In this 7-day workshop with permaculture and natural farming teacher Larry Korn we will explore the philosophy and practical techniques of Masanobu Fukuoka, pioneer and world leader of the natural farming movement. Larry lived at Mr. Fukuoka’s farm for two years in the 1970s and translated his best-selling book, The One-Straw Revolution. He also traveled with Mr. Fukuoka on two 6-week visits to the United States. This is a rare opportunity to get an inside look at what natural farming actually, and who Mr. Fukuoka was as a person.

Some of the subjects that will be covered:

• The philosophy, ethics, and principles of Natural Farming
• Mr. Fukuoka’s life story and why it is instructive
• Natural farming methodology: how Mr. Fukuoka knew what to do, and what not to do
• The design and layout of Mr. Fukuoka’s farm
• Daily and seasonal chores
• Growing vegetables like wild plants
• Orchard trees, mushroom cultivation, fertilising, insect control, animals, and more
• Growing rice and barley in the same field each year without plowing or flooding the rice fields
• Making and using seed balls
• Natural diet
• Differences and similarities between natural farming and Indigenous ways, traditional Japanese agriculture, organic farming, and permaculture
• Natural farming throughout the world
• Future evolution of natural farming
• How to incorporate the spirit of natural farming into your own life

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The workshop will be filled with stories and anecdotes from Larry’s time hitch hiking in Japan from one back-to-the land commune to another, living in Mr. Fukuoka’s orchard with the other student workers, and what it was like to travel with him in the United States. He will also discuss how his own understanding of natural farming evolved over the past 35 years.


There will also be a number of hands-on projects around the farm such as making seed balls, establishing a natural garden, building a hugelkulture bed, and more.

Yoga will be offered each morning as well as a series of Nature Connection Exercises led by Kate Curtis for those who are interested in connecting with the land and themselves in this way.

Larry Korn:

Larry Korn is an American who lived and worked on the farm of Masanobu Fukuoka for more than two years in the early 1970s. He is translator and editor of the English language edition of Mr. Fukuoka’s The One-Straw Revolution (1978) and editor of his later book,Sowing Seeds in the Desert (2012). Larry accompanied Mr. Fukuoka on his visits to the United States in 1979 and 1986 acting as his guide and translator. He is author of the recently published One-Straw Revolutionary (2015), the first book to look deeply at natural farming and intimately discuss the philosophy and work of Mr. Fukuoka.

Larry studied Asian history, soil science, and plant nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley, and has worked in wholesale and retail plant nurseries, as a soil scientist for the California Department of Forestry, and as a residential landscape contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 20 years. He has taught many courses and workshops about natural farming, permaculture, and local food production throughout the United States. He currently lives in Ashland, a small town in southern Oregon.


Larry also studied permaculture, taking two Permaculture Design Courses in the 1980s from Bill Mollison, one of the founders of permaculture. He was one of three editors for the Tilth publication, The Future Is Abundant: A Guide to Sustainable Agriculture (1982). This book is a practical guide for applying permaculture and natural farming techniques to the Pacific Northwest.


For more information about Masanobu Fukuoka and Larry Korn, please visit www.onestrawrevolution.net.

Optional NATURE CONNECTION AND YOGA is Facilitated by KATE CURTIS:


Kate grew up in South Africa where her love for nature began, she moved to Barcelona 6 years ago, where she recently completed a yoga teacher training, and has been working with children and adults  combining art, yoga, acro-yoga, nature and storytelling as tools for workshops and language programs. She has participated in two PDCs in India as well as volunteering on various permaculture projects in Portugal, Spain and Thailand. She is also interested in using Deep Ecology practises as tools to create a deeper awareness of our role on this planet- she believes that another way is possible. 


The host site MAS PUJOU:

We will be based in the beautiful, stone, rural house of Mas Pujou with spectacular views of the natural surroundings.

Mas Pujou is situated near the historic Roman town of Olot, in the stunning La Garrotxa natural volcanic area. Surrounded by fields, forests and within walking distance of La Fageda d´en Jordá, the house offers a special opportunity to be away from urban distractions, to enjoy peace whilst listening to the sounds of nature, see the stars and if you are lucky, hear the owls at night!
Its a 10 ha site with mostly regenerating Oak Forest. There are some vegetable gardens, chickens and sheep too on site!
The interior of the house allows access to rooms of common use (such as dining room, living room, showers and bathrooms, etc). There are also different places outside with beautiful views of the landscape from the terraces.
The closest neighbourhood is the Barri de Bonavista (2 kms away) where you can find shops and services.
During the course we aim to take advantage of this beautiful and peaceful setting, spending as much time outside as possible.

ACCOMMODATION and FOOD: 
Rooms are mainly shared and dormitory style. There is a few double and one single room available for an extra charge. We will serve three delicious, vegetarian meals per day, organic, grown in the veggie garden or locally sourced, and prepared by the team at Mas Pujou with lots of love!
And of course we shall enjoy plenty of tea breaks with fruit and light snacks.

Course Price: 500 Euro early bird (until 10th of March)
                         550 Euro normal price
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Contact information: permaculturainfo@gmail.com
www.soilsunsoul.net

Pictures from our host site: