Korean Natural Farming
What is the purpose of brown sugar in IMO 2
It absorbs moisture. It dries out the microorganisms so they go dormant. This preserves the collection so it can be used later.
What is the benefit of alternating donkeys or cattle with goats or sheep in rotational grazing?
Each species has different parasites which do not survive in the other species. Alternating them removes the parasites affecting each before they come back to graze that area.
Why is starting a small farm challenging?
There is no blueprint and markets are set up to favor large growers.
Why did heavy rain not wash away soil on the Biggest Little Farm the way it did on other farms?
The soil was covered by living plants and the soil had good structure that allowed the water to percolate into the soil instead of running off on the surface.
In rhizophagy, where are bacteria ejected from the root?
The tips of root hairs
What is the maximum temperature for making IMO 3 and 4 and why?
120 degrees F. Higher than that will harm some of the microorganisms and reduce diversity.
Avi showed us a graft union that was swollen and the tree was not growing well. What was going on there?
Incompatibility between the two parts that were joined.
What is the purpose of the coulters on the front of Nick's no-till planters?
They cut through the surface residue and make a slice into the soil to make it easier for the planter to make a furrow in which to place the seeds.
How did they keep coyotes from eating the chickens?
A guardian dog.
Why is Nick building a farm store? What are the advantages of that?
It gives another opportunity to sell his produce at a retail price, direct to customers.
What is the difference between IMO 3 and IMO 4?
IMO 3 multiplies the microbes from our IMO 1 collection. IMO 4 combines those microbes with the microbes already present in our garden or farm soil.
Nick said his squash may not store well. Why?
Some are not fully mature. Probably because the plants were stressed by the alternating very dry and very wet weather.
What is SILT and how did it help Tierney and David obtain their farm?
Sustainable Iowa Land Trust puts conservation easements on land that prevent the land from being used for anything besides growing food. That farm was donated to SILT and they have an agreement with Tierney and David to farm it.
What damage did snails do and how did he discover the solution?
Snails ate the leaves of fruit trees. He was watching the ducks and observed a duck eating a snail.
Some organic farmers have increased soil organic matter and soil health using tillage. How have they done this?
They use tillage to incorporate compost, cover crops, and other organic matter into the soil.
What is IMO 5?
It is IMO 4 with a source of concentrated fertility added. That concentrated fertility could be high nitrogen compost, manure, etc.
What is scion and what is rootstock?
A rootstock is the roots and bottom part of a plant onto which a scion is grafted. The scion is the top part of the plant. It is usually a twig from a plant that has desirable characteristics, such as good fruit or disease resistance.
What are 3 benefits to the way Nick grew squash where the rye cover crop had been?
Why were gophers a problem and what are 3 animals that helped solve the problem?
Gophers damaged the roots of fruit trees, killing the trees. Coyotes, owls, hawks, badgers, and gopher snakes solved the problem.
What is an advantage to the plant to obtain nutrients through rhizophagy?
The nutrients come in the form of already made amino acids and other compounds so the plant does not need to spend its energy making these compounds out of simpler nutrients.
Why did choose that spot in the forest for our IMO 1 collection?
1. The large oak trees tell us that the soil and ecosystem has been undisturbed for a long time, perhaps as much as 100 years. This should have given the soil microbiology time to gain great diversity and abundance.
2. The mushrooms and visible mycelium showed that there was an abundance of healthy fungal growth in that spot.
What is the limitation on growing pawpaws for sale?
They are easily damaged and have a short shelf life.
Why can't you create more of an apple tree by planting the seeds of an apple from that tree?
Apple trees, and some other fruit trees are self incompatible, which means flowers on a tree cannot be pollinated by pollen from a tree of the same variety. So every seed is genetically a mixture of the mother tree and the tree that provided the pollen.
Give 3 Science of Consciousness principles with examples from the Biggest Little Farm.
There are too many examples to list in this small space!
Did you notice the aspect of the slope where Nick wants to plant his orchard? What is it and why is that a good spot for an orchard?
It is a north slope where the soil will warm up more slowly in the spring resulting in later flowering and less chance for the flowers to be damaged by a late spring frost.