Even though it is the same quarter acre, the farmer must grow his crops differently each year in accordance with variations in weather, insect populations, the condition of the soil, and many other natural factors. Nature is everywhere in perpetual motion; conditions are never exactly the same in any two years. Mu 2: Midori no Tetsugaku ( 無２　緑の哲学), self-published; republished as Mu 2: Mu no Tetsugaku ( 無2　無の哲学) by Shunjūsha ( 春秋社), Tokyo, 1985. ISBN 978-4-393-74112-2 Fukuoka went to Thailand in 1990 and 1991, visiting farms and collecting seeds for re-vegetating deserts in India, which he returned to during November and December that year in an attempt to re-vegetate them. The next year saw him participate in official meetings in Japan associated with the Earth Summit in Rio, Brazil, and in 1996 he returned to Africa, sowing seeds in desert areas of Tanzania, observing baobab trees and jungle country. He taught the making and sowing of clay seed balls in Vietnam during 1995. In March 1997, the Earth Summit+5 forum in Rio de Janeiro presented him with the Earth Council Award, received in person at a ceremony in Tokyo on 26 May of that year, [26] honouring him for his contributions to sustainable development. [23]

One-straw Revolution: Introduction to Natural Farming

Fukuoka's techniques have proven difficult to apply, even on most Japanese farms, and have been described as a sophisticated approach despite their simple appearance. [31] In the initial years of transition from conventional farming there are losses in crop yields. Fukuoka estimated these to be 10% while others, such as Yoshikazu Kawaguchi, have found attempting to strictly follow Fukuoka's techniques led to crop failures and require many years of adaption to make the principles work. [31] Farmers Are Excited About Soil Health. That's Good News for All of Us". The Equation. 2019-04-08 . Retrieved 2021-11-14.

Do-Nothing Development?

If the seedballs won’t be thrown out immediately, it is important to start drying them straight away.

Natural Farming, and the Developing World Fukuoka, Natural Farming, and the Developing World

Fukuoka-sensei in conversation with Gandhian activists Sunderlal Bahuguna and Vimala Bahuguna, at Fukuoka’s farm hut in Iyo. Image by Shinya Ishizaka Friedrich, Theodor and Kienzle, Josef (2008) Conservation Agriculture: Impact on farmers' livelihoods, labour, mechanization and equipment; in: Stewart, B.I., Asfary, A.F., Belloum, A. Steiner, K., Friedrich, T. (eds): Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Land Management to Improve the Livelihood of People in Dry Areas; Proceedings of an international workshop, 7–9 May 2007 in Damascus, Syria, Damascus/Syria, pp 25-36.

The important part is that the bottom of the tray is flat so the forming balls can roll around. Also, the larger the tray, the more difficult and tiring it is to jostle and shake for extended periods, so scale is of ergonomic importance. Hyakushō Yawa: 「Fu」Shizen Nōhō ( 百姓夜話・「付」自然農法), self-published, later incorporated into Mu: Kami no Kakumei ( 無　神の革命).

The One-Straw Revolution, by Masanobu Fukuoka, 1978.

Dec.] – The Ultimatum of God Nature The One-Straw Revolution A Recapitulation; English translation, published without ISBN by Shou Shin Sha ( 小心舎). Fukuoka and many others recommend the use of red volcanic iron-rich clays for seedballs, claiming that white and grey clays do not form the same kind of polymer as the red clays and tend to make more brittle seed balls. However, if white and gray clay is what you have on hand, I would recommend experimenting with it. Native clays are liable to be a more economical and wholesome resource than imported ones.

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Shizen Nōhō: Wara Ippon no Kakumei ( 自然農法-わら一本の革命, 1975, in Japanese). Translated and reinterpretated in 1978 under the title The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming. Kami to Shizen to Hito no Kakumei": Wara Ippon no Kakumei – Sōkatsuhen ( 「神と自然と人の革命」わら一本の革命・総括編), self-published. ISBN 978-4-938743-01-7. Book Genre: Agriculture, Biology, Cultural, Ecology, Environment, Food, Food and Drink, Gardening, Japan, Nature, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Science, Sustainability in Japanese) Spiritual Era ~ Religion・Life ( こころの時代～宗教・人生) [ permanent dead link] May 2006 NHK television interview between Fukuoka Masanobu and Kanamitsu Toshio ( 金光寿郎) on the topic: Journey around the world with Clay seed balls Fukuoka Sensei experimented for years on his small farm, slowly pruning out all the practices of farming that have been thought necessary for millenia. The result is a naturally harmonious and productive way of farming that he calls, with the humility of a true Zen master, Do-Nothing Farming.