All About Fermented Plant Juice

Fermented Plant Juice

Fermented plant juice (FPJ) is a fermented extract of plants which helps crops to absorb nutrients directly for healthy growth and enabling their potential.

 

Origin of FPJ

FPJ originates from Kimchi which is a Korean pickled dish made of vegetables with various seasonings in which lactic acid bacteria grow in abundance and which enhances appetite and digestion. Kimchi soup is also applied in farming to help plants grow healthy and strong. There are tremendous populations of microbes such as lactic acid bacteria and yeasts on plant leaves. Similar to making Kimchi, the essence of a plant can be extracted by using brown sugar (instead of salt) through osmotic pressure. During the process of fermentation FPJ produces weak alcohols which dissolve chlorophylls. FPJ is the fertilizer which allows plants to enhance their own vitality and induce their own potentials which consequently allows them to grow robustly.

 

Principles of FPJ

There are about 100,000-150,000 microbes per 1cm2 on a plant leaf. Most of the microbes are lactic acid bacteria and yeasts which are very beneficial for plant growth. The essence of the plant chlorophylls, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts which are on the leaves and stems of the plant can be extracted using brown sugar.

 

What to collect

Use plants that are naturally resistant for the FPJ mugwort and dropwort are good examples. Mugwort is naturally resistant to both cold and heat, had good vitality and a goad amount of iron. Mugwort FPJ is used for giving vitality to crops when they sprout buds and the end of the dormant period in spring, and helps to revitalize plants. Dropwort is full of iron and manganese which are good for circulation, stimulating the nervous system and recovering from injury.

When making FPJ it is important to use plants that grow fast. These plant have growth hormones that are very active and have a lot of energy. This characteristic can improve weaknesses in the plants which their FPJ is applied to and can help them recover from health problems. Bamboo shoots are an excellent example of this. Bamboo shoots grow after rain and because they grow very fast they must be collected in a timely manner. Remove dirt from the shoots but not the outer skin. Bamboo shoot FPJ can be used with mugwort and dropwort FPJ to increase vegetative growth in chops that have been weakened by disease. Lateral buds from all kinds of plants also have abundant growth hormones.

It is recommended to use plant that are in season. Wild plants are preferable because they have a vitality that is conducive to the production of FPJ. The fermentation process goes smoothly with wild plants. Indigenous plants are prefered because they have adapted to the weather extremes of the region. FPJ can also be made from the same crop ( ex: lateral buds leaves and stem of tomatoes, vines of squash and sweet potato, crops damaged by insects or unmarketable products, outer leaves of kale or broccoli).

 

When to collect

Materials should be collected before sunrise. During this time of day plants have the most nutrients and have the most vitality, also when plants have dew on their leaves a higher volume of FPJ is produced. When the sun is up photosynthesis is active and more of plants nutrients are stored in their stems. From 3pm to sunrise the following day catabolism is active, hence the plant’s energy is stored intensively making it the best time for collection. With your hand quickly snap off the growing tips of the plant. Plants should be used immediately after picking for the best results. Avoid picking in periods of drought or excessive sun. If there is no rain in the foreseeable future water the plant one day before picking. Avoid periods of excessive rain because rain washes away the lactic acid bacteria and yeasts on the leaves. If FPJ is made at this time the juice will become sticky and thick, for this same reason the picked leaves should not be washed before preparation. It is best to pick plants 2-3 days after rain. It is recommended to only use one species of plant per preparation and to avoid picking plants near a road.

 

How to make FPJ

Materials:

Brown sugar

Picked plants

Container

 

Plants:

Do not wash the plants or peel off the skin. Only use one type of plant per FPJ. Shake off dirt (do not wash). Cut plants into manageable size to broaden surface area. Plants with dew are best.

Brown sugar:

Brown sugar has the effective components of sugarcane, and contains a lot of minerals such as iron, calcium, and sodium. Sugar cane contains 293 mg of calcium per 100g (do not use beet sugar). The more moisture the material contains the more sugar it needs. The ratio for mixture is 1/1 based on weight. Do not use molasses as it contains too much moisture to create the osmotic pressure necessary for proper fermentation.

Container:

A clay container is best for fermentation however if one is not available glass is acceptable. Try to avoid using metal or plastic if possible.

 

Process

Shake off dirt (do not wash)

Measure the weight of ingredients and brown sugar. Depending on the moisture content of the plants being used the ratio of mixture can fluctuate from ½ to ⅔ weight of sugar. Add more brown sugar for fruit and flowers which have a higher moisture level. Mix at a ratio of 1/1 for storage.

Mix the ingredients thoroughly with brown sugar. At the top of the container add a layer of brown sugar to cover the materials this helps the process to remain anaerobic. Fill the container to the top with the mixture then compact to about ⅔ to remove air. When the container is ⅔ full with some space left for air optimum fermentation will occur.

Keep the container out of direct sunlight at a temperature of around 23-25 degrees celsius.

A successful fermentation will be fragrant and will produce clean juice when the content is filtered. Sometimes small bubbles or fungi will be present in the filtered liquid, this is because of an inadequate amount of sugar. In this case add some brown sugar, stir, and preserve after filtering.

Do not apply pressure to the plant material when filtering.

Only store the juice after the fermentation process is complete.

 

How to store FPJ

Add more brown sugar if the FPJ will not be used immediately.

FPJ must be stored out of sunlight. Bury the container or keep it in a cool storage. The optimum temperature range for storage is from 1-15 degrees celsius.

The lid of the container should allow for ventilation but not contamination.

FPJ can be stored for up to 2-3 years for ripe FPJ.

 

How to use FPJ

From germination to early growth:

Choose an ingredient that has good vitality and a strong resistance to weather extremes. Ex: Mugwort, dropwort, bamboo shoot, etc.. (1/500 dilution)

During vegetative growth:

Crops develop their volume during this period and absorb mostly nitrogen rich nutrients. Use FPJ from mugwort, dropwort, arrowroot vine, reeds, and bamboo shoots. (1/500 dilution)

Cross-over period:

Period of flower formation. Plants absorb mostly phosphoric acid rich nutrients. Use FPJ made from black locust (false acacia), unripe mulberry, grape, or raspberry which are more acidic. (1/500 dilution)

During reproductive growth:

Flowers fall and crops reach fruiting stage. Plants absorb mostly calcium rich nutrients during this stage. Use FPJ made from ripe fruits. (<1/2000)

Mature stage:

Use matured (1-2 years old) FPJ from purslane to add luster and prevent evaporation. (<1/5000)

FPJ is used in IMO#3 and IMO#4.

Do not use FPJ on fungal diseases it will cause them to spread.

Use well ripened FPJ after diluting it to less than 1/2000 during the period of reproductive growth when fruits become large enough. This is because of the sugar content of the FPJ which can cause spots on the fruit. FPJs improve the taste and yield but decrease the commercial value (outer appearance).

This information has been paraphrased from the booklet “Cho’s Natural Farming: Recipes and Instructions for Use”. A copy can be down loaded from Drake’s natural farming website which is an excellent source of information. Also for some top notch instructional videos you can also visit Chris Trump’s youtube channel