Bones - On a Green Mountain (With Fukuoka)

8/7/2019 Bones - On a Green Mountain (With Fukuoka)

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~ricuJture Naturelle 0 " SynergHique (France)La cul ture de la terre en synergie de Marc Bonfi ls et Emilia Hazel ip

by Kali De Keyser

Contact:' . i -.ine Libra;rYECTOPIE O J . y m p a .Paul De Neyer. 9, rue Franz Blnje- B-I030 Schaerbeek (BruxeIJes)

T.: +32.(0)2/2422394 (soir) . .'

(Correspondance en Castilian, Anglais, Nee rl anda is , I t al len ou Portugais bienvenue)

E-mail: pdeneyer@intLbe

The Synergistic Garden: A Teaching Videoby Emilia Hazelip

"An educational video on no-till synergistic gar(:lening is now available • .Itdescribes the step-

by-step process developed by Emilia Hazelip to create an ecologiealagricul ture. She became

interested in Fukuoka's work in 1978 when the book The One Straw Revolution was. published.

'Since 1937 the Japanese microbiologist and farmer, Masanobu Fukuoka, has been working for

the development ofa t ruly ecological agr icu lture . This video shows the cul tural . and

cl imatological adap tat ions that Mrs. Hazel ip has developed in the course of years of research

into a no-t il l system that she has named "Synergist ic ~gricu lture .1 I _

EI Trabajo de Masanobu Fukuoka, por Zen (Uruguay)by Lucia Battegazzore . .'

La Perrnacultura en Uruguay

Lucla Battegazzore - tel: 7074645.

Montevideo - Uruguay

Comentarios a: [email protected]

Greek Natural FarmingDoyou love Nature? Ecotourism and Natural Farming

by Massimo Conte

Massimo Conte & Silvia Ferr i, Lac. Bivignano 6

52100 Arezzo (AR) - Tuscany - Italy

E-mail: [email protected]

ON A GREEN MOUNTAINWith Masanobu Fukuoka

Sensei of Natural Farming

Copyright (c)199S Jim Bones

"The ult imate goal offarming isnot the growing of crops,

but the cultivatton and perfection of human beings. "( i)- M a sa n ob u Fukuoka

I n O cto be r o f 1 99 4, I t ra ve le d t o Ja pa n w ith a te am w or kin g o n a b oo k a bo ut th e le ad in g m eth od so i

s u st ai na b le a gr ic ul tu re f ou n d a ro u nd t he wo rl d. M ember s i nc lu d ed p r oj ec t d ir ec to r Howar d Sh ap ir o ;

w r it er C a th e ri ne Y ronwode ; my se lf as p hot og r ap h er ; p u bl is he r An th o ny Roda le ; a n d p o et N a om iO ts ub o A sh , o ur g ui de a nd t ra ns la to r f rom To ky o.

W e a rr iv ed i n O s a ka w it h t he u ns et tl ed w e at he r t ha t p re ce de s a t yp hoo n . N e xt mo r ni ng , u n de r t hi ckc lo ud s w e f le w o ve r t he in la nd S ea to Iy o C ity o n th e I sla nd o f S hi ko ku . W e t ra ve le d b y tr ol le y a nd

t ra in t hr o ugh d e ns el y p o pu la te d n e ig hbo rho od s wher e d a zz li ng s ig n s a dv e rt is ed ma ny e x pe n si vet hi ng s. F at m a rb le d K o be b ee f w as t he m o st a st on is hi ng a t $ 80 a p ou nd . V a lu ab le l ot s i n t o wn l ayc lo se ly p la nt ed w i th v e ge ta b le s, r ic e a n d f lower s. I n mo re s ub u rb a n a re as r ai ls id e g ar d en s g r ew l ar ge :

a nd m o re v ar ie d i n f r ui t a nd s ee d.

W e a rr iv ed a fte r n oo n n ea r th e s ea c oa st a nd c he ck ed in to a n o ld h ote l. A ft er a b rie f r est a nd te a w ep re pa re d t o m e et t he v en er ab le M a sa no bu F uk uo ka . H e w as b or n i n 1 91 3; of a' f am il y t h at h as farmert he r eg io n f or o ve r 1 40 0 y ea rs . H d uc at ed a s a m ic ro bi o'o gi st , h e i s n ow a M a ha ya na Bu dd hi st w h o

p ra ct ic es s im p le a gr ic ul tu re a s a s pi ri tu al p at h. H e i s t h e f at he r a nd m a st er t ea ch er , t he S en se i o f t he

a rt o f N a tu r al F a rm i ng ..(J

A ta xi to ok u s t o h is h om e a t t h e e dg e o f t o wn w he re th e r ic e f ie ld s a nd h ills id e o r ch ar ds b eg an . W ew er e g re et ed a t t he d oo r b y M r s. F uk uo ka a nd p ol it el y i nv it ed i ns id e. M r. F uk uo ka s oo n h ob bl ed i no n s tif f l eg s b en t w ith a ge . H e w as w iry a nd a le rt, a nd w or e a lo os e b lu e f ar me r's p an ts a nd s hir t. W ith is s im p le c lo th es , a nd w is py h ai r a nd b ea rd , h e r em in de d m e o f w h it e c lo ud s i n a m id da y s ky .

W e e ac h b ow ed , a nd s ettle d o nto th e f lo or a ro un d a c ha bu da i, a lo w t ab le in th e m id dle o fa si mp lya pp oi nt ed -r oom . S ho ji r ic e p ap er d oo rs s li d s hu t f rom o ut si de , a nd w e w er e s ur ro un de d b y a nawkward s ilence, . .

M r. F uk uo ka lo ok ed a t e a ch o f u s , th en a sk ed t hr ou gh N ao mi, "Wh y a re y ou h er e? "

H owa rd r ep li ed , "W e h av e c om e f or a ns we rs t o a l is t o f q ue st io ns a bo ut N a tu ra l F arm in g f or a b oo k

on g loba l s u st a inab le agri cul ture ."

"Que st io n s, what q u es ti on s? " M r . Fu ku oka i nq u ir ed .

H owa rd s how ed h im a l is t o f s ta nd ar d q ue st io ns p re pa re d f or t ho se t o b e i nt er vi ew ed f or t he b oo k.

Th ey we re mo s tl y t ec hni ca l. d e ta il s r el at ed t o s u ch t hi ng s a s d e si gn , s o il , t il li ng , mu lc h , f er ti li ze rs , p e s

a nd w e ed c on tr cl =g ar de ni ng a nd f arm in g m e th od s b ro ke n d ew n f or e as e o f'r ev ie w .

M r . F l1 ku ok a t oo k t he q ue st io ns , p ag ed t hr ou gh t hem , a nd f ro w ne d. "No t ha nk y ou v er y m u ch !" , h e

s ai d s te rn ly . "Do you unde rs ta n d a n yt hi ng a b ou t N a tu ra l F a nn in g ?"

"Yes ,II s ai d H owa rd , " bu t w e w an t to h ea r it d ir ec tl y f rom y ou a nd s ha re y ou r k now le dg e a nd

e x pe ri en c e w i th t he wo rl d. "

"No," Mr . F uk uo ka r ep li ed b ru sq ue ly . " I d o n ot t hi nk y ou r ea ll y u n d er st an d. I f y ou w is h, t ak e I ll Yb oo ks , s tu dy t hem t on ig ht , a nd i f y ou s ti ll w an t t o l ea rn a bo ut N a tu ra l F arm in g, c om e b ac k toinorrow

morning. " '

mailto:[email protected]






W e w ere b ew ild ered , fo r w e h ad arr iv ed b eliev in g all a rr an ge me nt s h ad b ee n made we ek s b ef or e; andthat Mr. Fuk uoka w ould answ er the q uestions. O bviou sly it w as n ot going to happen that day, W e

returned to tow n, w and ered around the m arket place, then w ent to ou r hotel in con fusion . M r.

Fukuoka had sent us aw ay w ith m any things to read, inclu ding T he N atural W ay of F arm in g. T he

Road Back to Nature, and The One-Straw Revolution. .

R ea di ng th ro ug h t he e ve ni ng , Iearned about the profound vision of N atu re revealed to him at age

tw enty five that led to his holistic ph ilosophy . H e recalled how in th e depths of dou bt and dark

d ep re ssio n, a n ig ht h ero n's cr y a t d aw n aw ok e h im to N atu re 's p erfe ctio n. H e th en d esc rib ed

e xp erim en tin g fo r sc ore s o f se aso ns w ith fa rm in g m eth od s th at im ita te th e n atu ra l c yc le s o f b irth an d

. d ec ay . M ost in trig uin g o f all w as his idea of seed balls for promoting p la nt g ro wt h u nd er d if fi cu lt

c on ditio ns. H e la me nte d n ot tra in in g m ore s tu den ts a nd e xp re sse d concern t ha t s im pl e w ay s o ff ar tn in g

m ight b e supp ressed or lost just w hen the w orld m ost needs them .

