The One-Straw Revolution

An Introduction to Natural Farming

By: Masanobu Fukuoka, Larry Korn

Narrated by: David Shih

Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Call it "Zen and the Art of Farming" or a "Little Green Book", Masanobu Fukuoka's manifesto about farming, eating, and the limits of human knowledge presents a radical challenge to the global systems we rely on for our food. At the same time, it is a spiritual memoir of a man whose innovative system of cultivating the earth reflects a deep faith in the wholeness and balance of the natural world. As Wendell Berry writes in his preface, the book "is valuable to us because it is at once practical and philosophical. It is an inspiring, necessary book about agriculture because it is not just about agriculture."

Trained as a scientist, Fukuoka rejected both modern agribusiness and centuries of agricultural practice, deciding instead that the best forms of cultivation mirror nature's own laws. Over the next three decades, he perfected his so-called "do-nothing" technique: commonsense, sustainable practices that all but eliminate the use of pesticides, fertilizer, tillage, and, perhaps, most significantly, wasteful effort.

Whether you're a guerrilla gardener or a kitchen gardener, dedicated to slow food or simply looking to live a healthier life, you will find something here - you may even be moved to start a revolution of your own.

©1978 Masanobu Fukuoka; "To My Readers" copyright 1986 by Masanobu Fukuoka (P)2017 Tantor

Life saving wisdom.

Everyone should listen to and or read this book.
Even if one disagrees with some of the basic premises (I do not) many of Sensei Fukuoka San's teachings will still be beneficial to most thoughtful listeners and readers...

Wonderfully insightful.

Fukuoka's blends philosophy and agricultural practice should cause us to think seriously about our practices.

If you’re interested in natural farming...

This is an excellent book whether as an audiobook or regular book. I’ve been a fan of One Straw since I heard and Fukuoka’s farm a number of years ago. His techniques are innovative and his idea of “do nothing” farming or better said “do nothing” unnecessarily farming is very attractive.

While I haven’t been able to do my larger project, I have incorporated some of his concepts in my smaller scale home garden.

He has a really beautiful outlook on how everything is interconnected and how to respect and work with our environment.

The Bible of gardening

Easily one of the best books I've ever read, I'll be re reading and gift g this for years.

delightful and insightful with a dash of sceptism

a bit antagonist towards science but not unfound. easy to follow and applicable in a wide range of human endeavors. felt like a short philosophical rabbit hole down a rice field, in an orchard or a wild meadow

food for thought.

I read this when it first came out. It has affected my thinking for years. It was nice to hear it again.

More documentary than Story

Still really good and engaging though. I love his philosophy and can’t wait to try some of the techniques myself, adapting for available plants near my home. Lots of practical tips and I really just want to “sot down and have a beer,” with him. He seems like such a cool guy who suffers no fools. Brilliant!

was good into 3/4 through then went philosophical

was good stuff about farming, then he went on to say 100 percent of people should be farmers living a rudimentary lifestyle and knowing nothing is our best option. what.

Amazing

I finished it and immediately just started it again. Masanobu was so far ahead of his time that even now, we are still behind him, but this book is the future. You can start the future right now in your yard. Don't wait.

When you see a color, it ceases to exist.

Enjoyable performance of a classic work by a thoughtful soul. If you grow, I highly recommend.