinking When failure forced a systems response Up to this point in the agricultural story,...β’Regenerative Agriculture
Soil as an Active Exchange System
Premiumβ From Soil as Container to Soil as Exchange System CEC, exchange sites, and why soil holds onβor doesnβt As agricultural chemistry moved forward, one...β’Soil & Microbiology
Sulfur in Agriculture
β Sulfur: Flavor, Protein, and the Forgotten Nutrient Sulfur rarely comes up in garden conversations. It doesnβt have a famous ratio like nitrogen. It...β’Soil & Microbiology
Mulder's Insight on Nutrient Interactions
Premiumβ Mulderβs Chart and Nutrient Interactions When deficiency stopped being singular As agricultural chemistry matured beyond identifying single limiting...β’Soil & Microbiology
Impact of Haber-Bosch on Agriculture
Premiumβ HaberβBosch and the Industrialization of Nitrogen When chemistry broke the natural limits of fertility If Liebig defined limits, and Albrecht...β’Soil & Microbiology
Rudolf Steiner & Biodynamic Agriculture
Premiumβ Rudolf Steiner and Biodynamic Intuition Competing ideas at the edge of early agricultural science As agricultural chemistry and soil science were...β’Regenerative Agriculture
Albrecht's Soil Balance Insight
Premiumβ William Albrecht and the Concept of Balance Where chemistry and biology finally meet If Liebig gave agriculture its first chemical language, and...β’Soil & Microbiology
SΓΈrensen's pH Scale and Agriculture
Premiumβ SΓΈren SΓΈrensen and the pH Scale Measuring the hidden chemistry that governs life As agricultural science moved deeper into chemistry, one persistent...β’Soil & Microbiology
Julius Hensel's Mineral Agriculture
Premiumβ Julius Hensel and the Return to Minerals Why long-term fertility begins beneath biology As agricultural chemistry advanced through the 19th century,...β’Regenerative Agriculture
Liebig's Agricultural Chemistry
Premiumβ Justus von Liebig and the Birth of Agricultural Chemistry When plant nutrition moved from tradition to measurement By the time chemistry entered...β’Soil & Microbiology
Shift to Chemical Agriculture
Premiumβ Terrain Theory, Germ Theory, and the Rise of Chemical Agriculture Why chemistry took the leadβand biology waited its turn Before we name pioneers,...β’Soil & Microbiology
Ancient Wisdom in Modern Farming
β Before CHNOPS Had a Name Historical and ancient agricultural intelligence, living soils, and the knowledge modern agriculture forgot Long before...β’Regenerative Agriculture
Understanding Soil Chemistry for Plant Growth
β CHNOPS in Balance If youβve made it this far, you already know something most gardeners never hear: Plants donβt grow because of products. They grow...β’Soil & Microbiology
Evolution of NPK and Plant Nutrition
Premiumβ From the Law of the Minimum to NPK Thinking How a powerful idea became a simplified prescription Liebigβs Law of the Minimum was never meant to be a...β’Soil & Microbiology
Evolution of Agricultural Science
β From Living Systems to Early Chemistry How observation, necessity, and curiosity shaped the first scientific steps in agriculture The story of...β’Soil & Microbiology
Understanding Soil-Plant Relationships
β CHNOPS in Balance If youβve made it this far, you already know something most gardeners never hear: Plants donβt grow because of products. They grow...β’Soil & Microbiology
The Role of Phosphorus in Plants
β Phosphorus: Roots, Flowers, and Energy Phosphorus is quiet. It doesnβt make plants explode with green growth like nitrogen. It doesnβt change soil...β’Soil & Microbiology
Nitrogen's Role in Plant Growth
β Nitrogen: Growth, Greens, and Mistakes Nitrogen is the nutrient everyone thinks they understand β and the one most often misunderstood. If carbon is...β’Soil & Microbiology
Understanding Plant Water Needs
β Hydrogen & Oxygen: Water Is More Than HβO When we talk about watering the garden, we usually reduce it to a simple question: Did I water enough? But...β’Soil & Microbiology
Carbon's Role in Soil Health
β Carbon: The Backbone of Soil Life When people hear the word carbon, they usually think of climate change, smoke, or something abstract and distant....β’Soil & Microbiology
CHNOPS: Building Blocks of Life
β An Introduction to CHNOPS: The Chemistry That Connects All Life We're going to take a completely different path into gardening and agriculture. If...β’Soil & Microbiology