In the m orning, w arm heavy air forecast th e gathering storm as w e hurried along to m eet Mr.Fukuoka. He was som ew hat m ore w illing to talk when w e arrived and wanted to know, "Have you

r ea d t he b oo ks ?"

W e a ffirm ed so , a s m uch a s p oss ib le,

" Did y ou u nd ersta nd ?" h e a sk ed .

"Yes," sa id H ow ard ', "b ut w e would like to go over th e list of questio ns just to b e sure."

,

" Sh ak in g h is h ea d Mr . Fu ku ok a said, "If y ou a re still i nt er es te d i n le ar ni ng a bo ut Natural F ar mi ng , g o

w ith m y d au gh ter an d h er h elp ers to th e c itru s o rc ha rd s, th en c om e b ac k th is a fte rn oo n."

N ao mi, C at and A nth ony [o de silently w ith his daughter, w hile H ow ard and Iq ue eze d in to a u tility

truck witf a young m an w ho sp oke fluent E ng lish, H e sp ed up a steep ro ad that turned into a trail

th rough dense fo rests of m andarin oranges. W e soon crested the ridge and stopped in the m ist

su rro un de d b y trees h ea vy w it h g re en f ru it .

T he h ir ed o rc ha rd w or ke rs walked in a ll d ire ctio ns ca su ally sc atterin g s eed , T he y to ss ed th em u nd er

and b etw een the trees, in to open sp aces and off d ow n the h illsides below . W e saw dried rad ish stalks,

c lo ve r a ~d g re en g ra ss es everywhere, e ve n u pd er ridgeline c ed ars a nd am on g th e o ak s, m ap le s, p in es,

a n d a c aC I as .'

It to ok o nly fiftee n m in ute s to se ed se ve ra l a cr es , T he n w e" bo ard ed th e tru ck s a nd ro lle d in to a v alle y

tilled w ith fru it trees, horse chestnuts and huge bam boo. A gain w orkers broadcast seed, and I asked if

I cou ld take pictures. O ne m an agreed so Im oved in for a shot of h is hands. Iwa s startled to see

d ozen s o f kinds of seeds, m any clothed in ' th e v ivid chem ical colors o fbiocid es. "H ow could th is be on

a n at ur al f ar m? " Iu ie tly a sk ed m ys el f.

C old rain cam e in earnest an d w e started back. In route Isk ed ab ou t th e tre ated s ee ds . T he w ork er

s aid th e y ou ng er fam ily m em be rs c on sid er it to o' ris ky to p ra ctice s trict N atu ra l F ar min g, It is really

h ard to fin d p eo ple w ho u nd ers tan d Mr . F uk uo ka 's p hilo so ph y a nd re co gn iz e o rc ha rd p la nts e asily , It

