NATURAL FARMING

Dear all,

Permaculture is a system of social design principles centred on simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature.

This term originally denoted "permanent agriculture", but was expanded to stand also for "permanent culture", as it was understood that social aspects were integral to a truly sustainable system.  

Permaculture has many branches that include but are not limited to ecological design, ecological engineering, environmental design, construction and integrated water resources management, regenerative and self-maintained habitat and agricultural systems modelled from natural ecosystems.  

However, let me confine to the Natural Farming philosophy inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka of Japan. His book “One Straw Revolution” published in 1978 was an eye opener to the agriculturists’ world over. This philosophy propounded by Masanobu Fukuoka is a precursor to Permaculture concept.

My daughter, who runs an NGO for organic farmers, gave me this book two years back. It is among the many she gave regarding earth, sea, and air. All these gave me immense pleasure to read and realise how little I know of nature.

To cite an example, the book “Sea around us” by Rachel Carson gave me a glimpse of ecology of the sea, including the fact about the powerful tides below the Atlantic, which move 100 billion tonnes of water daily in Bay of Fundy in Canada.

I also understood that everything created or even destroyed on land, air and water, ultimately ends up in the sea.  Her book “Silent Spring” forced US government to ban DDT.

Please read the attachment on the revolutionary principles of Masanobu Fukuoka which sadly could not be universalised.

God bless you all.

Ramanis (C/2)