The One-Straw Revolution - Multiworld India

knack for appearing at times when the students least expect him. He is anenergetic man, always chattering about one thing or another. Sometimeshe calls the students together to discuss the work they are doing, oftenpointing out ways in which the job could be accomplished more easilyand quickly At other times he talks about the life cycle of a weed ordisease fungus in the orchard, and occasionally he pauses to recall andreflect upon his farming experiences. Besides explaining his techniques,Mr. Fukuoka also teaches the fundamental skills of agriculture. He emphasizesthe importance of caring properly for tools and never tires ofdemonstrating their usefulness.If the newcomer expected "natural farming" to mean that naturewould farm while he sat and watched, Mr. Fukuoka soon taught him thatthere was a great deal he had to know and do. Strictly speaking, the only"natural" farming is hunting and gathering. Raising agricultural crops is acultural innovation which requires knowledge and persistent effort. Thefundamental distinction is that Mr. Fukuoka farms by cooperating withnature rather than trying to "improve" upon nature by conquest.Many visitors come to spend only an afternoon, and Mr. Fukuokapatiently shows them around his farm. It is not uncommon to see himstriding up the mountain path with a group of ten or fifteen visitorspuffing behind. There have not always been so many visitors, however.For years, while he was developing his method, Mr. Fukuoka had littlecontact with anyone outside his village.As a young man, Mr. Fukuoka left his rural home and travelled toYokohama to pursue a career as a microbiologist. He became a specialistin plant diseases and worked for some years in a laboratory as anagricultural customs inspector. It was at that time, while still a youngman of twenty-five, that Mr. Fukuokaxxiv