seem s m odem farm ers no long er w ork clo sely w ith soil, so each day few er peop le know how to grow

~~~. .

A fter lunch. w e retu rned by taxi and hurried onto the portal to rem ove our w et coats and shoes, T he

door opened and w e were let in , t hen like a w hirlw ind he gave u s a lecture on "N ot D oing ",

En ergetically he said, "M ost farm ers begin by asking, w hat ifI d o th is or w hat ind o th at, b ut o nly .d iss ip ate th em se lv es th at w ay . } /y ap pro ac h ju st th e o pp osite, se ek th e p le asa nt, n atu ra l w ay o f

farm ing, In order to m ake the w ork easier, not harder, I ask, how abo ut not d oing th is or how ~ bo ut

.'...... · N tu ra l F a rm l n_ g'Who PractIces a

Or~ ?

Uses Seed Balls · 1farming and seed-, • t' us of natura t nd

ctiea\ apphea 10 , h re with contac sa

nd all information abol~t P;~i\\ post the infor~atlOnn ; 0 so. People, places,Please se ywhere in the wor.' h nging information c~ and answers, allballs from an eaple interested In ~xc ats discoveries, questionsaddresses so P &: ites expenmen ,

f rmS restorauon SI, welcome.

a , ,

Send To:·[email protected]

Green Belt Southern EuropeR ec en t W ork Of Ma~anob~ Fukuoka In Europe And Around The W orld

Info: Deutsch English Portugues Greek

Zisula Cordaches ,

Rosa- Luxemburg-Str, 89

D - 14 80 6 B EL ZI G

TelJFax: +4 9 (0) 3384130111

Funktel: 0177 4471104

E mail: G reenbelt eu@ mir,org

Australia Adapts Seed Halls .For Tree PlantingSeed Balls A s A National W ay To Reforest The G reat DesertContinent

K enton Range Tree Farm , A ustrHa

S ee d B all s F or R ef or es ta ti on

(P DF F ile In A cr ob at R ea de r)

Kenton Range Tree Farm

W inton Rd Birdw ood South Australia

PO Box 315 Birdwood South Aust. 5234

Phi,Fax(08)85685502

E;rriail [email protected]

No~Till. Mulch~Based Market Gardeningby Mark Cain . .

D rip pin g S prin gs G ard en s

1558 CR 548

H un ts ville , A R 7 27 40

,E-mail: [email protected]










With an air o f fin ality h e lo ok ed a t each of US, ' t he n s ai d, "You cannot compere.my w ays to those of

anyone else by breaking them dow n. D o not tr y to mix id ea s. Y ou w ill o nly c on fu se p eo ple a nd fail.

G ~ve yours;lfto w hatever you do one-hundred per cent o r n ot a t a ll, a nd 'd o n ot d ou bt. E very th in g

w ill b e a ll right. Just spread seed balls and N ature w ill do the rest." As w e le ft, N ao mi p olitely to ld h im

~e would get In. touch about b::.oks soon, and that w e hoped to see him again. H e replied, "T ake yourtim e A nyw ay, tim e does not exist."

O ur last day in Japan dawned calm with thin clouds, so H oward and I ran N the old orchard for a final

look, Io rk ed alo ng a narrow path to the top of the hill where Sensei's tiny mud and bamboo hut sat

e ntw in ed in m as siv e w is te ria. Its sim plicity w as liberating, h av in g o nly a ro of, s lid in g p an els fo r w alls,

a nd a n o pe n h ea rth in th e m id dle . P ots, p an s, u te nsils , band tools and a futon lay on the floor. H igh on

o ne w all. o f th e d ojo W as a s in gle d raw in g o f N atu re 's M ou nta in , IId is tillatio n o f a ll h e h ad ta ug ht u sth e d ay b ef or e,

N ot yet satisfied w ith the w hole view , Howard k no ck ed a bo ut i ns id e f or i ns pi ra ti or i w hil e I desperatelyse arch ed th e o rch ard fo r s uita ble p arts to p ho to gra ph . T he ed ib le v in es, fru it tre es a nd sh ru bs w ere

obvious, as w ere the grains, but w here w ere the abundant vegetable crops? W here w ere the progeny

o f th e se ed b alls th at rep la nte d th em se lv es y ea r a fter y ea r?

H ow ard stepped out a~ d called, ''W e have to go or m iss our flig ht. I ' l l g iv e y ou a h an d w ith th e

cam eras." H e started dow n, and in a panic! shouted, "I feel like its all around m e, but I can't quite

picture it." He reached for m y pack and I asked, "By the way, what are these knee deep weeds, do you

know ?" A s he leaned closer and I kneeled to the ground, thousands ofintertw ined daikons, sw eet

p ota to es , c ab ba ge s, c arro ts , b ea ns, k ud zu s, k iw is, a nd m ore , b eg ari to re vea l th em selv es. " My G od ,

this is i t!" I exclaim ed, "W e are standing on an edible forest floor." Lush green and w et w ith dew ,

shining proof of the vision Sensei had, fifty years ago grew everyw here w e looked. A nd for a m om ent

w e t90 W ere e nfo ld ed in th e tra nsc en de nt fru it o f it li fe ti me d ev ote d to b ri ng in g p eo pl e a nd 'N at ur et og et he r a ga in .

Foot Notes:

(1) B eginning quote from The C lose T o N ature G arden, a video tape produced by R odale P ress,

a vailab le fro m A rth ur M ok in P ro du ctio ns, In c..'P . O ,B ox 1 86 6, S an ta R os a, C alifo rn ia, 9 54 02 ,

T el ep ho ne : ( 70 7) 5 42 .4 86 8.

(2) G od, K am i or K am isam a is the D ivine pow er found in natural objects and all living things.

( 3) 1 ;'0 00 s qu ar e m et er s =9 ,3 .0 0 sq ua re fe et. N atu ra l F arm in g p rac tic e req uire s a m in im um are a o f

a bo ut 2 ,0 00 s qu are fe et p er p erso n to liv e o n s ustain ab ly w ith a v eg eta ria n d iet. F or re fere nc e,

B io in ten siv e S usta in ab le M in i-F arm in g p ra ctice , d ev elo pe d b y Jo hn Je av on s, re qu ire s a m in im um a rea

o f ab ou t 4 ,0 00 sq ua re fe et p er p ers on to liv e o n su sta in ab ly w ith a v eg etaria n d ie t. P en na cu ltu re

D esign practice, developed by B ill M ollison, requires a m inim um area of about 6,000 square feet per

p erso n to liv e o nsu sta in ab ly w ith a pre do min ate ly v eg eta ria n d iet. M od em c on ven tio nal fa nn in g

practice requires a m inim um area of about 10,000 to 40,000 square feet per person to live on

ac co rd in g to d ie t, v eg eta rian o r m ea t e atin g, a nd is n ot su sta in ab le.

Books:

T he Q ne "S tra w R ev olu tio n, a p hilo so ph y, p ub lis hed b y th e R od aleIn stitu te , 3 3 E ast M in or S tre et,

Emmaus, P ennsylvania, 18098. '.

T he N atural W ay of Farm ing, a m anual, and T he R oad B ack to N atur~ , a history, published by Japan

P ub li ca tio ns , I nc " T ok yo , J ap an , &N ew Y or k, U .S .A ., d is tr ib ute d b y K od an sh a I nt er na ti on al lU .S .A .,

Ltd., F arrar, S traus and G iroux, 19 U nion Square W est, N ew Y ork, N ew Y ork, 10003.

The U ltimatum QfGOD NATURE The One-Straw RevQlution A RECAPITULATION, __

an E ng Jish re vis io n o f th e o rig in al Q n~ ·S traw R ev oly tio n. p ub lish ed in 1 99 6, in J ap an , a va il ab le f ro m

Mr . Fukuoka a t : 2 01- 2 0h i ra , Iyo-Shi E him e, Japan 799'·31 Fax: 08-99-83-18 .92

not doing that? B y actual practice I finally reached conclusion there is no need to plow , no need to

apply artificial fertilizer, no need to use pesticides at alt. M ost of the w ork of farm ing is created by

ta mp erin g 'w ith N atu re w hic h c au ses n eg ativ e s id e effe cts . V ery fe w a gricu ltu ral p rac tic es a re e ve n

. n ec es sa ry , j ,u st s ca tte ri ng s ee d, s pr ea di ng s tr aw o n t he s oi l a nd h ar ve sti ng ."

C on ce rn in g s oil a nd p la nt s ystem s, h e sta te d, "T he se cret o f g ro win g g rain isas s im ple a s th e

sym biosis of rice, barley or w heat, and clover." In O ctober he broadcasts clover and barley over the

ripening heads of rice. A few w eeks later harvesters a ct ua ll y t ra mp le t he s ee dl in gs , b ut t he y r ec ov er

q ui ck ly . T he gathered rice is d rie d" fo r th re e d ay s, th ras hed , a nd th e u nc ut straw s ca tt er ed r an dom ly

back on the field. If ducks or chickens are not free to roam then occasionally he adds a little ma nu re ,

well.

B efore the N ew Y ear arrives he coats rice seeds w ith clay and broadcasts them over green barley, the

