Fukuoka's natural farming method begins with the absolute rejection of science. He says in one of his books, "My study started off with the rejection of conventional agricultural technologies. I absolutely reject science and technology. My view is based on the rejection of Western philosophy, which supports today's science and technology."
He continues, "Natural farming, in my mind is, in fact, not part of so-called scientific agriculture. I aim to establish a new farming method from the view point of Oriental philosophy, thought, and religion, standing away from the framework of scientific agriculture." He values not the Western way of thinking, that nature is for the use of humanity, but the Oriental thinking that we are part of nature. Through natural "do-nothing" farming he tried to demonstrate that humanity's science is imperfect and unnecessary.
http://www.ikjeld.com/japannews/00000354.php
The essence of Fukuoka's method is to reproduce natural conditions as closely as possible. There is no plowing, as the seed germinates quite happily on the surface if the right conditions are provided. There is also considerable emphasis on maintaining diversity. A ground cover of white clover grows under the grain plants to provide nitrogen. Weeds (and Daikons) are also considered part of the ecosystem, periodically cut and allowed to lie on the surface so the nutrients they contain are returned to the soil. Ducks are let into the grain plot, and specific insectivorous carp into the rice paddy at certain times of the year to eat slugs and other pests.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masanobu_Fukuoka
