Korean Natural Farming

Each month, we share expert-led training sessions to help community orchard stewards grow and care for thriving fruit trees. On this page, you’ll find a recorded workshop, a summary of key takeaways, and additional resources to deepen your knowledge. Be sure to explore past workshops for even more insights into urban orcharding best practices!

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Korean Natural Farming (KNF) Background

  • Established by Cho Han Kyu in Suwon, South Korea as alternatives to conventional commercial inputs

  • Strengthen biological function of plants to increase productivity and resilience by Cultivating Indigenous Microorganisms (IMOs)

  • Using fermentation and microbes to make your own soil amendments with local ingredients, weeds from your garden

  • Use what is local: look around at what is doing well during difficult parts of the season

  • KNF Preparations: 

    • Lactic Acid Bacteria Culture

    • Fermented Plant Juice / Water Extracts (Plant Teas)

    • Indigenous Micro-Organisms (IMO)

    • Apple Cider Vinegar Extracts

Basic Principles

  • Trees are designed to live in conjunction with other species of plants and microbes to provide 

  • Plants live in symbiotically with soil microbes & other plant species to provide fertile soils 

  • Organic methods don’t work well without attention to nutrients & minerals!!!

  • Microbes create accessible nutrients through soil food web

  • Provide support and food sources for microbial to create healthy trees - mimic the forest

Benefits of Korean Natural Farming

  • Save $$ on Amendments

  • Increased Yields & Less Maintenance Long-Term for Trees

  • Reduced Disease & Pest Issues 

  • Fuel for Living Soils 

  • Home-Made & Uses Local Resources

  • Positive Impacts on Climate Change

Leibig’s Law of the Minimum

  • States that the growth of an organism is limited by the most scarce resource 

  • How this works with trees: whatever you’re missing has the most effect, even with “trace minerals” at the very smallest amounts

  • This diagram represents missing resources that a tree has; the smallest amounts of missing elements have large effects on the ultimate health outcomes of the tree

Plant Teas / Water Extracts (Plant Fertilizer):

  • Using fermentation of vigorous growing plants extracts biochemicals, nutrients and growth hormones in plants via water

  • Used to stimulate plant growth and enhance soil health 

  • Take the growing tips of healthy plants—vegetables, herbs, or weeds, mixing them with brown sugar, and allowing them to ferment.

Recipe Instructions

  1. Harvest plants early in morning, ideally before direct sun 

  2. Fill bucket ¾ full with plant material of choice and then add water to fill; loosely cover to exclude bugs 

  3. Allow to sit anywhere from 2 days to 4 weeks; the longer it sits, the stronger the solution will be

  4. Add equal weight of brown sugar to liquid make shelf-stable

  5. Dilute and apply to leaves or directly on soil

***Note: Water extracts will probably smell very bad, especially comfrey ***

Fermented Plant Juice (Creates Stronger, Shelf-Stable Liquid Fertilizer)

  • Use fermentation of vigorous growing plants extracts biochemicals, nutrients and growth hormones in plants via water

  • Used to stimulate plant growth and enhance soil health

  • Take the growing tips of healthy plants—vegetables, herbs, or weeds, mixing them with brown sugar, and allowing them to ferment. 

  • Start with 3 parts plant, 2 parts brown sugar; 1:1 wet material

  • Use weight to hold plant material down, cover top surface with towel

  • Allow to ferment for 1 week and strain liquid by gravity

Plant Lists for Ferment Plant Juice / Plant Teas

Use plants with deep taproots, highly nutritious, fast-growing and vigorous:

  • Comfrey - Nutrients, Minerals 

  • Dandelion - Calcium 

  • Nettles - Minerals 

  • Horsetail - Silica

  • Fruit Thinnings 

  • Garlic - Antifungal, Absorption

  • Purslane - Omega-3s

  • Knotweed - Immune Boost

  • Docks - Nutrients, Minerals

  • Quackgrass - Growth Hormones

Lactic Acid Bacteria Culture (Fungicide & Soil Conditioner)

  • Harnesses lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from environment for microbial balance on trees 

  • Used as natural fungicide, similar to hydrogen peroxide

  • LAB multiply at room temperature faster than any other bacteria 

  • One of the most powerful microbes on earth

  • Can survive with or without oxygen present, withstand near boiling temperatures

Recipe

  1. Rinse Rice Water: Wash 2 cups of uncooked rice into a clean jar, capture 2nd or 3rd water, cover with paper towel

  2. Capture Wild LAB: Allow to sit for 3 - 5 days (white foam on top)

  3. Milk Fermentation: Add milk and ferment; 

  4. Separate Curds & Whey: Strain off curds and retain liquid (whey) 

  5. Harvest & Store: Store in fridge or add equal weight (of liquid) brown sugar for long-term storage  

For more detailed instructions, see:

Two Methods of Application:

Direct to Soil (Add to Water)

  1. Foliar Spray on Leaves

  2. Dilution rates depend on material amount and extraction methods/timeline, soil conditions

  • Beware of applying too concentrated rates

  • Homeopathic principles apply - small concentrations can produce large results

  • Apply on regular schedule, every week or other week

Dilution Rates

Water Extracts:

  • (2 Days Ferment): 1: 10 - 1:30 ratio (1 ½  cup per gallon - 2 cups per gallon)

Fermented Plant Juice: 

  • 1:500 - (½ tbs/gal; 2 tbsp / 4 gallon)

  • 1:1000 - (¼ tbs/gal; 1 tbsp / 4 gallon)

Lactic Acid Bacteria:

  • 1:1000 - (¼ tablespoon/gallon) 

ACV Extraction: 

  • 1:500 (¼ tablespoon per gallon)

Reference Materials

  • Natural Farming Agriculture Materials by Cho Ju-Young

  • Regenerative Growers Guide to Garden Amendments by Nigel Palmer

  • Korean Natural Farming Guide - University of Hawaii 

  • Plant Teas Handout by Michael Phillips 

  • Holistic Orchard by Michael Phillips 

  • Mycorrhizae Planet by Michael Phillips

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