w aits for spring to com e; B yharvest in M ay the w inter crop is ripe, w hite clover covers the f ie ld , a ndrice s ho ots a re sp ro utin g fro m c cn y p ellets. B arle y is h arv este d, d ried a nd th ras hed , an d th e u nc ut

straw rnulch is again returned to thefield, H e then floods for five or six days, just to w eaken the clove

w hile th e y ou ng lice sh oo ts break th ro ug h. In Ju ne an d Ju ly h is fie ld g oe s d ry th ou gh h is n eig hb ors

keep theirs under w ater. In A ugust he irrigates every w eek or ten days. "That's abou t all there is until

h arv est," h e sa id , "A nd th e cy cles b eg in a ga in ."

T here w as a lull in the discourse so H ow ard brought lip t h e qu es ti on s .

"N o," M r. Fukuoka shook his head, "9 0 to 'fly o ld h ills id e o rc hard . S ee fo r y ou rs elf. If y ou are still

in tere ste d c om e b ack to mo rro w m orn in g."

Just past the rice flelds w e founda new asphalt road that ended near the entrance to a forest on round

g re en h ills . F re in .th ere a b ro ke n c em en t la ne c lim be d sh arp ly , th en e nd ed a bru ptly . O nly a fo otp ath

c on tin ue d o n th ro ug h d ee p o ld w oo ds .

A not her w ay circled back tow ard a clearing w ith w ork sheds and-a fo rty fo ot h ig h, w id e o pe n

classroom that spiraled tow ard m overcast sky, D ark w eathered straw covered the platform floor

w he re , p la ce d c are fu lly to o ne sid e, la y s ev era l c la y-c oate d w oo de n ro llers .

L eft in disorder w ere carved beam s, a w ooden m ill for cleaning seeds, a steel cem ent m ixer, handmade

sh ov els, s ic kles , ra kes a nd h oes . E ve ry th in g w as c ov ere d w ith d irt an d le av es , a s th ou gh c om ple te ly

f or go tte n. F ee lin g th e e mp ti ne ss I t ho ug ht, w he re a re h i. s s tu de nt s, th; f ut ur e t ea ch e; s, t hr -o ne s w ho

o nc e u sed th ese ru sty to ols? W hen h e fin ally d ep arts, Witt a ny on e n on ce , a nd sa ve hi~ treasured

orchards and farm ? E xcept for the w ind, like a voice in m y head, all else fell utterly Silent

C hilled, I w alked north on a path thattunneled into new grow th, strange at first to my we s~ e rn e ye s,

T hen I began to recognize old friends like m ulberry, sum ac,acacia and fig . .1 f ound m yselfm a ~m atlm ea do w g ro wn w ild , a nd to th e u ntra in ed e ye , a ban do ne d. Iyo g le am ed b ~lo w, n ew a nd p u~ sa tm ~,

w hile ab ov e, th e e arly au tu mn o rch ard p osse ss ed a tim ele ss fe elin g. T he W1~~ ro se an d th e lig ht d ied

as a frustrating rain forced us back to tow n for another anxious night of w aitm g.

W e all w ent to M r. F ukuoka's hilltop orchard at first tight, although the day w as om inous, still and

cloudy. I clattered around with my cameras and tripod as the others search~d about. I had .

photographed the pagoda and rollers, and had just m oved on to the seed m ill, w hen H ow ard said

sim ply , "H av e a lo ok a t th is".

L iftin g th e w et c ov er fro m th e c em en t. m ix er; h e re ac he d in ..an d p ulle d o ut in cr~ dib l~ jew els, ju st lik e

the ones in the books. B etw een his fingers w ere three brow n clay balts, half an inch tn diam eter, each

b urstin g w ith g erm in atin g s ee ds. T he ty ph oo n ra in s h ad b ro ug ht th em to life in sp ite o f a p ro lo ng ed

drought.



cxcued, w e ta nn ed o ut a lo ng th e u pp er p ath a nn ou nc in g p la nts w e r eco gn ize d. I k new in m y h ea rt w e

h ad f ou nd n o o rd in ar y o rc ha rd f ur i t w a s w il d, y et e di bl e, s pi ri tu al a nd n ur tu ri ng i na w ay o nl y

u nb ou nd N at ur e c an b e. A ro un d u s g re w p ea ch , p lum , m ap le , c it ru s, p in e, a ca ci a, m el on v in es a nds co re s o f p la nt s w e c ou ld r io t i de nt it y. T he g ro un d w as l it te re d w it h t wi gs , s tr aw , c lo ve r a nd g ra ss es ,

c ou nt le ss e me ra ld l ea ve s t ha t w o ve a d ee p t ap es tr y. A nd t he re . w a s n o b ar e e ar th a t a li i

C at c al le d o ut g ln ko , p er si mmon , h yd ra ng ea , ' an d o ak , t he n a sk ed , " Is t hi s a d aw n r edwo od ?" H ow ar d

f ou nd a c yp re ss c op se p at ie nt ly t ri mm ed . f o r p ol es , w it h t re es g rowi ng s tr ai gh t a nd t al l. N aomi ,w a nd er ed b li ss fu ll y t hr ou ghou t, e xp lo ri ng t he r ea ss ur in g f or es t, wh il e I w a s s ti ll ed b y t he ho ll ow mu si c

o f s il ve r b am b oo g en tl y c li ck in g. A nt ho ny s tr ol le d o ff a lo ne l oo ki ng f ar s ol it ud e a nd mor e o pe n v ie wsof the fish pond in the valley below . .

A s o ur a pp oi nt me nt n ea re d w e w al ke d q ui ck ly b ac k t hr ou gh n ea t ' pa dd y f ie ld s, s om e w it h g re en

u nh ar ve st ed r ic e, o th er s w it h p al e s ee de d s tr aw f re sh c ut a nd h un g t o d ry . O nl y l at er w ou ld w eu nd er st an d t ha t o n t he w ay w e h ad p as se d M as an ob u F uk uo ka 's .n at ur al f ie ld o fm at ur in g g ra in .

M r. F ul <u ok a r ec ei ve d u s i ns id e, t he n i nq ui re d, w ha t h ad w e f ou nd ? H e l is te ne d a s w e r ec it ed o urm or ni ng h ig hl ig ht s, t he n a sk ed u s o ne b y o ne a bo ut o ur r el ig io us o r s pi ri tu al b ac kg ro un d. A tt en ti ve t oe ac h r ep ly , h e s at q ui et ly s tu dy in g o ur f ac es , g au gi ng I t hi nk , h ow mu ch h e. c ou ld s ha re . " Ig no ra nc e,h at re d a nd g re ed a re k il li ng N at ur e," h e s ai d." Down , d ow n , e ve ry th in g g oe s. A s w e k il l N at ur e, w ea re k il li ng o ur se lv es .a nd G od i nc ar na te a s t he w o rl d a s w el l. "(2)

" Th e w or ld i s d ig gi ng i ts el f i nt o a b ot tom le ss p it w it h m od er n a gr ic ul tu re ," h e a dm on is he d. " Th es im p le h ea rt h o f t he s ma ll f arm i s t he t ru e c en te r o f o ur u ni ve rs e. S ci en ti fi c t ho ug ht i s l ea di ng y ouaway f rom a hea lt hy l if e. Ev en t he p ra ct ic e o f c on v en ti on al o rg an ic a gr ic ul tu re i s a d an ge ro u sd ig re ss io n. I t c an no t b e s us ta in ed i f y ou h av e t o r ob o ne p ar t o f t he e ar th t o f ee d a no th er ."

M r. F uk uo ka de sc ri be d h is o ri en ta l. v ie w o f e vo lu ti on , f rom b ef or e t he b eg in ni ng o f p ar ti cl e b ir th t o

t he v er y p re se nt . A s t he m at er ia l u ni ve rs e e xp an ds , h e e xp la in ed , a ll L if e f ol lo ws t he s am e h armo ni ou s

p at te rn s o f i nwa rd ly s pi ra li ng e ne rg y t owa rd t he No th in gn e ss , c al le d "Mu" .

H e t ol d how Da rw i n' s l in ea r v is io n wa s c lo ud ed a nd i nc omp le te , d u e t o we st er n " de co ns tr uc ti on is t"

t ho ug ht s. B li nd t oa t ot al r ea li ty o f N at ur e, D arwi n s aw f ig ur e a nd g ro un d r ev er se d a nd s o f ou nd onlys tr ug gl e a nd c om p et it io n. w h er e u ni ty o f f un ct io n e xi st s. T he G re at W a y, S en se i explained, h as n op es ts , n o d is ea se . O nl y f au lt s w he n s ee n i n p ar ts .

H e t ol d u s t he e vo lu ti on ar y p ro ce ss i ts el f i s n o t j u st s in gu la r a nd b ra nc hi ng l ik e a t re e, b ut c yc li c, m ar e

l ik e a m u lt it ud e o f v ol ca ni c i sl an ds eme rg in g a nd s ub si di ng f rom t he s am e. s ea f lo or . A ll k in ds o fc re at ur es h av e g rown s imu lt an eo us ly , f rom un iv er sa l p ro g en it or s, a cc or di ng t o t he r is e a nd f al l o f t he ir

I nd iv id ua l g en es . Y et b y c ommon o ri gi n e ac h s ha re s t ra it s t ha t p ro ve t he o ve ra ll O n en es s o f B ei ng .

T he m on er a, h e s ai d, t he b ac te ri a a nd a lg ae , t he s in gl e- ce ll ed c re at ur es s o s im p le i n s t ru ct ur e, y et n o

