Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka
Born	(1913-02-02)2 February 1913 Iyo, Japan
Died	16 August 2008(2008-08-16) (aged 95)
Nationality	Japanese
Occupation(s)	Agricultural scientist, farmer, philosopher
Known for	Natural farming methods
Notable work	The One-Straw Revolution
Awards	Ramon Magsaysay Award, Desikottam Award, Earth Council Award

Masanobu Fukuoka (福岡 正信, Fukuoka Masanobu, 2 February 1913 – 16 August 2008) was a Japanese farmer and philosopher celebrated for his Natural Farming method and re-vegetation of desertified lands. He was a proponent of no-till, no-herbicide grain cultivation farming methods traditional to many indigenous cultures. His method is commonly referred to as Natural or Do-nothing Farming and he is considered to be its father.

He was the author of several Japanese books, scientific papers and other publications, and was featured in television documentaries and interviews from the 1970s onwards. His influences went beyond farming to inspire individuals within the natural food and lifestyle movements.

Life

Iyo, Ehime. Place of Fukuoka's family home seen middle right.

Fukuoka was born on 2 February 1913 in Iyo, Ehime, Japan, the second son of an educated and wealthy land owner, a local leader called Kameichi Fukuoka. He attended Gifu Prefecture Agricultural College and trained as a microbiologist and agricultural scientist, beginning a career as a research scientist specialising in plant pathology at the Plant Inspection Division of the Yokohama Customs Bureau in 1934. In 1937, he was hospitalized and while recovering claims to have had a profound spiritual experience transforming him and his world view, which he referred to in Japanese as a kind of satori. This experience led him to doubt the practices of modern agricultural science. He immediately resigned from his post as a research scientist, returning to his family's farm on the island of Shikoku in southern Japan.

From 1938, Fukuoka began to practise and experiment with new techniques on organic citrus orchards and used the observations gained to develop the idea of "natural farming". Amongst other practices, he abandoned pruning an area of the citrus trees, which caused the trees to become affected by insects and tangled branches. He stated that the experience taught him the difference between nature and non-intervention. His efforts were interrupted by World War II, during which he worked at the Kōchi Prefecture agricultural experiment station on subjects including farming research and food production.

In 1940, Fukuoka married his wife Ayako and over his life they had five children together. After the war, his father lost most of the family lands due to forced redistribution by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers and was left with only three-eighths of an acre of rice land and the hillside citrus orchards his son had taken over before the war. Despite these setbacks, in 1947 he took up natural farming again with success, using no-till farming methods to raise rice and barley. He wrote his first book Mu: Kami no Kakumei (無　神の革命, translation: 'Mu: The God Revolution') in the same year and worked to spread word of the benefits of his methods and philosophy. His later book, The One-Straw Revolution was published in 1975 and translated into English in 1978.

He travelled the world extensively, giving lectures and working directly to plant seeds and re-vegetate areas. He received a number of awards in various countries in recognition of his work and achievements. He continued to teach until the age of 92 and attended events such as the World Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. In 2006, he gave an hour-long interview on NHK TV.

Fukuoka died on 16 August 2008, at the age of 95.

Natural Farming

Fukuoka described his system as 自然農法 (shizen nōhō) which has been translated into English as "natural farming" to avoid confusion with Mokichi Okada's "no fertilizer" farming system "nature farming".

The system is based on recognizing the complexity of living organisms that shape an ecosystem and deliberately exploiting it, suggesting that if farmers worked within ecological cycles, based on close attention to close, local observations, they could benefit remarkably from them. Fukuoka's ideas challenged many common agricultural conventions and eshewed dominant production values core to modern agro-industries, instead promoting an ethical and environment approach which differs from simple organic farming which he considered to be another modern technique used exclusively for human benefit. It is also referred to as "the Fukuoka Method", "the natural way of farming" or "Do-Nothing Farming", despite being labor intensive.

The four principles of Natural Farming are that:

• human cultivation of soil, plowing or tilling are unnecessary, as is the use of powered machines
• prepared fertilizers are unnecessary, as is the process of preparing compost
• weeding, either by cultivation or by herbicides, is unnecessary. Instead only minimal weed suppression with minimal disturbance
• applications of pesticides or herbicides are unnecessary

Although many of his plant varieties and some of his practises, may relate specifically to Japan and even to local conditions in subtropical western Shikoku, his philosophy and the governing principles of his farming systems see practical application around the world. They are practised with different varieties of plants in different places and climates from Africa to the cold temperate north hemisphere. In India, natural farming is often referred to as "Rishi Kheti" (farming as practised by the ancient sages).

