Happy 100th birthday Masanobu Fukuoka!
Masanobu Fukuoka was born 100 years ago today. In celebration, several permaculture groups are throwing Seed Ball parties. Here’s their suggestion on how to partake:
Fellow Earth Dwellers;
Saturday Feb 2nd would be the 100th birthday of Masanobu Fukuoka. If you are unfamiliar with his name or work, he is among other things, credited with rediscovering and bringing attention to the ancient practice of making Seed Balls (also called Earth Balls). Here is a brief synopsis of Seed Balls from Wikipedia just to get you a little background:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_ball
The ingredients that will need to be pulled together for this project are:
1) SEEDS
2) clay
3) peat or possibly local forest duff
4) humus/compost
5) potluck snack food item
Basically you put some seeds in the middle and role a ball of the other mixed ingredients (eat the food) to a diameter of anywhere between 0.5 and 3.5 inches. Then plant the seed balls in the ground! (Or maybe wait until the spring.)
“When it is understood that one loses joy and happiness in the attempt to possess them, the essence of natural farming will be realized. The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”
― Masanobu Fukuoka, The One-Straw Revolution