l es s a d va nc ed h ol d a c ommon b on d w it h t he r es t o f u s, a s c o- de sc en da nt s f r'o m t h e v er y b eg in ni ng .C oun tl es s p ar al le l p u nc tu at ed e v ol ut io n s, w e bb ed a nd i nt er co nn ec te d, d er iv ed t he g re at es t d iv er si ty o ff orms f rom I ch ib an , t he o ri gi na l o n es , t ha t h av e a lw a ys l iv ed w i th in , w i th o ut , a nd b e si de tis. When

n ew k in ds o f f oo d a pp ea r, n ew l if e f o rm s i n t u rn d ev el op t o e at t hem, a nd e ve nt ua ll y e ve ry th in gb ec om es f oo d f or t he G re at O n e. Jn a p er fe ct , s el f- ba la nc in g w ay .

Su dd en ly h e l ef t t he . r oom , t he n r ea pp ea re d w it h a h ea v y p o li sh ed s to n e . .R ip p li ng . t h r ou gh it wereo ra ng e a nd b la ck b an ds o f o xi di ze d s ed im en t a nd f os si l b ac te ri a, t hr ee a nd a h al f b il li on y ea rs o ld . H e

l ea ne d s li gh tl y f or wa rd a nd w it ho ut a w or d p la ce d th e a nc es to rs i n t h e p alms o f m y h an ds ! " Com e) ac k i n t wo h ou rs ," h e n od de d, a nd d is mi ss ed u s.

>N er et ur ne d. a l it tl e e ar ly a nd s at o n t he p or ch t o r es t, b ut t he d oo r f le w o pe n a nd M r. F uk uo kammed ia te ly a sk ed ~ s i n. H e l ef t t he r oom two o ~ t hr ee t im es t? g at he r b oo k s a nd a rt s up p li es . I li na ll yr e n od de d, s pr ea d r ic e p ap er o n t he f lo or , a nd W it h b ru sh a nd . in k, s at r ea dy t o c al li gr ap h h is s to ry ,

C at w en t o n to as k if he h ad p lan ted a h yd ran ge a w itli b lu e f lo wer s in th e o rc ha rd , to te st th e s oil. H et ur ne d t o N aom i f or a m ome nt , t he n l oo ke d u p a nd e xp la in ed , " Is v er y i nt er es ti ng , t ha t f lo we r c ha ng ed

c ol or a s s oi l c h an ge d. I p la nt ed i t t o c he ck i f s oi l a ci d o r a lk al i, b ut r ea li ze d t ha t k in d o f s ci en ti fi c

obse rva t ion i s no t nece s sa ry, S o n ow I j ust sp re ad s ee ds a nd le t N a tu re d o th e w ork ". '

"Ver y s ci en ti fi c. N a tu ra l F a rm i ng i s d e sc ri be d a s s ci en c e b eyo nd s ci en ce , N a tu ra l F a rm t ec hn iq u es a re

b ase d o n cy cle s. I f y ou se e h ow th e N atu ral F ar m lo ok s, y ou w ill u nd er sta nd . I t is N atu re , o r G od 's

d es ig n i ts el f I de as a nd ' p a tt er ns b y t ha t f el low , B il l Mo ll is on o f' Pe rma cu lt ur e De si gn , if he practiced

N atu ral F arm in g, w aste n o tim e, a rr iv e a t sa me th in g. I f y ou g o h om e an d m ak e se ed b alls , it w ill b e a ll t

r ig ht , e ve n i f y ou d o n ot k now e ve ry th in g. B ut if y ou e xp ec t r es ul ts , y ou m ig ht f ai l. J us t d o i t.. D o n ot

doubtl"

R aisin g h is h an d h e sa id , " I k n ow y ou f ee l y o u m ust a sk a lo t o f q ue stio ns, b ut if y o u ju st b elie ve , I

w il l s h ow y ou a s ec re t." H e c li mb ed s ti ff ly t o h is f ee t, l ef t t he r oom a nd r et ur ne d w it h t wo r ic e p la nt s,

o ne t al l a nd s pi nd ly , t he o th er s ho rt , r ob us t a nd h ea vy -h ea de d, b ot h w ra pp ed i n n ew sp ap er , m u dd y

r oo ts a nd a ll . I a sk ed i f h e h ad g rowr i t hem h im se if . " Ye s, t hi s o ne ," b e s ai d, p oi nt in g t o t he V ig or ou s

p lan t. " Th e o th er isf ro m a n eig hb or s fie ld ." W e m ov ed c lo ser f or a b ette r lo ok , a nd I as ke d h owmany grains wereoneach head. '

" Ho w m an y d o y ou th in k?" h e a n sw ere d, a nd H ow ard su gg este d m ay be o ne h un dr ed to o ne h un dr eda nd t we nt y f iv e f or n orma l h ig h y ie ld .

" Ab ou t t wo h un dr ed g ra in s, " h e c la im ed . " P ar tn er s p la nt o ne s qu ar e m et er w it h f if te en p la nt s, c ou nts ta lk s, t we nt y e ac h p la nt , t hi rt y t ho us an d g ra in s. I p ut t en b al ls i n s ame a re a, h ad t hi rt y p la nt s, e ac hp la nt two hund re d g ra in s, b e st h ar ve st s ci en ti fi ca ll y, s ix ty t ho us an d g ra in s, a ls o s tr on ge r p la nt s.T he or et ic al ly , t hi s i s t h e i de al r ic e p ro du ct io n. I t i s i m po ss ib le t o p ro du ce m o re t ha n t ha t, y ou s ee ?

B ec au se o n N at ur al F arm, p la nt s c an a bs or b o ne -h un dr ed p er c en t o f t he e ne rg y f rom s un sh in e. N oa rt if ic ia l f er ti li ze r, s o p la nt s h av e p owe r t o a bs or b a ll a va il ab le s un sh in e. Th at i s l lm it in ~ f ac to r o n how

mu ch p la nt s c an p ro du ce . "

C at w an te d t o k now i f h e h ad d ev el op ed i t b y s el ec ti on o r b re ed in g. " Fi rs t I t ri ed b re ed in g," h e r ep li ed ," Bu t r ea liz ed b ug s w ere d oin g sa me th in g, s o I ju st le t th em , a nd n ow lo ok f or n ew k in ds. I alw ay sh av e n ew v ar ie ti es o f r ic e a pp ea ri ng i nm y f ie ld . M rc h o f t he b row n r ic e y ou e at i n' Am er ic a t od ayca me f ro m m y f leld . Y ou rs is b ro th er to m in e. Y ea rs ag o I g av e a f ew g ra in s to tw o m en , b ut th ey o nlyto ok it, b re d it a nd n ow se ll it. w it ho ut r ew ar d t o m e o r u si ng t he m o ne y f or N at ur al F armi ng . r onlya sk ed o ne p er ce nt o fp ro fl t b e p rom is ed f or p ro te ct io n o f e nv ir onme nt , a ny m o re m u st b e u se d f or

e du ca ti ng a bo ut n at ur al w ay s. Bu tI g av e s ee ds b ef or e a c on tr ac t w as s ig ne d. T he y w en t a he ad

w it ho ut p ermi ss io n, I o nl y h op e t he y a re u si ng p ro fi t i n g o od w ay s, b ut I h av e n ot h ea rd ."

"W it h b re ed in g b y b ug s, s ci en ti fi c b re ed in g is n ot n ec es sa ry . N ow I k now h um an b ei ng s a re f oo ls . If ou nd o ut th at w hat I w as d oin g w as n ot n ece ssa ry , I h av e stu died f or fltty y ea rs , 1 d id n ot n ee d t o.

W h en I w as t we nt y f iv e y ea rs o ld , I c am e t o t hi s c on cl us io n. A nd a ft er f if ty y ea rs , I r ea ch ed t he b 'a mec on cl us io n. We do n ot n ee d to d o an yth in g. B ut p eo ple k no w it is v ery d if fic ult to d o n oth in g, w hen

n o N at ur e i s l ef t, a nd d es er ti fi ca ti on i s s pr ea di ng . S o, I m ad e s ee d b al ls , S ow in g s ee d b al ls i s t h e

n ec es sa ry m in im um t ha t m u st b e d on e."

I p es ter ed h im a bo ut w hen I sh ou ld p ut o ut th e see d b alls, in fa il, w in te r, o r w ait u ntil sp rin g. " Not im e, n o p la ce s pe ci al ," h e a ns we re d p at ie nt ly . " Yo u h av e t o d ec id e, e ve n i f s n ow i s f al li ng , s ee ds d o

n ot sp ro ut. T hat a ll th ere is t o it. F ir st r oo ts s pr ou t, d if fe re nt f rom o rd in ar y i de a. "

T he n h e s hi ft ed d el ib er at el y t o t he n ee d t o r ep ri nt h is b oo ks . m os t o f w hi ch a re d if fi cu lt t o f in d.A nt ho ny , w ho se f at he r p ro du ce d t he f ir st E ng li sh e di ti on , w an te d t o k now i n h ow ma ny o th er

l an gu ag es T he O ne -S tr aw R ev ol ut io n h ad a pp ea re d. A t l ea st e le ve n w e w er e t ol d, " How man y o f

t ho se p ub li sh er s g ot p ermi ss io n, " h e " a sk ed ? "N on e, n o o ne ," M r. F uk uo ka s hr ug ge d. H e c ou ld n ot a skt he p oo r c ou nt ri es f or m o ne y h e s ai d, . an d t h e r es t j us t p ub li sh ed f or f re e. N ex t t im e. M r . F uk uo ka

s ai d, h e w ou ld l ik e t o r ep ub li sh T he O ne -S tr aw R ev ol ut io n h im se lf , a nd t he n a rr an ge f or s om e k in d o f

distribution.



" In B ang la d~ sh , I nd ia , A f ri ca , E ur op e, Amer ic a, m any , m any l oc at io ns , I h av e d emon st ra te d it is

p os sib le t o s to p th e a dv an ce o f m an -m ad e d es er ts w it h N atu ra l. F ar mi ng , a nd b rin g b ac k g re en p la nts

f or f oo d a nd s he lt er . B ut s om e g ov er nm en ts in te rf er ed , a nd in p la ce s c al le d th e p eo pl e s ed it io us w he n'

th ey b ec am e w el l f ed a nd in de pe nd en t. . Al th ou gh a bl e i n o n e y ea r t o r e- gr ow sma ll e di bl e f or es t, pOOt •