Principally, natural farming minimises human labour or disturbance and facilitates as closely as practical, nature's reproduction of foods such as rice, barley, daikon or citrus mixed within biodiverse agricultural ecosystems. Without plowing, seeds germinate well on the surface if natural conditions for each site meet the needs of the seeds planted there. Considerable emphasis is put on sustaining diversity rather than destroying it. He said that spiders residing in his annual crop fields provided a key performance indicator of sustainability.

In the system, the ground always remains covered by weeds, white clover, alfalfa, more herbaceous legumes, and sometimes additional deliberately sown herbaceous plants. This is seen as part of the ecosystem of the grain or vegetables crops and orchards. Chickens were also allow to run free through the orchards and ducks and carp used in rice fields. Periodically some ground layer plants including weeds may be cut low and allowed to lie on the surface so that the nutrients they contain are returned to the soil whilst shading and suppressing the growth of weeds. This also facilitates the option of sowing more seeds in the same area. In the summer-rice and winter-barley grain crops, ground cover naturally provides nitrogen fixation from the atmosphere. In addition, straw from the previous crop covers the topsoil as mulch. Each grain crop is sown before the previous one is harvested by broadcasting the seed among the standing crop. The result is a denser crop of smaller but highly productive and stronger plants.

Fukuoka's practice and philosophy emphasises small scale farming and challenged the need of mechanised broad acre farming techniques for high productivity, efficiency and economies of scale. While his family's farm was larger than than the average Japanese farm area, he used one field of established grain crops as an example of small scale farming.

Fukuoka is also credited with re-inventeding and advancing the use of clay seeds balls, said to be an ancient practice in which seeds for the next season's crops are mixed together, sometimes with humus or compost for microbial inoculants, rolled within clay to form into small balls and scattered on the ground to germinate naturally.

Natural farming movement and influence

Fukuoka is considered to be one of the five "giants" of organic cultivation along with Austrian Rudolf Steiner, German-Swiss Hans Müller, Lady Eve Balfour in the United Kingdom and J.I. Rodale in the United States.

Widely influential, his writings inspired an international movement of individuals and influenced other movements such as that of permaculture.

His books are considered both farming compendiums and guides to a way of life. One Straw Revolution has been translated into over 20 languages and sold more than one million copies.

Recent Developments

Iyo, Ehime. Fukuoka's Hill, now sadly neglected.

In the 1980s, he recorded that he and his family shipped some 6,000 crates of citrus to Tokyo each year totalling about 90 tonnes and, as Fukuoka reached an advanced age, the farm changed hands to his son. His grandson has also followed him into farm although the family do not adhere to the original method. The family orchards of iyo-kan, amanatsu mikan and related varieties of citrus, and many more fruit and other trees still grow. The mixed woodland vegetation including bamboo groves and much more has greatly matured now through ecological succession. The hills, including around the pagoda, are now shady woodlands growing more like a native forest having shade loving ground plants. As he foreshadowed, natural mixed woodland maturing and further enriching the once bare soil.

Many of his iyo-kan and amanatsu mikan trees are still growing, although some old iyo-kan have finished of old age to be replaced by new varieties of fruit. The woodlands remain along with orchards, including some areas of wild vegetables still growing amongst them. Some areas of straw-mulched cropping continues with grains and vegetables crops. New experimentation is taking place.

The farm now also features an orchard area of ginko trees, shiitake mushroom crops growing on tree logs in shady woodland, and recent new plantings of limes, grapefruits, feijoas, avocados and mangos.

Awards

In 1988, Fukuoka received India's most prestigious award, the Desikottam Award, as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service, often considered "Asia's Nobel Prize".

In March 1997, the Earth Summit+5 forum in Rio de Janeiro elected to award him with the Earth Council Award, which he received in person at a ceremony in Tokyo on May 26 that year, honoring him for his contributions to sustainable development.

In 1998, he received a grant of US$10,000 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund but later returned the grant due to his inability to complete the project because of advancing age.

