Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO)
All About IMO
Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO), whose name originates from the word "indigenous," which means native to a particular area or that they occur there naturally. IMO is a natural microbial powerhouse in the soil and on living surfaces, shaping the backbone of life itself. They excel at breaking down organic matter, enhancing soil quality, and supporting robust plant growth. The organisms that primarily make up IMO are bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and protozoa.
Mac’s IMO Collection
We understand only a fraction of the life that’s beneath our feet—approximately one percent. Collecting microbes from your local surroundings and incorporating them into your soil is essential. Since these indigenous microorganisms are accustomed to their environment, they have strong adaptations.
For outdoor growers, introducing foreign microbes can trigger an underground war, typically favoring the established local microbes. Stick to indigenous microbes to align your soil. By introducing foreign microbes, chances are they will die off.
Indoors, flexibility exists, but the recommendation stays the same – stick to local IMO. I collect my IMO from different woods/forests around Baltimore County, at different times of the year because various bacteria will thrive under various circumstances at different times of the year.
As these microbes integrate into your soil, they establish a symbiotic relationship. Your plants’ roots exert certain enzymes and bacteria to use as food. This is why you can have a redwood and a fern living next to each other because the microbes control the nutrient uptake and enzymes that the specific plant needs. This mirrors the natural balance found in ecosystems, where diverse plant species coexist in harmony, nourished by the same soil food web.
In essence, microbial life forms the cornerstone of regenerative farming practices. Cultivating living soil, rich in microbial diversity, lays the foundation for vibrant plant health and sustainable agriculture. By prioritizing soil life, we unlock the inherent resilience and abundance of nature, ushering in a new era of farming rooted in ecological wisdom.
In conclusion, when you're growing – and we should all be doing it the right way – focus on the soil life. Make it your primary focus and everything else falls into place. That's the missing link in modern farming – forget the synthetic stuff, let the microbes do their thing, and you'll witness the transformation in your garden. No need to stress about pH and other complexities – let nature work its magic.
You can convert IMO into IMO2 for a longer shelf life. After that, IMO2 becomes the starting point for making IMO3 and IMO4.
What We Offer
IMO2 and IMO4 ar available for purchase. Just click on the links below.
Or if you're into the DIY approach and want to collect your own IMO, and then make IMO2, IMO3, and IMO4, check out our instructional videos on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gratefulgrows
Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO2):
IMO2 is derived by weighing your IMO collection and adding an equal amount of jaggery (raw sugar), making it self-stable. It is primarily used to make IMO3 and IMO4. IMO2 can be used to treat garden bed soil, compost piles, and foliar spray for growing plants.
Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO4):
IMO4 is full of the biology, NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), and enzymes needed for healthy soil biology (soil food web) that produces hearty, happy plants. It can also be used as a foliar application for making tea and inoculating compost piles, to name a few.
Our IMO4 is hand-mixed with a chosen combination of organic amendments and inputs. All of the amendments that we use are non-GMO and pesticide-free. Most are OMRI-listed, except for the materials I collect and produce myself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when you're growing – and we should all be doing it the right way – focus on the soil life. Make it your primary focus and everything else falls into place. That's the missing link in modern farming – forget the synthetic stuff, let the microbes do their thing, and you'll witness the transformation in your garden. No need to stress about pH and other complexities – let nature work its magic.