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laikaluca's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
3.75
alreadyemily's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoy the impact of this book more than the book itself, but I'm glad I read it.
storytimed's review against another edition
4.0
It's sort of a manual by a Japanese former agricultural scientist who inherited a piece of land from his dad, then decided to say "fuck it" to agricultural science and let his crops grow through inaction
https://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta//onestraw.pdf you can find a pdf here with a cool preface from an Indian organic farmer about how they adapted these farming methods to their climate!
Basically the way he does it is by implementing permaculture in his farming. Like putting down a layer of mulch, refusing to plow fields to maintain the quality of soil, choosing native plants that are well-adapted to the climate, planting a diverse amount of crops that reinforce the health of the soil
I've read some criticisms of his work that basically amount to "yeah but not all farmers can fuck around for fifteen years figuring out their perfect natural farming method through trail and error" + "of course you're gonna have an awesome farm with plants that grow naturally if your inherited plot has insanely phosporous-rich soil"
Plus he never really had to have a working farm growing large amounts of crops for sale! Mostly he was retired and partially funded/assisted by volunteers who were interested in what he was doing
But his essential concepts seem..... p much sound from my perspective as a non-farmer? Three generations out, his family still maintains most of his farming techniques, though they do irrigate with a system closest to their neighbors
I think the concept of this is helpful mostly for the idea of low-labor farming. Like Fukuoka's method does not actually require labor-intensive plowing and weeding, which is v helpful since he's old
lauragessert's review against another edition
5.0
This book I found while researching Ruth Stouts gardening methods. I used the hay method completely in my garden it was a huge success. I really admire his insights into life , Buddhism, farming what a wonderful book.
anilkbhat's review against another edition
5.0
The philosophical writes in the last few chapters got me thinking big time.
lisie_bug's review against another edition
5.0
now that I’ve started my planter veggie garden, i legit feel like a farmer
isneezachoo's review against another edition
5.0
A book written by a recovering academic for recovering academics. Probably my fav book I've read all year. Would not have expected such a thought provoking book to be so easy to read! Stands up to big ag by saying science has made us think we need all of these "developed techniques", but this had made us less observant of the land bc we think we can conquer it instead of farm with it. Fukuoka believes that crops grow themselves, and that if "natural balance" wasn't so upset (by colonialism, greed? Idk he doesn't quite specify), then all the pest control/weeds/fertilizer/tilling would not be needed.
Fav quote ab difference from a farmer and a merchant: "no matter how the harvest will turn out, whether or not there will be enough food to eat, in simply sowing seed and caring tenderly for plants under natures guidance there is joy"
Another fav: "the ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings" meaning not perfection as in Western purity definitions, but perfection as in healed. Like once a farmer decides to heal their relationship to competition, they will stop killing pests with pesticide because they will see how connected pests are to their predators and how the pesticide will also kill their predators which could naturally take out pests
I took this book as more of a philosophy than a how-to bc any land I work is most likely not going to be free of what Fukuoka refers to as "upsets"
Fav quote ab difference from a farmer and a merchant: "no matter how the harvest will turn out, whether or not there will be enough food to eat, in simply sowing seed and caring tenderly for plants under natures guidance there is joy"
Another fav: "the ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings" meaning not perfection as in Western purity definitions, but perfection as in healed. Like once a farmer decides to heal their relationship to competition, they will stop killing pests with pesticide because they will see how connected pests are to their predators and how the pesticide will also kill their predators which could naturally take out pests
I took this book as more of a philosophy than a how-to bc any land I work is most likely not going to be free of what Fukuoka refers to as "upsets"