The Road back to Nature

A wise man, Masanobu Fukuoka, wrote a book called "The Road back to Nature" in which he urges humankind to reject the agribusiness world that has been created and return to a more natural way of living. At the heart of what he was saying is spirituality. That nature is sacred. I agree with him. Nature should be seen as sacred and for too long have we been treating her badly. Too little value do we place in the things she provides for us and too little respect do we give her. Nature is by far our best teacher. I tried out some of Mr Fukuokas ideas on Australia's first Sustainable Small Farm and they worked well. If only we take the time to listen to what nature is telling us we can grow food without as much effort. We can grow food better and more naturally. Fukuoka was a great observer of nature - his books are well worth seeking out and studying.

 I have in the past tried a great many different growers methods. John Seymour (Self-Sufficiency), Bill Mollison (Permaculture), W. E. Shewell-Cooper, Elliot Coleman, Jackie French, Peter Cundall, Jon Jeavons (Biointensive) and many others. Rather than stick with one way I have used what works for me and have developed my own way. This can only really happen over time and feel blessed that I have been given the chance to pursue my love for over 45 years.

 My advice to any would-be grower...

 Follow your heart....

 and trust in Nature...

"Nature never did betray the heart that loved her" - Wordsworth.

...and so the journey continues for me.
The road back to nature continues.

Here's the road outside our farm. My road to nature. 

January pumpkin patch

The pumpkins are coming up in the BC garden.

They look very healthy.

Fast food and herbs

My version of fast food is food that I can grow quickly before I starve to death - that's most likely to happen in late spring, the so-called hungry gap. Just as well I made another garden and planted those potatoes before we went to Arizona (actually, these are the second earlies - I had already pulled the earlies in November). The garden looks like it's been there for most of last century because I use a lot of recycled materials.

Black currants are our second fruit crop at the moment, coming after the red currants.
The reason we had to go to Arizona is because Lisa had a herb conference in Mormon Lakes - she's Australia's first Community Herbalist and she looks like a herbalist here

Middle Earth and lavender magic

This is the gate to the Middle Earth orchard - the whole place here reminds me of that imaginary land of gentle hobbit folk. Tolkien used as his basis of the Shire, good farmland in England, my guess - Land in Good Heart. That's what we have here.

Lavender near the gate to Middle Earth orchard

 

There is a magic in this land and on this farm. A magic beyond the reach of cities and the evil in men's hearts. A magic that empowers us to do good and protect. That magic is called love. Love of nature and one another.

 Please - if you visit - don't bring the city here. Leave the city behind.

Somethings working - muck and magic?

It's November - a wonderful time of year. The rhododendrons are still out

there's plenty of greens in the Magic Circle garden

I'm working in the Behind Circle garden (BC garden)...well you could call it working.
It is hard work really but hard work I like to do. It's like working in heaven.
This is my office.

Up near the packing shed the faery folk have taken over - I guess they're helping work in some way. If you work with nature and not against her, she will help you. If you understand what she needs.

I think she likes muck and magic....and I think I do too!

The Hungry Gap

It's October and we're into the hungry gap.

Plenty of greens - chives, kale and French sorrel. Stored Giant Russian garlic in the background.

Harvesting in the Magic Circle garden

The Magic Circle garden is producing an abundance of greens and beans at the moment

Why go to the shops for food when you can do this? It's much nicer.