Chronology

• 1979 – July–August. First journey overseas with his wife Ayako to U.S.A when he met macrobiotic movement leaders Michio Kushi and Herman Aihara in California, and student and translator Larry Korn. Visited the University of California University of California, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, Lundberg Family Farms and meet with United Nations (UNCCD) representatives including Maurice Strong who encouraged his involvement in the "Plan of Action to Combat Desertification". Also visited New York and surrounding areas such as Boston and the Amherst College in Massachusetts.
• 1983 – Travelled to Europe for 50 days with Panayiotis Manikis, Giannozzo Pucci, Michio Kushi, Thomas Nelissen and others, and friend holding workshops, educating farmers and sowing seeds.
• 1985 – Summer. Spent Forty days in Africa, Somalia and Ethiopia, sowing seeds in areas of desert to re-vegetate them including working in remote villages and a refugee camp.
• 1986 – Summer. Returned to the USA for nearly 50 days including speaking at 3 international conferences on natural farming, July–August in Washington state, San Francisco and the Agriculture Dept. of the University of California, Santa Cruz. He visited many farms, forests & cities giving lectures and met with Partap Aggarwal from India for the first time.
• 1987–88 – Desikottam Award, India given by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal. Lectured at the Indian Science Congress, & state agricultural universities and thirty other sites.
• 1988 – August–September. Received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in the Philippines, traveling amongst forests, farms, plantations and farmer's markets with his wife Ayako.
• 1990 – July. Thailand, visiting farms.
• 1991 – Thailand collecting seeds for re-vegetating deserts in India.
• 1991 – November–December. India, sowing seeds in the deserts to re-vegetate them for 2 months.
• 1991 – Thailand again trying again to collect seeds.
• 1992 – Participating in official meetings in Japan associated with & at the time of the Rio Earth Summit, Brazil.
• 1996 – February. Tanzania, Africa,including sowing seeds in areas of desert to re-vegetate them, observing Baobab tree & jungle country with 2 days stop off Mumbai India on the way home.
• 1996 – Vietnam, making, teaching & sowing clay seed balls.
• 1997 – Awarded Earth Council Award honours for contributions to sustainable development. Presented in an international seminar to commemorate Gandhi at Gandhi's Ashram Sevagram (Wardha).
• 1998 – Philippines, Natural Farming research.
• 1998 – Spring March & Autumn – Greece with Panayiotis Manikis and Yuko Honma, sowing seeds in areas of desert to re-vegetate them including 10,000 ha around the Lake Vegoritis area, Vegoritida, Pella Prefecture. Producing a film of the major seed balls effort.
• 1999 – Mallorca Spain, visit, including making & sowing clay seed balls, interviews.
• 2001 – Autumn – China.
• 2002 – Autumn October 1–14 – "Nature as Teacher" workshop, Navdanya Farm & Bija Vidyapeeth – Earth University directed by Vandana Shiva, Dehra Dun Uttarakhand, northern India; On Gandhi Day (Oct 2) he gave the third annual Albert Howard Memorial Lecture to attendees from all six continents.
• 2002 – Autumn – Afghanistan with Yuko Honma. Unable to attend, so 8 tons of seed were shipped.

Resources

Mu: The God Revolution (English translation).

Bibliography

• Template:Ja icon 1947 Mu: Kami no Kakumei (無　神の革命); First edition self-published in 1947 and re-published in 1973 as Mu I: Kami no Kakumei (無 I　神の革命), 280pp., 21 cm; New publishing by Shunjūsha (春秋社) in 1985 July ISBN 978-4-393-74111-5 and 2004 Aug ISBN 978-4-393-74143-6; (Religion (volume) (宗教編, Shūkyō Hen)).
  • 1994 "Mu: The God Revolution" Translator Alfred Birnbaum. Japan.
• Template:Ja icon 1958 Hyakushō Yawa・「fu*」Shizen Nōhō (百姓夜話・「付」自然農法); Self-published in 1958.
• Template:Ja icon 1972 Mu: Shizen Nōhō (無　自然農法) - first edition self-published in 1972. Publication issued by Shunjūsha (春秋社) in 1985 Oct as Mu III: Shizen Nōhō (無 III　自然農法) ISBN 978-4-393-74113-9 and again in 2004 Sept ISBN 978-4-393-74145-0; (Doing-practise (volume) (実践編, Jissen Hen)).
• Template:Ja icon 1972 Midori no Tetsugaku - Shizen Nōhō to Riron to Jissai (緑の哲学　自然農法と理論と実際); Self-published, 359 pp.

File:One-straw.jpg

The One–Straw Revolution (English re-presentation).

