Masanobu Fukuoka's influence on holistic agriculture has been enormous. He is that rare combination of inspiring philosopher and astonishingly effective farmer. More than anyone else, he has extended the idea that we can grow ample high-quality food for human's by working with Nature rather than against her. (Check out the recently published "Power of Duck" (a study of a very successful rice/duck/loach operation in Viet Nam) for an example of how his ideas can be applied in the Real World with great environmental and economic success.)
From the Rodale Press: ""The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings," Masanobu Fukuoka writes in his book "The One Straw Revolution." He has spent 30 years perfecting his agricultural techniques on his fertile farm in southern Japan. Fukuoka says that his approach to agricultural problems always starts with the question, "How about not doing such and such?" in contrast to most agricultural thinking which presupposes that we can improve on nature. Mr. Fukuoka has decided not to plow, not to grow rice in flooded fields, and not to use machinery to sow or harvest. What he does do on his farm is documented in this unique record of a full year of overlapping crops." This series on human-scale sustainable agriculture, inspired by Howard Shapiro's excellent book, GARDENING FOR THE FUTURE OF THE EARTH, continues at the Blue Ridge Center in Purcellville, VA (www.brces.org), Thursday evenings at 7pm, in the trailor this week. It is presented by the Blue Ridge Center intern program. Call or email Allan Balliett to reserve a chair: 540 668 6165 [EMAIL PROTECTED] April 25 - Rudolf Steiner and Biodynamic Agriculture - Video: Alex Podolinsky in Australia May 2 - Alan Chadwick and French Intensive Biodynamic Gardening - Video: Garden Song May 9 - John Jeavons - Biointensive Gardening - Video: Circle of Plenty May 16 - Masanobu Fukuoka - One Straw Revolution/Nature Gardening - Video: The Close to Nature Garden May 23 - Bill Mollison - Permaculture - Video: World Gardener May 30 - Elaine Ingham - The Soil Foodweb - Video: Life in the Soil -------------------------- Plan now to attend the 2002 Mid-Atlantic Biodynamic Food and Farming Conference at the Blue Ridge Center October 4-6, 2002 in Neersville, VA. Featured speakers include Howard Shapiro, Glen Atkinson, Elaine Ingham, Hugh Lovel, Hugh Courtney, James Demeo, Jerry Brunetti, Will Winter, and, of course, Mark Shepard. For more info, see www.gardeningforthefuture.com (under preparation) or contact Allan Balliett at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 540 668 6165
