Seen as the father of modern day natural farming, Masanobu Fukuoka (1913-2008) was the author of The One Straw Revolution, a fundamental volume for understanding how human beings can live together with this earth. This three part film series features previously unreleased interviews with the late Larry Korn, who in 1974 (after a decade of studying soil, plants, and Eastern culture) spent years living and studying with Fukuoka, and was instrumental in bringing his ideas to the world.
About The Interviews
When Larry Korn left Japan, he carried the Japanese manuscript of Fukuoka’s book with him to California, with the determination to get the book published in English. His work in helping to translate and edit this book would bring the ideas of Fukuoka and Natural Farming to millions of people worldwide. Today, the book has become a cornerstone of the alternative food movement.
These interviews were filmed at Larry’s home in Ashland, Oregon in 2012, during production of the documentary film Final Straw: Food, Earth, Happiness. They tell the story of Fukuoka from the perspective of a man who spent much of his life dedicated to bringing ideas of East and West together by finding truth within soil, plants and in turn, within humans.
It is impossible to understate how fundamental Larry’s work was to the establishment and growth of the worldwide sustainable farming movement. More than just a scholar of the soil, he was a man filled with wisdom, who exercised deep care, humility, and love for this earth. His work set the scene for a journey that changed the course of our lives in a beautiful way.
We hope the moments with Larry in these simple films, might help do the same for others.
All Parts in this Series
Part I – The Natural Mind
Adopting a way of thinking that is compatable with nature.
Part II – The Natural Farm
How Masanobu Fukuoka approached natural farming.
Part III – The Natural Life
How to live life in ways that align more closely with nature, aka: reality.
More Resources
This film series was independently produced by Final Straw: Food, Earth, Happiness, in association with City as Nature art and media studio. It is dedicated to one of our great mentors, Larry Korn.