The Road Back to Nature

by Masanobu Fukuoka

Fukuoka's reflections on his trips to Europe and to America, his sense of shock at seeing the destruction wreaked in the name of agriculture. A collection of his lectures, articles and essays which outline his thinking on nature, God and man and his underlying optimism that good sense can still prevail and we can still turn it all around.

A collection of articles, lectures and essays recording his impressions as he travels the world talking about his revolutionary 'do-nothing' agricultural methods. There is a spiritual side to a lot of his thoughts and an optimism that a change in lifestyles and farming methods could yet heal the Earth's wounds.

Essential reading to fully understand the philosophy behind Fukuoka's methods.

About the Author:

Masanobu Fukoka was a laboratory agricultural scientist who worked on fighting plant diseases and he had many unanswered questions about the interrelationship between man and nature. After a long sabbatical he resigned from his position and took over his father's rice and mandarin-orange farm. Fukuoka thought that by putting his questions to action he might find the answers he sought.

Fukoka was immediately drawn to organic and natural farming methods and over the years developed a type of natural farming, which he refers to as "do-nothing farming". Contrary to easy assumption, this method does involve work (albiet menial) and, at least in Fukoka's experience, the benefits largely outweigh the negatives.