p eo ple w er e f or ce d t o r etu rn t o c hemic al ly d ep en de nt a gr ic ult ur e. N o th ah k y ou l I n S om al ia , y oubro ug ht foo d w ith gu ns , bu t on ly tho se w ith sun s g ot foo d, so y ou sh ould on ly se nd se ed in fu tu re ."

"W he n I w ent to S om alia , I loo ke d do wn o n the la nd from a n a irpla ne P eo ple sa y tha t th ere is n owater, L-Jt t he re is l I f ou nd a la rg e, tw o h un dr ed m ete r w id e, r iv er d is ap pe ar in g s ud de nl y i n t h e d es er t.W he re d id it go ? U nd ergro und ! If yo u d ig tw o m ete rs do wn, yo u w ill fe el m oistu re , S o if w e sowplants whose roots reach two' m eters, they will get w ater and grow." .

" Af ri ca h as o nly th re e p er c en t o f its ju ng le le ft f ro m e ig hty y ea rs a go . S in ce p eo ple i n A f ric a, a fte rE ur op ea n c olo niz at io n, s ta rte d g ro wi ng o nly a f ew k in ds o f p la nts f or e xp or t, li ke c of fe e, t ea , c om a nd

cot to n, t he d es er t h as b ee n s pr ea di ng , T hi s u nb al an ce d agr ic ul tu re c on ti rb ut ed t o d es er ti fi ca ti on . T he

g ov er nm en ts in A fr ic a t ak e s ee ds awa y f ro m p eo pl e s o th at th ey c an no t b e s el f- su ff ic ie nt a nd h av e to

s ta rt p ro du ci ng c as h c~o ps t ha t o nl y b en ef it t he l ea de rs ."

"H e he ld u p II b oo k a nd s aid , " Lo ok a t th es e p ic tu re s. P eo pl e f ro m t he g ov er nm en t h er e in S om ali a,h av eb een p la nr in g o nl y 8. f ew k in ds o f tr ee s s uc h a s e uc aly pt us , a nd h av e g iv en th em e ig hte en t on s o f

w ate r, e ig ht tim es a da y. B ut ha lfo fth em h av e died . T he y w an te d to kn ow w hy. I told th em no t to

wa te r t hem . It p re ve nt ed th e r oo ts f ro m g ro win g d ee p b ec au se th e p la nts w er e s ati sf ie d w ith th es urf ac e w at er . I a dv is ed th em t o- ch an ge th e k in ds o f p la nts th ey w er e u si ng . I s ug ge ste d a ca ci a, w ho se '

r oo ts g ro w tw o m et er s w ith in t he w ee k th ey s pr ou t. A nd a ls o s ow v eg et ab le s ee ds w ith a ca cia s,"

" Se ed i s s en tie nt ," h e s aid . " Ve ry sma ll s ee d g oe s d ow n i nto d ir t. It only one w ho know s how to m ake

p la nt s, f ru its . B eg in w ith a ca cia . A ca cia s ay , 'W ate r, n o th an k y ou ,' s en ds r oo t d ow n o ne merer.jwom et er , b ri ng u p w at er . T he n p la nt w ate rm elo n, s we et p ot at o, d al ko n in s ha de , P ro te ct w ith b ru sh s o

c am el s a nd g oa ts s ta y o ut o f g re en b elt a nd i n ti me , w it h s ee d b alls , a ll s av ed ,"

" At f its t. t he g ov er nm en t d id n ot li ke t hi s i de a. B ut t heYa ll. ow ed p eo pl~ to s ow v eg eta bl e s ee ds , b uton ly in g ard ens . Se ed s! S ee ds a re the be st gifts to A fric a, in S om alia , I w as told b y th e po lic e not tog iv e s ee ds to p eo ple . O th er wi se , I w ou ld b e a rr es te d. B ut I d id . C hi ld re n w er e t he f irs t p eo pl e w hoc am e to m e to g et s ee ds. W he n the c hild re n so we d th em , the y s pro ute d. W he n the you ng p eop le s aw

tha t, th ey c am e a nd a sk ed m e to g iv e the m se ed s. I, o f c ours e did it. T he y s ta rt ed s ow in g s ee ds i n t hed ese rt. A you ng m an w ho s ow ed on e o rm y se ed s, w atc hed th e se ed fo r thre e d ays w ith ou t sle eping

until it sprout ed. Wat ch ing oneseed] L oo k," h e s ho we d u s a no th er p ic tu re , " Yo u s ee , e ve n o ra ng e

tre es g re w on e m ete r in tw o ye ars . S o it is e as y to c onv ert to fruit t rees i n Af ri ca. "

C ha ng in g d ir ec ti on s, C at a sk ed , "Wh at a bo ut o ve r- po pu la ti on ?" H e t ho ug ht f or II momen t t hen

answer ed , " P op ul at io n, t he q ue st io n s ou nd s imp or ta nt . B u t it is to ta lly w rong to try to so lv e a ll

p ro blems b y c on tr ol lin g p op ul at io n, A ni ma ls d o n ot d o t hi s . .G od h as a p la n. I f G od m ak es p eo ple ,

G od m ake s foo d fo r th em . T he re is food a nd dinos aurs a ppe ar. T he re is fo od a nd h um an s a ppe ar. W e

m ak e d ese rts . If w e m ak e de se rts gre en , w e c an a ll e at. H ow m any hu ma n be ings c an b e fe d by

N atu ra l F ar min g? Y ou h av e th at q ue sti on b ec au se y ou think' h um an b ei ng s m ake h um an b ei ng s . .B u tw e d o ho t e ven kn ow w hy frog s or a nts ' a re b orn , W he n the re is e nou gh fo od fo r fiv e m illio n pe ople ,

f iv e m il li on p eo pl e w il l b e b or n, Go d' s p la n i s p er fe ct . B ut , o nl y wh '1 .n h um an b ei ng s s to p d es tr oY in g

N atu re , c an w e s ur viv e. B ec au se o f t he d eg re e o ft h.i s d es tr uc tio n, w e h av e p ut o ur se lv es in as it ua tio n

wh er e we h av e t o c on tr ol p op ul at io n. "

,C at p er sis te d, a sk in g f or a c omme nt o n w he th er t he re w ou ld b e a t em po ra ry f oo d s ho rt ag e u nt il

N at ur al F an ni ng o n a b ig s ca le c ou ld t ak e o ff . M r. F uk uo ka s ho ok h is h ea d, " No p ro blem. Iflill

J ap an es e w ere f an ne rs , n ot i mp os si bl e to d o. W it h N at ur al F aFmi ng , in J ap an f lv ep .e op l.e c an liv e o no ne th ou sa nd s qu ar e m ete rs o f l an d. I fp eo pl e s ee this th ey c an no t s ay a ll w ill g et th e s am e r es ul ts . N ote as y, b ut it c an b e d on e." (3) .

H e be ga n his lo ng disc ou rse sim ply : " Wha t I w ant to te ll y ou is th at it is n et hu man be ing s w ho c re ate

a nd grow pla nts . I w an t to ta lk a bo ut th e roo ts o f thing s in th e w orld w e c anno t e xpre ss w ith w ords ,

. the w Ofld w e c ann ot us ua lly se e. W he n w e sow se ed, w e think w e w ill gro w pla nts. B ut a ctua lly pla ntsg rqw w ith ou t o ur kn ow le dg e o r c are . W he n w e a cc um ula te k no wle dge , w e g et lo st, A cc um ula tio n of

k no wle dge bring s a bo ut ou r o wn ru in , I d eny kn ow le dg e. G od c re ate s a nd grow s p la nts. So , m yfo re ign frie nd s c at! m e, "A M an D oing N othing ." T he se ide as of m in e a bo ut N atu re c am e to m e w he nI \'las tw enty five y ea rs o ld . P eople th in k tha t I m us t ha ve g otte n this ide a thro ug h m y fifty y ea rs o f

a gr ic ul tu ra l s tu dy . N o! B ut . i t i s i mp os si bl e f or m e t o d es cr ib e t he m om en t th at s ud de nly c ha ng ed m y

ideas."

" On this pla ne t w e do no t h ave so me thing w e c an c all N ature "a ny m ore . W e ha ve lo st it. W e do n oth av e N ature w e c an g o b ac k to. W ha t w e m ust.do Is se arc h for N ature . B ut h um an kn ow le dg e c ann ot

d o it. W e c an on ly a sk N ature . S o w e, an d e spe cially se ed c om pa nie s in th e w orld , s hou ld colie ct a llkind s o f s eed s o n the p la ne t a nd o ffe r the m to G od, N atu re , a nd pra y. T his k in d of a ttitud e tow ardN at ur e is n ec es sa ry . O f'c ou rs e, e ve n ifw e pra y, G od w ill no t s ay an ything . W e m ay no t b e insp ire d.

e ith er . B ut th e p la nt s w hi ch s ta rt. g ro wi ng a re G od 's a nswe r. N atu re w il l t e ac h y ou .

" Cu lt iv at in g la nd is n ot g oo d. I t r em ov es th e g re en c ov er a nd e xp os es th e b ac te ri a to s un sh in e. J us t a sw e ne ed c lo th es to p rote ct. ou r s kin fro m su ns hine , o ur pla ne t n eed s gre en. I ha ve u se d m y fa rm fo r

fif'v c on se cu tive ye ars. T here is n o ne ed to le t it ta ke a re st be ca us e I ha ve neverculeivared i t. I f y ou

J U S t so w c la y s ee d b alls w ith on e h un dre d kind s of s ee ds , do n ot w orry a bou t w ate r. W he re th ere isg re en , w at er c om es . D o n ot th in k I d o t his , f or o nl y G od h as c re ate d p er fe ct t hi ng s."

•

