Working with the Microbial Web
A Guide to Indigenous Microorganisms and JADAM
Part 1: Introduction to Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)
What are IMOs and Why They Matter
Let’s start with the basics: Indigenous Microorganisms (IMOs) are the bacteria, fungi, and other helpful microbes that already live in healthy soils, forests, and compost piles. They’re native to your land and climate—not imported from a lab or packaged in a plastic jug. That means they already know how to survive where you live. No guesswork. No adaptation period.
These microbes work with your plants, not against them. They unlock nutrients, help defend against pests and diseases, and create an underground support network that keeps everything growing strong. In Korean Natural Farming (KNF), IMOs are a cornerstone. The goal is to partner with what nature is already doing, not bulldoze through it with chemicals.
The Role of IMOs in Korean Natural Farming (KNF)
KNF has a process for capturing and building up these microbes in a way that makes them easy to apply to your garden, pasture, orchard, or even your chicken coop. The process goes from IMO 1 to IMO 4—starting with collecting them from a patch of undisturbed forest soil and eventually mixing them into your local soil for use.
It’s like giving your land a dose of its own immune system, but stronger. These IMOs get paired with other KNF favorites like Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ), Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), and Oriental Herbal Nutrients (OHN) to create a full-circle system for healthier plants, animals, and soil.
A Quick Note on JADAM
While KNF emphasizes fermentation and the careful cultivation of inputs like IMOs and FPJs, JADAM takes a slightly different route. JADAM also relies on indigenous microorganisms but with a simplified, ultra-low-cost approach that’s accessible to almost anyone. Think of it like the cousin who’s just as smart but doesn’t need all the gear—JADAM uses potatoes, sea salt, and water to grow microbial solutions in bulk with minimal effort.
Where KNF might ask you to go step-by-step through IMO 1 to 4, JADAM simplifies things with a one-step preparation often called JADAM Microbial Solution (JMS). It’s fast, affordable, and still rooted in the principle of using local life to support your soil.
Both systems are rooted in the idea that nature already knows what it’s doing—we just need to listen, observe, and join the conversation happening underground.
Comparison: IMOs vs. Lab Cultures and Commercial Inoculants
| Feature | IMOs | Lab Cultures | Commercial Inoculants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Local soil & environment | Controlled lab setting | Industrial production |
| Diversity | High – includes fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, yeasts | Often limited to a few strains | Usually limited to a proprietary mix |
| Adaptation | Naturally suited to local conditions | Needs adaptation period | May not thrive in all soils |
| Cost | Low (DIY process) | Moderate to high | High (recurring cost) |
| Sustainability | Regenerative | Variable | Often extractive |
You can buy a shelf-stable culture or use something grown in a lab, but it’s not going to match the resilience or diversity of what’s already under your feet. IMOs are tailor-made by nature for your exact environment. And once you learn how to work with them, you won’t want to go back.
Benefits of Using Local Biology
Resilience: These microbes already live here. They’re not going anywhere.
Diversity: A broad range of organisms keeps everything in balance.
Cost-Effective: Once you learn the basics, you can make your own for free.
Eco-Friendly: No shipping, no plastic, no mystery ingredients.
Improved Plant Health: Better roots, better nutrient uptake, and better defense systems.
Using IMOs is like turning up the volume on nature’s own recipe for thriving soil. When we start listening to the microbial web instead of silencing it, we find all the tools we need to grow something real.
Coming up in Part 2: How to Collect IMO 1 and Start Your Microbial Journey
