Farming That Does Nothing — The Lineage of Natural Farming
From Masanobu Fukuoka's Four Principles to Korea's JADAM movement — the quiet revolution of working with nature, not against it.
Natural farming was first advocated by Masanobu Fukuoka (1913–2008). It is a philosophy of farming that seeks to draw closer to nature rather than maximize productivity. He asked himself: 'What was farming like a thousand years ago?' That question became the seed of the Four Principles. Natural farming is, in a sense, the laziest method of farming possible — but the idea that it means simply abandoning the land is a misunderstanding. It is a method that can only be practiced through a deep understanding of nature's principles.
The Four Principles — Beginning by Letting Go of Human Intervention
Fukuoka's natural farming rests on four principles: no tillage (not plowing the soil), no weeding (not pulling weeds), no fertilizer (not adding compost or nutrients), and no pesticides (not applying chemicals). These are called the 'Four Principles.' The approach brings the Taoist philosophy of wu wei — effortless action in harmony with nature — directly into the field. It is why he is sometimes called 'the modern Laozi.'
He lectured in the United States on why good grasslands were turning to desert, and in Africa he introduced a method of greening deserts by shaping seeds into clay pellets and scattering them. He warned against 'plundering agriculture' — feeding synthetic fertilizers and mowing away all growth — and spent his life demonstrating through practice that allowing nature to cycle on its own is the path to healing the land.
Permaculture — Fukuoka's Seed Blooms in Australia
The concept of natural farming traveled to Australia, where it blossomed into Permaculture. The word combines 'Permanent' and 'Agriculture,' and was introduced to the world in 1978 by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren of the University of Tasmania through their co-authored book Permaculture One. It grew beyond a mere farming method into a comprehensive ecological philosophy encompassing energy, architecture, and the design of local communities.
In a similar vein, the United States gave rise to Agroecology, a field combining Agriculture and Ecology. The principles of natural farming — no-till robotic cultivation, water-saving irrigation, and restoring soil fertility through fallow periods — are gradually seeping into modern agriculture.
Yoshikazu Kawaguchi — Inheriting the Spirit, Adding Productivity
In Japan, Yoshikazu Kawaguchi carried on Fukuoka's spirit. Disillusioned with chemical-based agriculture, he embraced natural farming and refined the wu wei approach to increase productivity. He opened the Akime Natural Farming School and continues his work through teaching and writing.
Han-gyu Cho — Pioneer of Natural Farming in Korea
In Korea, Han-gyu Cho (1935–2025) can be regarded as the founding figure of natural farming. A graduate of Suwon Agricultural High School, he spent decades researching natural farming and traveled the country spreading its value. He taught how to apply natural farming across all areas of agriculture — from rice and vegetable cultivation to poultry and pig farming.
His concept of 'indigenous microorganisms' was groundbreaking. He argued that the heart of farming lies in reviving the vitality of the soil, and he widely shared techniques for cultivating and utilizing the native microorganisms unique to each region. His ideas sparked an enthusiastic response among farmers, though the path was never easy against the towering wall of conventional agriculture.
JADAM — Taking Korean Natural Farming to the World
The agricultural movement born from Han-gyu Cho's philosophy is carried forward today by JADAM (Jayeoneul Dameun Saramdeul, 'People Who Resemble Nature'), founded by his son Young-sang Cho. Leading the popularization of ultra-low-cost organic farming, JADAM is bringing Korean natural farming to a global audience through publications such as JADAM Organic Farming (in English) and 100 Wild Plants for Natural Pesticides.
Sung-hyun Choi — Planting Fukuoka's Philosophy in Korean Soil
Much of the credit for natural farming taking deep root in Korea belongs to Sung-hyun Choi. Since meeting Fukuoka in 1985, he has devoted his life to practicing natural farming and translating and writing about it. He has translated Fukuoka's major works, including The One-Straw Revolution and Natural Farming, and more recently introduced the writings of Yoshikazu Kawaguchi to Korean readers. Today he lives in Gangwon Province, embodying the wu wei way of life himself.