Bedford County farmer Jay Faucher has adopted JADAM, a Korean natural farming method, to enhance soil health and protect crops, he said on May 28. In February, Faucher began fermenting organic matter in four 60-gallon drums to create a concentrated compost tea known as JADAM. He applies one cup of this mixture diluted in 50 gallons of water across his 38-acre farm.
JADAM, short for Jayonul Damun Saramdul and founded by Youngsang Cho in 1991, involves concentrating organic materials such as compost, forest mycelium, weeds, straw and crop cuttings into a fertilizing solution. “That smell means it’s ready,” Faucher said while inspecting the bubbling liquid. “See the bubbles? That is alive, baby! This tub was a real thick goo last fall. Now it’s full of liquid.” The process relies on anaerobic fermentation; when exposed to air, beneficial soil microbes thrive.
Faucher prepares two types of JADAM solutions: Liquid Fertilizer made from fermented plant materials to supply nutrients and mimic natural soil processes; and Microbial Solution brewed with potatoes, sea salt and forest leaf mold to introduce native microorganisms that support soil health while acting as mild pesticides or fungicides. “It’s like you’re creating a soil biome,” Faucher explained.
According to Cho in a previous lecture from 2017, rising expenses for fuel, energy and chemicals are challenging farms of all sizes, but using JADAM could reduce chemical inputs significantly: “pennies an acre.” Faucher reported strong results after applying diluted JADAM broadly across his property: “I could not believe the size of my golden russet potatoes!” However, he found that excessive application led to overgrowth: “The vegetation took over everything,” he said. As a result, he plans more targeted spraying this season.
JADAM practitioners share experiences through social media groups. Additional information can be found in Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s spring Cultivate magazine.
Virginia Farm Bureau Foundation AGPAC promotes agricultural prosperity throughout Virginia by supporting residents statewide with resources aimed at enhancing member success; it also advocates for agriculture in the General Assembly and partners with companies such as Case IH and John Deere to offer equipment savings—all funded by an annual membership fee, according to the official website.