Advanced Soil Building Techniques for Maximum Fertility
Premiumβ Building truly fertile soil goes beyond basic composting and mulching. While those foundations are essential, there are advanced techniques that can dramatically accelerate soil improvement and create the kind of rich, living soil that produces exceptional crops year after year. In this guide, we'l...β’Soil & Microbiology
Dandelion Power
β Unlocking Dandelion Power: Nature's Soil Superhero Have you ever been out in your garden, enjoying a sunny day, when your eyes land on those pesky...β’Soil & Microbiology
How to Apply KNF Inputs
β ## And What To Do If You Apply Them Wrong! Iβll be the first to admit it β even when you know your KNF inputs well, sometimes youβre rushing to get ahead of the rain (like I was this evening!) and you make a little mistake. Tonight, I went out to apply a **soil drench** of JMS (JADAM Microbial Sol...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
LAB Troubleshooting and Batch Tweaks
Premiumβ ## How to Refine Your Lactic Acid Bacteria Process in Korean Natural Farming So, youβve made your first batch of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). Maybe it went great, or maybe you ran into a few issues. Donβt worry β thatβs all part of the learning process. Now weβre focused on troubleshooting common pr...β’Regenerative Agriculture
LAB in Action
Premiumβ ## Building a System with LAB and Other KNF Inputs Now that youβve made LAB and tested it around the farm, itβs time to integrate it into a larger Korean Natural Farming system. Level 3 is where things start to get exciting β and synergistic. LAB plays well with others, especially Fermented Plant J...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
LAB Mastery
Premiumβ ## Trials, Data Logs & Scaling for Whole-System Use ## Implementing LAB Strategically Across the Farm At Level 4, we move beyond small batches and basic applications. This is where LAB becomes a strategic, data-driven part of your KNF system β integrated across soil, plants, animals, and even wate...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
Using LAB with Ruminant Livestock
Premiumβ ## Supporting Ruman Health Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) isnβt just for chickens and soilβitβs a powerful, natural tool for supporting the health and performance of ruminants like cattle, goats, and sheep. Whether you're running a pasture-based operation or managing a barn system, LAB is worth having ...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
Advanced KNF Poultry Systems
β ## Introduction ## Fermentation, Microbiome Management, and Multi-System Integration for Health and Productivity...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
What the Fungi Teach Us
β ## A Case for Natural Farming in Poultry Systems...β’Soil & Microbiology
IMO Field Strategies
β ## Part 3: Applying IMO β Field Techniques and Seasonal Strategies _If you missed it, [Part 2: Collecting and Training your Local Microbiology (IMO)](https://storeysinthedirt.com/agriculture/2025/4/25/working-with-the-microbial-web) explores what IMOs 1-4 and how to cultivate your local IMO._ Welc...β’Regenerative Agriculture
Collecting and Training your Local Microbiology
β ## Part 2 IMO stages 1 - 4 _If you missed it, [Part 1: Introduction to Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)](https://chatgpt.com/g/g-p-67e0055b832481919405f9efd23e02d7-knf-blog/c/67fcd5ab-bdc0-800f-8eca-3721753d620f#) explores what IMOs are, why they matter, and how they fit into Korean Natural Farming ...β’Soil & Microbiology
Working with the Microbial Web
β ## A Guide to Indigenous Microorganisms and JADAM ### Part 1: Introduction to Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) ## What are IMOs and Why They Matter Letβs start with the basics: Indigenous Microorganisms (IMOs) are the bacteria, fungi, and other helpful microbes that already live in healthy soils, ...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
Harvesting Growth
β ## Selecting the Right Plant Material for Your FPJ In Korean Natural Farming (KNF), timing is everythingβand that includes when and what parts of a plant you harvest to make FPJ (Fermented Plant Juice). Think of FPJ as a mirror: it reflects the life force, hormones, and energy of the plants you col...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
