Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka (Japanese福冈 正 信, born February 2, 1913 † 16 August 2008) was first microbiologist and then became a farmer. His books are standard works in permaculture. The nature of his farming method he referred to himself as " doing nothing Agriculture" after the Daoist Wu Wei principle.

Fukuoka is now regarded as the initiator of the dissemination of the technique of sowing seed bombs, which now gained wide notoriety. This he developed after the Second World War, first for his Direktsaatmethode of no-tillage rice cultivation technology is now also used in the guerrilla gardening movement.

1988 Fukuoka received the Ramon Magsaysay Award -.

Due to the increasing interest in his work again his classic book The One Straw Revolution learned (title of the German edition: The Great Way has no gate ) in 2009 in the U.S., a new edition.

Fukuoka's philosophy of doing nothing - agriculture

The concept of the Japanese farmers for natural agriculture is: Nature is able to get even, they do not need human intervention.

This force of nature Masanobu Fukuoka uses through its deliberate combination of different plants. He uses the ecological balance for the protection of crops from pests and nutrient enrichment of the soil. His fields and gardens are rich in plants and animals and must be neither plowed nor chemically fertilized.

By selectively observing the natural processes recognizes Fukuoka, when is the right time for sowing is and what plants harmonize best. It only takes a very place where it is necessary to obtain the useful plants, which he would like to have. The fertilizing and pest protection he leaves nature. Because he needs to do nothing, except to sow and reap. With the help of this agricultural method could be - according to the testimony of Fukuoka - on little face comfortable the supply of people with enough food to make sure that not only makes sick, but at the same time causes as medicine good health. Provided, however, that raising people on a seasonal and regional ( and low in meat ) diet and do not take more and more exotic food to him and ask for this at times when it does not provide the nature. Masanobu Fukuoka was also known by its double crop rotation without plowing the same site. In exchange, he sows rice and winter barley. For weed control and nutrient supply of the soil with nitrogen, it uses primarily white clover ( an area-wide growing legume).

Works

• The great way has no gate. pala -verlag, Darmstadt, 2013, ISBN 978-3-89566-206-5.
• Return to nature. The philosophy of natural farming. pala -verlag, Schaafheim 1998, ISBN 978-3-923176-46-5.
• In harmony with nature. The practice of natural farming. pala -verlag, Schaafheim 1998, ISBN 978-3-923176-47-2.
• The search for the lost paradise. Natural farming as a way out of the crisis. pala -verlag, Schaafheim 1999, ISBN 978-3-923176-63-2.

• Masanobu Fukuoka on film: The Great Way has no gate. 45 minutes club way of nature, Gamlitz, Austria

The film conveys the main messages of his four books of his, as he calls them: doing nothing farming.