Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese farmer and philosopher who developed a method of agriculture called natural farming or do-nothing farming. He was inspired by a spiritual experience he had at the age of 25, when he realized that all human knowledge and action are empty and that nothingness is the true nature of reality. He decided to return to his family's farm and practice farming in harmony with nature, without plowing, fertilizing, weeding, pruning or using pesticides. He also experimented with sowing seeds in clay balls, which he later used to re-vegetate desertified lands around the world. He wrote several books, such as The One-Straw Revolution and The Road Back to Nature, in which he explained his philosophy and farming methods. He also gave lectures and workshops in various countries, spreading his message of natural living and respect for nature. He influenced many people in the sustainable agriculture and natural food movements, as well as in the fields of ecology, spirituality and alternative medicine. He died in 2008 at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of wisdom and inspiration for future generations.