Left alone, the earth maintains its own fertility, in accordance with the orderly cycle of plant and animal life. Masanobu Fukuoka More Quotes by Masanobu Fukuoka More Quotes From Masanobu Fukuoka The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. Masanobu Fukuoka agriculturegardengoal The healing of the land and the purification of the human spirit is the same process. Masanobu Fukuoka landspirithealing If we throw mother nature out the window, she comes back in the door with a pitchfork. Masanobu Fukuoka balancemotherdoors Many people think that when we practice agriculture, nature is helping us in our efforts to grow food. This is an exclusively human-centered viewpoint... we should instead, realize that we are receiving that which nature decides to give us. A farmer does not grow something in the sense that he or she creates it. That human is only a small part of the whole process by which nature expresses its being. The farmer has very little influence over that process... other than being there and doing his or her small part. Masanobu Fukuoka agriculturepracticethinking We must find our way back to true nature. We must set ourselves to the task of revitalizing the earth. Regreening the earth, sowing seeds in the desert--that is the path society must follow. Masanobu Fukuoka sowingdeserttasks Life on a small farm might seem primitive, but by living such a life we become able to discover the Great Path. I believe that one who deeply respects his neighborhood and everyday world in which he lives will be shown the greatest of all worlds. Masanobu Fukuoka everydaygardenbelieve The real path to natural farming requires that a person know what unaltered nature is, so that he or she can instinctively understand what needs to be done - and what must not be done - to work in harmony with its processes. Masanobu Fukuoka donerealneeds In my opinion, if 100% of the people were farming it would be ideal. If each person were given one quarter-acre, that is 1 1/4 acres to a family of five, that would be more than enough land to support the family for the whole year. If natural farming were practiced, a farmer would also have plenty of time for leisure and social activities within the village community. I think this is the most direct path toward making this country a happy, pleasant land. Masanobu Fukuoka countryyearsthinking There is no time in modern agriculture for a farmer to write a poem or compose a song Masanobu Fukuoka agriculturewritingsong Giving up your ego is the shortest way to unification with nature. Masanobu Fukuoka egogiving-upway The person who can most easily take up natural agriculture is the one who doesn't have any of the common adult obstructing blocks of desire, philosophy, or religion . . . the person who has the mind and heart of a child. One must simply know nature . . . real nature, not the one we think we know! Masanobu Fukuoka blockphilosophychildren People should relate to nature as birds do. Birds don't run around carefully preparing fields, planting seeds, and harvesting food. They don't create anything . . . they just receive what is there for them with a humble and grateful heart. Masanobu Fukuoka gratefulheartrunning Weeds play an important part in building soil fertility and in balancing the biological community . . . Masanobu Fukuoka weedcommunityplay There is no one so great as the one who does not try to accomplish anything Masanobu Fukuoka accomplishdoetrying The irony is that science has served only to show how small human knowledge is. Masanobu Fukuoka ironyhumansshows I believe that a revolution can begin from this one strand of straw. Seen at a glance, this rice straw may appear light and insignificant. Hardly anyone would believe that it could start a revolution. But I have come to realize the weight and power of this straw. For me, this revolution is very real. Masanobu Fukuoka lightrealbelieve The final principle of natural farming is NO PESTICIDES. Nature is in perfect balance when left alone. Masanobu Fukuoka balanceprinciplesperfect A farmer does not grow something in the sense that he or she creates it. That human is only a small part of the whole process by which nature expresses its being. Masanobu Fukuoka farmersprocessdoe If you do not try to make food delicious, you will find that nature has made it so. Masanobu Fukuoka deliciousmadetrying The greening of the desert means sowing seeds in people's hearts and creating a green paradise of peace on earth. Masanobu Fukuoka heartpeacemean