H e c om plete d a d raw in g, the n as the sile nc e gre w lo ng, w e a ske d h ow h e g ot the ide a o f se ed ba lls .H e r ep li ed , " Yo u k no w th at . d aik on r ad is h s ee ds a re i n h a rd s he ll s, w ell , I n otic ed t ha t w he n t he y d ro p

on the g roun d, the y d ec ay a s the y s ta rt to s prou t. S o 1 r ealiz ed if t he y ne ed a sh ell like tha t, the n c la yc an be the s he ll for a ba ll w ith m any se ed s inside . "

Ama ze d, I sa id , "S o th ey do not h av e to sp rou t on the su rfa ce , the y ha ve the p rote ction o f th e c la ys he ll to b eg in w it h, a nd s oi l a nd m ois tu re . I ts a sma ll earth, a m in ia tu re e ar th , h ow b ea ut if ul, a nd s os im ple ." H e r eg ar de d u s carefullythen s ai d, "Ma ny p eo ple a re i nt er es te d in s ee d b all s, b ut. t h ey d o n ot

a ct . I l ov e b es t to g iv e c hi ld re n b ox es o f s ee ds a s g if ts b ec au se t he y s ca tte r th em s o in no ce ntl y."

" Se ed b al ls n ee d a t le as t o ne h un dr ed k in ds o f s ee ds ," h e th en a ss er te d. " On e s ee d e ve ntu ally m ak est en th ou sa nd s ee ds . I f y ou s ow s ee d b al ls , a nd w ai t th re e y ea rs , y ou w il l u nd er sta nd w ha t N i:'! ur e i s . Itwor ks m uc h b et te r th an r ea din g b oo ks a bo ut N atu ra l F ar min g. S ee d b all s a re a sma ll u niv ers e inthe mse lve s. I h av e w ritte n six boo ks , b ut I w as u na ble to ex pre ss w ha t N ature is in w ords . S o Id ec id ed to m an if es t N atu re in .f or m. A s ee d b all is a o ne c en ti me te r m od el o f a N atu ra l F ar m, w ith

tre es, fruits, v eg eta ble s a nd gra in s. I d o n ot s ay m y one h und re d kind s of se ed s a re the b est. It i s just

a n e nt ra nc e to N at ur al F ar mi ng , "

" Go d's lo ve g ro ws p la nts . N atu re g ro ws c ro ps . B ir ds s ow s ee ds . I n t hr ee y ea rs , e ve n t he s oi l s ta rts

c ha ng in g s po nt an eo us ly . T he re a re n o id ea s l ik e b ig o r sma ll, s tr on g o r w ea k. r ic h o r p oo r, i n N a tu re .

N o id ea . li ke 't he s tr ug gle f or e xi st en ce '. T he re a re b ug s a nd d is ea se s, b ut th ey d o n ot c au se p ro blems .M an y k in ds o f b ug s. c o- ex is t in n at ur al h ar mo ny . W e c an no t k no w why p la nts g ro w. I d ar e s ay , G od 'slov e. F or e xa mple, the so il o n m y m o unta in is th e sa me a s tha t in the d ese rts a nd -w as 110! g reen f if ty

y ea rs ag o, B ut n ow , e ve n thou gh I h ave n ot c ha ng ed tqe soil, plan ts g row th ~re ."

" In th e b eg in nin g, m an -m ad e d es er ts w er e a ls o g re en ," h e c au tio ne d, " Ar rd th e m os t i mp or ta nt . t hin g is

10 sto p th e a dv ane em ent of arid la nd s a ro un d th e w orld tod ay ," H e s aid w e c an do th is q uic kly by

s pr ea di ng s ee ds , h un dr ed s o f d if fe re nt k in ds s ui ta bl e t o e ac h l oc al it y, b y t he t on , ' fr om a ir pl an es . H is

m et ho d i nv clv es m ak in g h alf in ch b al ls l ik e th os e w e h ad f ou nd , c on ta in in g h un dr ed s o f m ix ed s ee ds ,

m ic ro be s a nd h umus ) a l l - r o l l e d i ns id e p ro te ct iv e c la y coa ti ng s, C la y s he ll s d ef en d t he s ee ds f romd ro ug ht , i ns ec ts , r od en ts a nd b ir ds t ha t wo ul d o th erwi se e a t . t hem b ef or e th ey s pr ou t, T im el y r ain s

t he n r el ea se th e s ee ds a nd ' n o m at te r w he re th ey la nd s om eth in g a pp ro pri ate in sid e w ill g ro w. O nc e. es ta bl ls he d, t he r es ul ti ng p la nt s n at ur al ly r es ee d t hem se lv es w it h t he h el p o f g ra vi ty , w in d, wa te r,

i nsect s and l arger an imals ."



" At f ir st I p ic ke d f lv e o r s ix k in ds o f a ca ci a," h e a dd ed , " th en tr an sp la nte d th em . B ut t ra ns pla nt in g w as

II b i g mi st ake , I do not do it any m ore. Y ou can check that t re es p la nt ed b y b ir ds a re r ea ll y s tr ai gh t,

g ro w tw o m ete rs p er y ea r. C he ck h ow o ld b y b ra nc hin g. R oo ts lik e th is ," h e d re w o ut th e m otio n,

"U pp er p arts o f tre e a re th e sa me. Ing o to d ese rt n ow Isay, 'Iam a fo olish o ld man,' and p r oceed

that way."

"Big tre es, b etw een fo rty a nd o ne h un dre d m ete rs h ig h, a nd sh ort tre es , a re a lso n eed ed ," h e

explained, "Jf'trees g ro w ta ll e no ug h, t o a bo ut o ne h un dr ed m et er s, th at . i nd ic ate s a o ne -h un dr ed p er

c en t retu rn o f N a tu re in th at a rea . A ny wa y w e n ee d tree s o f v ario us h eig hts. B ut I a ntto u se th re e

t ho us an d k in ds o f s ee ds i n A fr ic a, b ec au se o ne h un dr ed k in ds a re n ot e no ug h. U n fo rt un ate ly s ee ds are-

h ar d t o g et. It is e asy to m ak e s ee d b alls, b ut w e h av e to b e c arefu l in ch oo sin g se ed s, es pe cia lly fo r

A fl :ic a. I t a ll d ep en ds o rrt he a re a, t yp e o f c ou ntr y. h ow q uic kl y t he d es ert is s pr ea din g lin d s o o n.A nim als n ee d to e at !o o, s o sp re ad se ed b alls o ve r a s la rg e a n are a a s p oss ib le . O th erw ise , e ve n a sseeds sprout, they w ill be eaten," .

~ .~ sk ed h i~ e xa ctl y ~ ha t ~ Ia y t o u .s ~f or m ak in g th e s ee d b al ls . . " Re d c la y, " h e a ns we re d c on fld en tly ,

l lk e f or t il es , re d b ric ks , li ke th e,SOl I d ee p d ow n, R e? cla ys , n ot w h! te p or ce la in c la ys . P oi nt i s, c la y is

s he ll , s ee ds s ho uld b e p ro te ct ed . hk eth a~ . y ou m us t h id e s ee ds s c a nim als c an no t s ee th em . D iame te ro f s ee d b ~ls s ho uld v ar y .a cc o~ dJ ng to ~lZe o f t ,he s eeds. A la ye r o f s oil h um up a nd c la y a bo ut tw o an do ne h al ftlm .e s th e c cll ec tl ve d ia me te r o f th e m ix ed s ee ds s ho uld c ov er t he s ee d c lu ste rs . F or a eri alseedspreading; h ar de ne d c la y c ov ers a ll . B ig ge r s ee ds m ea ns b ig ge r s ee d b al ls . S in gle s ee d c ro ps l ik en ee m ay h av e o nly o ne g rain Ine ac h c la y p el le t. H ug e s ee ds li ke c oc on uts ju st n ee d t o b e c ov er ed ."

,j A c la y b ~1 Ih as a ll th e. f ert il iz er s n ee de d i n it , b ut t he y a re 's le ep in g'. C la y i s s le ep in g s oi l. B ut w ate r

. c~ nw a ke I t. ~ eo p l. e t hi nk I .h at r ed dar h as n o v al ue . B ut a ll f er tili ze rs a re in r ed c la y. F or e xamp le ,

n J~ ro ge n, c alc ium, m an y m ln e~ als a re i n r e d c la y, T o w ak e c la y u p w e n ee d 'c utt in g' w it h a cid s f romr ain a nd g ro un d w at er , a nd a cid s f rom p la nt r oo ts a nd o rg an is ms li vin g a ro un d th em ."

"Ma ~y a toms a r~ i n s ee d b all s. B ut th ey a re s le ep in g, b ec au se th ey h av e n ot d is so lv ed . S in ce th ey h av en ot~ ls s,o lv :d , p la nts c an no t a bs or b th em . C la y c at ch es t he se c om po ne nt s, T o t he c om po ne nts , re d

~l~y IS h ~e ~ b la nk et. W ~ h av e to tak e th e b lan ke t o ff. T o d o th at w e n ee d to 'c ut w ith s cisso rs '. T hes CI.~ so rs a re g re en g ro win g p la nts su ch as a ca cia s a nd clo ve rs a nd th e c arb on ic a cid s p ro du ce d· dt he l~ r oo ts . I n s ee d b al is , t he re IS ev ery th in g, Y ou w ill se e it if y ou c he ck th e e le me nta ry c la y a ro unparticles." . . ay

"~ed clay w as the first so il w hen th e E arth w as m ade. P eo ple thin k that p lants fertilizers rd 'I' .d ffe t Pith' k th lif I h' d bact ..,. an SOl are. I . re~ , eop e.. In . .. at Ie ess ~ ln gs an acteria ~re d if\e:7 nt. B ut a l l w ere In clay fro m th ebegl .nnm~, Tha t IS why. I s ay , t he re IS n o n ee d f or c h~mlc al f er til iz er. I f y o u l oo k a t th e e le me nta ryp an ic le s I .n cl ay y ou W Ill u nd er sta nd , S ee d b al ls h av e e ve ry th in g, T ha t is t he w ay I t hin k' a b· · t .d

