Schedule
Sun, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (5/4/2014 - 5/4/2014) Location: MAIN
Sun, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (5/18/2014 - 5/18/2014) Location: MAIN
Description
The Tao of Farming ? Fukuoka?s Philosophy & Methods: Masanobu Fukuoka is widely considered one of the most influential figures in the historical development of organic agriculture and the agricultural design science of permaculture. His unique techniques and methods for growing rice, grains, citrus, and vegetables without tillage, pruning, herbicides, pesticides, prepared fertilizers, or fossil fuels, made him one of the most celebrated?and criticized?agricultural experimenters of the 20th century. Underlying and informing Fukuoka?s novel form of agriculture, however, is an equally fascinating personal philosophy inspired by the Zen Buddhist and Taoist traditions. This course will serve as a dual-introduction to Fukuoka?s philosophy and methods, spanning the material and spiritual dimensions of one man?s lifework. Over the two-day seminar, students will read spiritual and agro-ecological texts, discuss Fukuoka?s relevancy today, and try out some of his methods (including making his