Healthy Chickens, Naturally
β ## Using KNF in Your Coop & Tractor If you're looking for a low-cost, high-impact way to care for your flock, **Korean Natural Farming (KNF)** might just be your new best friend. Whether you keep standard breeds, silkies, or bantams β in tractors or permanent coops β KNF helps you support their hea...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
LAB Serum vs. Stock
β ## Why Use LAB Serum Over Pure Stock In Korean Natural Farming (KNF), both LAB Pure Stock and LAB Serum serve valuable rolesβbut knowing when and why to use each can make a big difference in results. Letβs break it down. * * * ## Whatβs the Difference? **LAB Pure Stock** is made by fermenting ri...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
LAB and Balanced Health
β ## Can LAB Help with Parasites, Viruses, Bacterial or Fungal Imbalance? Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) is a cornerstone of Korean Natural Farming and other regenerative systems for good reasonβitβs powerful, adaptable, and safe. But can it really help with parasites, viruses, or microbial imbalances? L...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
Meet LAB: Lactic Acid Bacteria in KNF
β ## A Beginner's Guide to Making and Using LAB in Korean Natural Farming ## LAB Basics If you're just getting started with Korean Natural Farming (KNF), you'll quickly hear about something called LAB β short for Lactic Acid Bacteria. It sounds a bit science-y, but donβt worry. LAB is one of the eas...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
Boosting Soil and Plant Health
β ## Mycology Wash & OHN Application Spring rains bring life back to the garden, but they also introduce challengesβnutrient runoff, soil imbalances, and the potential for disease. To set the season up for success, I use two powerhouse natural applications: **a mycology wash to restore beneficial fun...β’Soil & Microbiology
Spring IMO Scouting
β ## Introduction One of my favorite habits this time of year is keeping an eye out for where the IMO are showing up in my local environment. As I walk through the garden or out in the forest while foraging, Iβm always scanning the undergrowth, peeling back layers of leaves, and checking those tucked...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
Eggshells for the Garden
β ## Introduction If you have as many eggshells as I do, you probably already know this is a great calcium source for your chickens. I keep a cast iron pan in the oven and after breakfast place all my eggshells there for safekeeping. When I have enough to fill the pan, I turn the oven on to the lowes...β’Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
Manifesting soil for the garden
β ## Introduction Manifesting soil is not quick but I can see the results! Whaaallaa! It only took two years. But did it have to take so long? Not necessarily. I could have brought in compost, however, my concern with bringing in compost is, what is it made of? Is the compost made with Non-GMO or org...β’Soil & Microbiology
Wriggly, Slimy, Nature's plow and the Gardeners Best Friend!
β Garden Week Sixteen 7/24/2018 ## Wriggly, Slimy, Nature's plow and the Gardeners Best Friend! Busy Worms! running for cover as I prepare the soil. Whether a compost worm, earthworker worm, or deep soil worm, earthworms are a major player in living soil. Yes, there are different worms for the job....β’Soil & Microbiology
Itβs summertime and the watering is easy! Or is it?
Premiumβ Garden Week Thirteen 7/3/2018 ### Itβs summertime and the watering is easy! Or is it? βMy fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them.β β Mitch Hedberg. With the summers heat coming on, itβs more important than ever to water the plants appropriately. Too much water can rot the root, ...β’Soil & Microbiology
Soil Test & Prep
Premiumβ Garden Week Two 4/2/2018: Test & Prep β Organized: Review books and test directions prior to starting. Keeping these items handy will make quick reference easy. ### Soil Test & Prep There are little bits of color springing from the dirt here and there. This is a sure sign it is time to start prep...β’Soil & Microbiology