balls Plant . I '1 d hinz ai . .... . o u see.: ' n s, 8 n1m .aS, 501 a n e ve ry t I ng a re c on ne cte d, b ro th er s a nd s is te rs , r el ativ es . B ut h um anbeings are short-sighted and we cannot see that all a re connected by l ove:" , .

" If w e d o n oth in g, m ou nta in s will b e a bl e t o- ge t their green cover back, Forty years ago. th .:five or si . . I llvi h A h . .... . . ., ere,were

. .. IX p eo p e lv mS ere . . ~ t a t tim e,. m y m ou nta .1 n c ou ld n ot e asily re co ve r its g re en . S o I d id

n ot le t p eo ple g o to . my mountain f or a w hil e, A nd t re es s ta ~e d g ro win g. 'E sp ec ia ll y, t he se l as t f ou r O rfive ~ears" because I ~averyot been ab le !o g o to m y m ou ntam v ery often. lam too old. T rees are .

g ro wm g b ig ge r a nd ? Ig ge r. Also m ore b ird s h av e C Om e an d th ey ca rry m ore se ed s fro m th e tre es a nd

m ore tre es a re g ro win g fro m th e se e~ sowed b y b ird s, T he se tree s h av e a m ore n atu ra l sh ap e a ndgrow faster. Every year they bear fruit," .

"M ost o f the trees on m y m ou ntain are six or seven y ears old . T he acacias are ten y ears ld 1 f .

w he n, b ut a m an w ho p la nte d tre es. in t he H im ala ya s f or s ix te en y ea rs , a nd a m an w ho p la nte d t~:~~~n

B an gla de sh fo r fo ur y ea rs c am e to ,"? ea nd le arn ed h ow to m ak e s ee d b alls ,Al~.o

th ere w as a nA ;n en ca nw om an a nd a Ja pa ne se p ne st. T he y c am e b ec au se th ey re aliz ed th at th ey 0 Id t kW it h t he s pe ed o f d es er tif ic atio n b y p la nti ng t re es . T he y c ut e ig ht J ap an es e c yp re ss ~ n ~ y :o u~ ~n up

a nd m ad e a p la ce to sta y. J8 pa ne se .c ~res s a re v ery e xp en siv e, s o u su ally p eo ple d o n ot u se th em to

m ak e a te mp ora ry lo dg e. B ut w e d id It to le t p eo ple k no w th at if y o u s ow se ed b ~lls , " i t . i s e a sy to b uil d

h ou se s m ad e n om 'In e t re es IT am YUI.ll. VI'II! !!Ov ........ " ~, • v "",.._.. _•• •.,".- • ••

bu t y ou can sow seed balls o ne h un dre d tim es f as te r" T he c os t i s o n e- on elh un dr ed th t ha t o f p la nti ng

tre es, S ee d b alls are ~ he o nly w ay to c atc h u p with t he s pe ed o f d es er ti fi ca ti on o n o u r. p la ne t. "

"F oo d, clo th in g an dsh elte r are v ery e as y. If y ou so w s ee d b alls fo r j us t o ne h ou r in y ou r life, y ou c an

h av e e no ug h w oo d to builda f ew ho us es in y ou r l if elim e. Y ou . c a n m ak e c lo th es f rom y ou r p la nt s,

Y ou c an g et fo od .. On e d ay o f so win g fo r tre es, o ne d ay fo r v eg eta ble s a nd fru it, o ne d ay fo r g ra in s, If

y ou so w se ed b alls o f ric e an d b arJe yin a n a re a o f o ne th ou sa nd sq ua re m ete rs , y ou c an g et six

h un dred k ilo gra ms o f e ac h g ra in , w hich is e no ug h fo r o ne fam ily o f'fiv e p eo ple fo r o ne y ea r. If y ou

w ork th re e o r fo ur d ay s a y ear, y ou c an h av e a good life." .

" Th e p ow er o f N atu re is g re at , b ec au se t he n at ur al s tr uc tu re issolid, t hr ee d im e ns io n al , n o t h or iz on ta l

o r t w o d im en sio na l. S om e o f m y m ou nta in p ea ch tree s h av e k iw is c lim bin g o n th em , a nd a bo ve , t hekiwi.vines , there is a kind of m elon . S o three k in d s o ff ru it e xi st t og et he r a t d if fe re nt h ei gh ts . I g et o ne

o r tw o k ilo gra ms o ffru it fro m o ne sq ua re m ete r o fg ro un d, T his is a g oo d su sta in ab le y ie ld . N atu ral

p ro du cti on i s g re ate r t ha n m an -m ad e p ro du cti on , b ec au se t he s tru ctu re is s oli d."

"O n m y m ou nta in th ere is a p la ce w he re I so we d se ed b alls tw en ty y ea rs a go a nd n ow It is l i k e aju ng le. B ut th ere a re fru it tree s a nd th ere a re k iw is. N ow I k no w th at e ve n in a p la ce lik e a j un gle,

k iw is ca n g ro w. H um an s are ju st d estro yin g th e p ow er o f N atu re . W e h av e o nly o ne -fo urth o f th eg ro win g p ow er o f N a tu re l ef t. W e a re n ot i nc re es in g f er til ity o r p ro du cti on , b ut ra th er t ry in g to

p re ve nt p ro du ct io n f rom f ai li ng b y u si ng f er ti li ze rs ."

"W e are o nly lo ok in g fro m th e o utsid e a t N atu re , n ot fro m th e in sid e. T he re a re a lim itles s n um be r o f

p oin ts in tim e a nd sp ac e. F or e xa mp le , th ere is o ne p oin th ere , a no th er th ere. Y ou g o tig ht a nd le ft to

a cc umu la te k n ow le dg e. " H e f il le d B . p ag e w ith sy mb ols an d a sk ed , "S o, N ao mi, w here are y ou in th is

p ic tu re ?" D ee ply r ef le cti ve ,s he r ep lie d t ha t s he w as n ot th er e, a nd h e s mile d w ith a pp ro va l.

H e p ain te d a m ou nta in l ik e F uji yama , c ov ere d b y s tr ea ms a nd tr ee s, w ith p eo pl e to ilin go nt he s lo pe s.

T hen h e a sk ed th e re st o f u s, " Wh ere a re y o,u o n. th is M ou ntain o f N atu re ?'"H e w atc he d u s c lo se ly a sw e stu mb le d th ro ug h o ur a nsw ers, th en la ug hed ; "N o! Y ou sh ou ld b e sle ep in g a t th e fo ot o fth e

M ou nta in . D o n oth in g. C lo se y ou r ey es a nd sh ut o ut th e e xtern al w orld . T his isthe way to look atN a tu re , f rom i ns id e. "

" Sow s ee d b all s w ith a c hil d- li ke m in d w he ne ve r, w he re ve r, w it ho ut j ud gin g th ~ f irs t y ea r, D ur in g th e

s ec on d y ea r b ird s o r b ug s will c arry th e s eed s fro m th e p lan ts an d so w th em n atu ra lly fo r y ou . S o in

th e th ir d y ea r y ou w il l g et a n atu ra l d es ig n. C hil dr en s om etim es s ow s ee ds in u ne xp ec te d p la ce s, a nd

t ha t b ri ng s u s to a b ig d is co ve ry th at w e n ev er e ve n c on sid er ed .. Ev en i f n in ety -n in e p er c en t f ai l, a ndo nly o ne p erc en t su cc ee d, th at w ill tak e u s to n ew p os sib ilitie s. If y ou u se h um an w isd om , y ou w illo nl y a ch ie ve t he r es ul t y ou e xp ec t. "

"1 w ill g iv e y ou a n e xa mp le , sh ow in g h ow N atu re c an tea ch u s. A fter g iv in g a le ctu re in C alifo rn ia o ne

su mm er I w as ask ed by som e you ng m en to teach them how to survive on N atural F arm ing. T hey to ok

m e to th eir p la in . I w as su rp ris ed to se e it. Itw as a lm os t d es er t ..r told them that the land w as too b ad

and that I cou ld not h elp them . But I loo ked aroun d and saw a spring. I stay ed th ere o ne n ig ht a nd th e

n ex t m orn in g, I w en t to th e s prin g to w ash m y. fa ce, T he re w as a m ou se b urr,o w n ex t to th e s prln ~,a nd w he n p eo ple w as he d th em se lv es, w ate r s pille d d ow n th e h ole . I lo ok ed in to th e h ole a nd fo un d

g re en p la nts. I re alize d th at th e so il th ere w as n ot d ead , th e se ed s w ere ju st slee pin g th ro ug h th e h ea to f th e su mm er, an d ifwe wa te r' ,. ;! t hem t he y mu st s pr ou t"

"I aw ok e th e y ou ng m en a nd sta rte d, s ow in g v eg eta ble se ed s o n th e plain-end w atere d th e la nd . In a

f ew d ay s fo xta il g ra ss , a .w ee d, s pr ou te d. B ut in .1 1 w ee k, it h ad a ll d ied b ec au se o f th e su mm er h eat,'

a nd a fte r th at th e v eg etab le s a ls o s pro uted . S o N atu re , th e m ou se b urro w, ta ug ht m e th at th is p la inw as tu rn in g in to d es ert b ec au se o nly a fe w w eed s lik e fo xta il w ere c ov erin g it. N atu re a ls o ta ug ht u sth e w ay to k ill th ose w ee ds a nd tu m th e d es ert in to a v eg etab le g ard en . H um an b ein gs h av e n o w ay o f

le arn in g e xc ep t fro m N atu re . O nly G od h as b ee n c rea tin g a nd w e h av e o nly tra ns fo rm ed w ha t G od h asc re at ed , W h at G od c re ate s is T ru th , G oo dn es s a nd B ea uty ."

Bones - On a Green Mountain (With Fukuoka)

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