Contents：

1. What is the Ultimate Method for Growing Vegetables that are Good for Human Health and the Environment?
2. The Courage to Not Pull Weeds
3. Researching “Fertilizers” for Vegetable Cultivation
   3-1. Plant-Based and Animal-Based Compost, Organic Fertilizers
   3-2. Natural Compost from Dried Grass and Fallen Leaves
   3-3. The Path to No-Fertilizer Cultivation
4. No-Fertilizer Cultivation is Not Difficult
5. Future Hopes and Prospects

I’ve never engaged in farming in earnest, but while I was in Japan, I had some experience helping with farming. During that time, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Akinori Kimura, a natural apple farmer, twice and even assisted in his lectures.

It’s been over 10 years since then.

In Japan, the concepts of no-till, pesticide-free, and fertilizer-free farming have become quite widespread. However, here in New Zealand, while organic farming is common, these specific approaches are virtually unheard of.

1. What is the Ultimate Method for Growing Vegetables that are Good for Human Health and the Environment?

Easy Vegetable Growing with “Neglect Farming”

In March this year, I temporarily returned to Japan and traveled to Mie Prefecture to attend a workshop on Kyousei farming. I reported on the workshop and my visit to Ise, covering the theories and practices of Kyousei farming.

Characteristics of Kyousei Farming

Kyousei farming has the following characteristics:

• Minimal Expenses: No-till, no fertilizer, and minimal weeding.
• Low Labor Requirement: Less effort needed compared to traditional farming.
• High Yield: Yields can be extraordinarily high (not just tenfold, but on an even larger scale).
• Year-Round Harvest: Harvests can be obtained at any time of the year.
• Immediate Monetization: The produce can be quickly converted into money.
• Zero Environmental Impact: It is completely environmentally friendly.

Incidentally, I came across a method online that is very similar to the principles of Kyousei farming, known as “Facho Natural Farming.”

The ultimate method for growing vegetables that are beneficial for human health and the environment seems to be one that minimizes human intervention and harmonizes with natural processes. Techniques like Kyousei farming and similar natural farming approaches embody this philosophy, promoting sustainability and efficiency in agriculture. These methods, while not yet common in New Zealand, have the potential to provide significant benefits if adopted more widely.

Introduction to Farcho

• 45 Years of Experience in Natural Farming
• Specializes in “Complete No-Fertilizer Cultivation,” not even using natural compost
• In his 30s and 40s, extensively researched the use of “bokashi” (fermented organic matter)
• In his 50s, repeatedly practiced the effective use of “natural compost”

Today, I was watching several of Farcho’s videos and found myself nodding in agreement. His explanations are both theoretical and practical, making them very easy to understand.

2. The Courage to Not Pull Weeds

It’s currently summer in Japan, which means weeds are growing quickly and can be a hassle. Honestly, seeing weeds makes me feel disheartened.

When weeds grow in a garden, they don’t look good. A garden full of weeds loses its beauty. No matter how much you pull them out, they keep growing back, making them a real nuisance.

However, I learned from Tomonori Yano’s workshop on “Rejuvenating the Earth” through Japanese gardens that weeds should not be entirely uprooted, nor should herbicides be relied upon to remove them. Instead, they should be utilized.

Still, it’s not easy to follow this advice.

In practice, I hesitate to avoid pulling weeds in a Japanese garden. After the workshop, the garden didn’t look particularly beautiful, even at a generous glance.

From an aesthetic point of view, weeds are clearly troublesome. Weeds don’t fit in spaces artificially created by humans.

But farmland is different. A place where vegetables grow is naturally better suited to being close to nature. Farmland is not meant to be a place for human admiration; it’s a place for vegetables to grow vigorously.

In this context, humans are not the main characters; the vegetables are. The idea is that humans are just there to help the vegetables grow as healthily as possible.

To achieve this, weeds are not pulled out but instead are allowed to grow and be utilized.