• Template:Ja icon 1975 Shizen Nōhō - Wara Ippon no Kakumei (自然農法　わら一本の革命); Published by Hakujusha (柏樹社) Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan ISBN?; New publishing by Shunjūsha (春秋社) in 1983 May ISBN 978-4-393-74103-0 and again in 2004 Aug ISBN 978-4-393-74141-2.
  • 1978 "The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming" translators Chris Pearce, Tsune Kurosawa & Larry Korn. Preface Wendell Berry. Rodale Press. 1984– Indian Eng. edns. 30 yr anniv. 2009 republishing NYRB.
• Template:Ja icon 1975 Shizen Nōhō - Midori no Tetsugaku no Riron to Jissen (自然農法　緑の哲学の理論と実践); Published by Jiji Tsūshinsha (時事通信社, Jiji Press Co.), Tōkyō, in 1975 Dec, 310pp. ISBN 978-4-7887-7626-5.13-3.
  • 1985 "The Natural Way Of Farming - The Theory and Practice of Green Philosophy" translator Frederic P. Metreaud. Japan Publications. Out of print. ISBN 978-0-87040-613-3.
• Template:Ja icon 1984 Shizen ni Kaeru (自然に還る); Published by Shunjūsha (春秋社), 362 pp., in 1984 Aug ISBN 978-4-393-74104-7. An enlarged and revised edition, 458 pp., in 1993 April ISBN 978-4-393-74114-6. Re-published in 2004 Sept ISBN 978-4-393-74146-7.
  • 1987 "The Road Back to Nature - Regaining the Paradise Lost" translator Frederic P. Metreaud. Japan Publications. Out of print. ISBN 978-0-87040-673-7.
• Template:Ja icon 1985 Mu II: Mu no Tetsugaku (無 II　無の哲学); Published by Shunjūsha (春秋社) in 1985 July ISBN 978-4-393-74112-2 and again in 2004 Sept ISBN 978-4-393-74144-3; (Philosophy (volume) (哲学編, Tetsugaku Hen)).
• Template:Ja icon 1992 Wara Ippon no Kakumei・Sōkatsuhen「Kami to Shizen to Hito no Kakumei」 (わら一本の革命・総括編「神と自然と人の革命」); Self-published by Shizenjuen (Shou Shin Sha) (自然樹園 (小心舎), One of Fukuoka Masanobu's own self-publishing publisher names) in 1992 Dec, 230 pp., 26×26 cm ISBN 978-4-938743-01-7; ISBN 4-938743-01-9.
  • 1996 "The Ultimatium [sic] of God Nature The One-Straw Revolution A Recapitulation" - English retranslation, less than 100 copies, no ISBN. Publisher: "Shou Shin Sha (小心舎)".
• Template:Ja icon 1997 "Shizen" o Ikiru (「自然」を生きる), includes an interview with Kanamitsu Toshio (金光寿郎); Published by Shunjūsha (春秋社) in 1997 Feb ISBN 978-4-393-74115-3 and again in 2004 Aug ISBN 978-4-393-74147-4.
• Template:Ja icon 2001 Wara Ippon no Kakumei Sōkatsuhen -Nendo Dango no Tabi- (わら一本の革命　総括編　—粘土団子の旅—); Self-published by Shizenjuen (Shou Shin Sha) (自然樹園 (小心舎), Self-published), 2001 May. ISBN 978-4-938743-02-4; ISBN 4-938743-02-7; Re-published in 2010 April by Shunjūsha (春秋社) ISBN 978-4-393-74151-1.
• 2009 Iroha Kakumei Uta (いろは革命歌, Iroha Revolutionary Verses), Fukuoka, Masanobu's hand-written classical song-verses and drawings. Bilingual Japanese and English ISBN 978-4-938743-03-1; ISBN 4-938743-03-5.

Journals

• Template:Ja icon 福岡正信 (1937 Aug). "柑橘樹脂病特にその完全時代に就て[[Category:Articles containing Japanese-language text]][[Category:Articles containing Japanese-language text]]" (PDF). Annals of the Phytopathological Society of Japan 日本植物病理學會報 (in Japanese). 7 (1). The Phytopathological Society of Japan (PSJ) http://www.ppsj.org/ 日本植物病理学会: 32–33. ISSN 0031-9473. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laydate=, |laysummary=, |laysource=, and |separator= (help); External link in |publisher= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help) - prepared while working at the Plant Inspection Division of the Yokohama Customs Bureau (横濱税關植物檢査課).

