19 May 2025 3 min read

Learning Korean Natural Farming: Growing with Life While Still Figuring It Out

When I started Goldberry Grove, I wasn’t stepping into a legacy of land passed down—I was stepping into the unknown. First-generation farmer. New to the rhythms of the soil. Deeply committed, but often overwhelmed. In that mix of curiosity and chaos, I stumbled across Korean Natural Farming (KNF)—and something clicked.

This post isn’t from a KNF expert. It’s from someone learning by doing—sharing what I’m picking up as I go, so I can remember it, refine it, and maybe even help someone else along the way.

What Even Is KNF?

KNF is short for Korean Natural Farming, a regenerative farming system developed by Master Hankyu Cho. It’s based on a deceptively simple idea: the land already knows how to grow things—you just need to support it, not fight it.

Instead of buying synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, KNF relies on indigenous microorganisms (IMOs) and homemade, fermented inputs. The goal is to make a farm that’s biologically alive, economically sustainable, and deeply rooted in its place.

I’m Still Wrapping My Head Around Microbes (But They’re Amazing)

At the heart of KNF are IMOs—microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and nematodes already living in your soil. They’re the invisible workers that break down nutrients, build soil structure, and even protect plants from disease.

So far, I’ve learned to collect these microbes by cooking rice and putting it in a wooden box in the woods (IMO1). From there, they’re fed and multiplied through different stages, eventually added back into the field as IMO4.

It sounds like wizardry—but it’s just biology. And I’m learning to trust it.

DIY Inputs = Science Experiments with Soul

One of the most empowering (and messy) parts of KNF is making your own inputs. I’ve been brewing stuff in glass jars, experimenting with ratios, and figuring out what works on my land. Some inputs I’m learning to make:

Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) – Made from local weeds, supports leafy growth.
Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) – For flowering and sweetness.
Fish Amino Acids (FAA) – Nitrogen-rich boost from fish scraps.
Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) – For soil health and animal digestion.
Water-Soluble Calcium (WSCA) – Crushed eggshells + vinegar = plant strength.

Each one feels like a science project with roots in tradition. And every time I mess up a batch, I learn something.

Waste = Wealth

KNF is showing me that almost nothing on the farm is waste. Weeds become juice. Kitchen scraps become soil. Invasive snails become amino acid fertilizer (yep, really). I’m still figuring out how to set up a better composting system, but KNF has changed how I look at every “leftover” thing on the land.

Plants Grow in Stages. KNF Helps Me Grow with Them.

KNF treats plants like they’re living beings (because they are), and it meets them where they’re at:

Vegetative – Build roots and leaves. Use FAA and FPJ.
Flowering – Bring the bloom. Add FFJ and calcium.
Fruiting – Sweeten and strengthen the harvest. More FFJ + WSCA.

This part of KNF has helped me slow down and actually pay attention to what each plant needs at each stage.

Even the Animals Get the Natural Treatment

I’m still working toward raising animals, but the KNF approach to pigs and chickens has me inspired. Deep bedding systems using IMO-rich sawdust break down waste without stench or runoff.

If and when I build out our animal systems, this is the route I’ll take.

It’s Working All Over the World

KNF has already been used in Hawaii, Mongolia, and across Asia. It’s helping restore degraded land, reduce pollution, and make small farms more self-sufficient. That gives me hope. If they can do it with desert winds and worn-out soil, I can figure it out here in Appalachia.

Honestly? Because writing it down helps me remember it. And because teaching, even as a beginner, helps solidify what I’m learning. I’m not trying to position myself as a guru—I’m just someone fumbling forward, and I believe knowledge should be shared even before it's polished.

If you’re curious or have tried KNF on your own land, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you—or what hasn’t. I’m still building out our own KNF systems here at Goldberry Grove, and every conversation helps.

Let’s learn together.

Grow roots, grow food, grow people.