Many of us dream of transforming old, depleted fields into thriving orchards and productive agroforestry systems filled with nut- and fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. But how can we ensure our saplings get the best possible start and establish healthy, resilient ecosystems?

One key step is investing in your soil’s Indigenous Microorganisms (IMOs). These essential microbes enhance soil health, improve nutrient cycling, and create the conditions for long-term plant vitality.

In this workshop, we’ll work backward through the IMO process, focusing on IMO4, a core practice of Korean Natural Farming (KNF). Rather than making IMOs from scratch, we’ll use fully prepared IMO4 to build soil fertility. You’ll see how to apply IMO4 in the field alongside a terminated cover crop, which will provide green biomass to feed soil microbes and jumpstart nutrient cycling.

Along the way, we’ll break down each step leading up to this point—explaining how IMOs are collected, cultivated, and expanded. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of how to replicate this process at home and integrate it into your own planting projects.

This workshop is open to all skill levels, whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your natural farming techniques.

About the farm: 
Listening Skies is a budding homestead-scale agroforestry project located on unceded land of the Nipmuc people in Plainfield, Massachusetts. Stewarded with a vision to grow food for friends and neighbors, contributing to regional food sustainability and resilience.  Its stewards are interested in providing a welcoming space for connection, learning,  and cultivating conversations for ecological solutions, regenerative agriculture, and social justice.