3. Researching “Fertilizers” for Vegetable Cultivation

Farcho’s videos are very thorough in their explanations. With many years of experience in making organic fertilizers and practicing vegetable cultivation, here are some insights from Farcho:

3-1. Plant-Based and Animal-Based Compost, Organic Fertilizers

Plant-Based Compost:

• Ingredients like rice bran, rice husks, wood chips, coffee grounds, soy pulp, and oil cake are used for plant-based compost.
• When mixing rice bran into the soil and adding water to make compost, it once emitted a terrible odor from the inside, not the surface. This occurred due to decomposition, which causes bad smells, but by promoting fermentation, these smells disappear. Successfully, fermented, well-matured compost was produced.

Animal-Based Compost:

• Using livestock waste like chicken manure and cow manure to create well-matured compost.
• However, animal manure often contains antibiotics and vaccine residues. People suffering from chemical sensitivities or atopic dermatitis may be affected by these residues, even in mature compost.
• In conclusion, even mature organic fertilizers can retain problematic components. Vegetables fertilized with such compost grow well, but they become dependent on the fertilizer and won’t thrive without continuous application.
• Additionally, these fertilizers can cause issues with pests and diseases.

3-2. Natural Compost from Dried Grass and Fallen Leaves

Natural Compost:

• Understanding the problems with plant and animal-based compost, natural compost was made using dried grass and fallen leaves.
• Obtaining large quantities of dried grass and fallen leaves was difficult, making this type of composting less widespread and somewhat limited.
• While this natural compost can sustain the soil’s strength longer than other methods, its nutrient effects are limited.
• Moreover, the taste of the vegetables grown with this compost was not particularly impressive.

3-3. The Path to No-Fertilizer Cultivation

Farcho shared his moving experience of visiting a primeval beech forest.

The natural beauty untouched by human hands. The branches and leaves were beautiful, the scent of the soil was pleasant, and he felt healed. Despite the lack of fertilizers, the trees grew tall, and the place was filled with abundant life force.

Working to grow vegetables in a field disrupts the natural rhythm. A world like the primeval beech forest, where the “mighty power of the soil” is at work, is full of life energy.

The appearance of pests in the fields is a reaction to humans disrupting the natural rhythm.

When vegetables are sweet and delicious, it is a sign they are filled with life energy. From the relationship between various composts and vegetable cultivation, Farcho concluded that no-fertilizer cultivation is the key to harnessing the true power of the soil and growing energetic, life-filled vegetables.

4. No-Fertilizer Cultivation is Not Difficult

Farcho continues his daily research to master no-fertilizer cultivation, applicable to any type of land. He confidently states that no-fertilizer cultivation is not as difficult as people think.

From his experience visiting a farm in Argentina, Farcho knows that large-scale production is possible without fertilizers. On vast lands, without compost, free from pests and diseases, they achieve high production yields of vegetables that are full of energy and incredibly delicious.

If the harvested vegetables are full of energy, those who consume them will also be energized and healthy.

How wonderful it would be if such vegetables overflowed around the world, bringing both the environment and humans back to their original, good state.

5. Future Hopes and Prospects

Japan has various farming methods such as organic farming, natural farming, Kyousei farming, and microbial farming. Dealing with nature, there is no clear definition. Even if there were definitions, the objective is the same, so there’s no need to draw strict lines.

The objective is the best method for both humans and the environment.

Each land has its characteristics. The climate varies by region. The soil and surrounding environment are different. Therefore, it would be ideal to flexibly apply the best method suitable for each situation.

Farcho expresses his desire to spread no-fertilizer cultivation worldwide.

I agree with him. Utilizing nature’s inherent power, creating a sustainable cycle without harming the environment. Not treating the soil from a human perspective, but from a nature perspective.

I want to share this mindset with the world.

Though my efforts may be small, I plan to think of specific ways to convey this message together with Farcho.