• Template:Ja icon 福岡正信 (1971 July). "私の農法(講演〔「近代農法の反省と今後の農業」セミナーより〕)[[Category:Articles containing Japanese-language text]][[Category:Articles containing Japanese-language text]]". Cooperative Research Institute Monthly Report 協同組合経営研究月報 (in Japanese) (214). Cooperative Research Institute 協同組合経営研究所, Japan.: 19–36. ISSN 0914-1758. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laydate=, |laysummary=, |laysource=, and |separator= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

• Template:Ja icon 福岡正信 (1989 May). "Template:Nihongo title". [[:Template:Nihongo title]]. Quarterly Buddhism 季刊仏教 (in Japanese). Vol. No.7. Hōzōkan (法蔵館). pp. 159-. ISBN 9784831802071. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |lastn=, |laydate=, |coauthors=, |editorn-last=, |nopp=, |separator=, |laysummary=, |chapterurl=, |editorn-first=, |authorn-link=, |editorn-link=, |authormask=, |lastauthoramp=, and |firstn= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help); Unknown parameter |trans_chapter= ignored (|trans-chapter= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

• Template:Ja icon 福岡正信 (1991 Nov). "Template:Nihongo title". [[:Template:Nihongo title]]. Quarterly Buddhism・Supplementary Issue 季刊仏教・別冊6 (in Japanese). Vol. No.6. Hōzōkan (法蔵館). pp. 52-. ISBN 9784831802569. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |lastn=, |laydate=, |coauthors=, |editorn-last=, |nopp=, |separator=, |laysummary=, |chapterurl=, |editorn-first=, |authorn-link=, |editorn-link=, |authormask=, |lastauthoramp=, and |firstn= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help); Unknown parameter |trans_chapter= ignored (|trans-chapter= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

• Template:Ja icon 福岡正信 (1993 Oct). "Template:Nihongo title". [[:Template:Nihongo title]]. Quarterly Buddhism 季刊仏教. Vol. No. 25. Hōzōkan (法蔵館). pp. 130-. ISBN 9784831802255. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |lastn=, |laydate=, |coauthors=, |editorn-last=, |nopp=, |separator=, |laysummary=, |chapterurl=, |editorn-first=, |authorn-link=, |editorn-link=, |authormask=, |lastauthoramp=, and |firstn= (help); Text "?" ignored (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)

• Template:Ja icon 福岡正信 (1994 July). "Template:Nihongo title". [[:Template:Nihongo title]]. Quarterly Buddhism 季刊仏教 (in Japanese). Vol. No. 28. Hōzōkan (法蔵館). pp. 176-. ISBN 9784831802286. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |lastn=, |laydate=, |coauthors=, |editorn-last=, |nopp=, |separator=, |laysummary=, |chapterurl=, |editorn-first=, |authorn-link=, |editorn-link=, |authormask=, |lastauthoramp=, and |firstn= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help); Unknown parameter |trans_chapter= ignored (|trans-chapter= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

Videos

Template:Multicol Video・ Documentary - Fukuoka Masanobu goes to India 1997

Living-organisms' Planet - "For Living on the Planet Earth"

Nature Farming (ways-laws-dharma)・Fukuoka Masanobu - Clay seed balls rescue Earth.

Farming (ways-laws-dharma) supervision: Fukuoka Masanobu / Clay Seed Balls guidance: Honma Yuko / Direction: Imaizumi Kōji / Production: Salbong (Non-profit Movie Production) (Japanese-Hindi interpreter & translator Professor Makino Saiji; Assistant Morioka Naoko)

Template:Multicol-break ビデオ・　ドキュメンタリー　福岡正信インドヘ行く

生き物たちの惑星「地球で生きるために」

自然農法・福岡正信　粘土団子が地球を救う。

農法監修 福岡正信／粘土団子指導 本間 裕子／演出 今泉 光司／制作 サルボン（非営利映像制作） Template:Multicol-end

Template:Multicol NTSC VHS/BTC STEREO - Japanese language edition・59 minutes - English language edition・61 minutes - 1998 - (available now, recently, on DVD in Japanese, instead of only tape...?) Template:Multicol-break NTSC VHS/BTC STEREO　日本語版・59分　英語版・61分 テープ Template:Multicol-end

Template:Multicol Company: (Salbong) サルボン Template:Multicol-break サルボン Template:Multicol-end

See also

• Ecoagriculture
• Ecosystem restoration
• Nature farming
• Reconciliation Ecology
• Rewilding
• Satoyama
• Seed ball
• Soil structure
• Spiritual ecology
• Symbiosis

External links

• Peek Through The Pines (1979). "A conversation between The Pines and Masanobu Fukuoka". Peek Through The Pines. Massachusetts, USA: Blog. Retrieved 2010-11-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |month=, |separator=, and |coauthors= (help); External link in |work= (help)
• Aggarwal, Partap C. (2008-02-02). "Introduction to Masanobu Fukuoka's famous book One straw revolution". Indian Stories For All. Whitefield/Bangalore, Karnataka, India: Blog. 2008 Oct. Retrieved 2010-12-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |separator=, and |coauthors= (help); External link in |work= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
• "The Natural Way of Farming" and previously "The One Straw Revolution". (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Natural Farming Centre, Greece (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Natural Farming Italy / Agricoltura naturale (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Larry Korn (2010). "Masanobu Fukuoka". The One-straw Revolution. USA. Retrieved 2011-03-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |month=, |separator=, and |coauthors= (help)
• "The Fukuoka Farming Mailing List...created to discuss Masanobu Fukuoka's revolutionary method of natural farming." Yahoo! discussion group According to references Masanobu Fukuoka's documented assessments of the farms of some active contributing members—practitioners, are some of the world's best. Useful files section documents. (Retrieved 2010-11-15) Quotation of group description:

... Discussion of Fukuoka's books, ongoing projects in Fukuoka Farming, creating and dispersing seed balls, and anything else to do with Masanobu Fukuoka, his life and work are all encouraged. This list was primarily created as a place for people interested in Fukuoka's methods to network and share resources. Let's help change the way people think about growing food.

• Fukuoka, Masanobu; Shibata, Katsuyuki (translator); Aoyama, Hizuru (translator); Gilman, Robert (interviewer); Gilman, Diane (interviewer) (Autumn 1986). "Greening The Desert: Applying natural farming techniques in Africa". In Context: A Quarterly Of Humane Sustainable Culture. Sustainable Habitat 14. Port Townsend, Washington: Copyright (c) 1986, 1997 by Context Institute: 37-. Retrieved 2010-11-30. an interview with Masanobu Fukuoka, by Robert and Diane Gilman {{cite journal}}: |first2= has generic name (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laydate=, |separator=, |laysummary=, |trans_title=, |month=, and |laysource= (help)
• "ON A GREEN MOUNTAIN - With Masanobu Fukuoka Sensei of Natural Farming -Copyright (c) 1995 Jim Bones". Oct 1994 (2006 archive; Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Gandhi Foundation on the life of "Masanobu Fukuoka and Natural Farming – by M R Rajagopalan Posted on December 27, 2009" (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• "Seed Balls" –making, by Jim Bones He visited and learned personally from Masanobu Fukuoka and from his books. (2006 archive; Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• "Seed Balls by Masanobu Fukuoka 1997" YouTube 18:43 long video, caption: "Natural Farmer Masanobu Fukuoka conducts a workshop for making seed balls at his natural farm and forest in Japan." uploaded by Jim Bones (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Masanobu Fukuoka's influence in principles in humid tropical agriculture, titled: "The Five Principles of Agriculture " - farmingsolutions.org website; Retrieved 2010-11-22).
• The Plowboy Interview Masanobu Fukuoka July 1982 Mother Earth News magazine, USA with Larry Korn. (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• "An article on the pioneer of organic farming, Masanobu Fukuoka: Nature - Nature knows best" Life Positive, India. (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• "The Fukuoka Farming Website", USA. (Internet Archive search) "Dedicated to exploring Masanobu Fukuoka's revolutionary method of sustainable agriculture" (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Template:Ja icon Society for the study of Fukuoka Masanobu Nature Farming, Kyoto University, Japan –reference page by Shōjaku Mutsumi (Shift-JIS Japanese text character encoding). Collected details about Fukuoka, Masanobu's life work, nature farming and writings (no translation to English yet; nearly all Japanese; Retrieved 2010-11-30).
• Toyoda, Natsuko (Sept.–Oct., Nov.–Dec., 2008, Jan.–Feb 2009 (Jan.–Feb. 2010)). "Farmer Philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka (1) Humans must Strive to Know the Unknown (2) What Does Natural Farming Mean? (3) Greening Deserts by Clay-Ball Seeding (brief update)". Japan Spotlight (Promenade section) (161, 162 & 163 (169)). Tokyo, Japan: Japan Economic Foundation. ISSN 1348-9216. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laydate=, |coauthors=, |trans_title=, |separator=, |laysummary=, |laysource=, and |month= (help); External link in |journal=, |publisher=, and |title= (help)