DO-NOTHING FARMING
SOWING SEEDS IN THE DESERT
“Sowing seeds in the desert” was one of Masanobu Fukuoka’s deepest dreams — not as a metaphor, but as a real act of trust in life. It is a vision that continues to guide our work, especially in places where land has been pushed to its limits and where regeneration is often considered impossible.
Our projects in Africa, mainly in Kenya, are born from this same trust. They focus on restoring degraded land through natural farming principles, seed-based reforestation and long-term collaboration with local communities. Rather than imposing external solutions, the work begins by observing the land, the climate and the people who live with it every day.
These projects are not quick interventions. They require patience, continuity and humility. Regeneration in dry lands happens step by step, often invisibly at first. A single plant taking root can change the microclimate, protect the soil and make space for other forms of life to follow.
Beyond ecological restoration, sowing seeds in the desert is also a human process. Working alongside local farmers and communities, these projects create opportunities for shared learning, food sovereignty and renewed relationship with the land. Knowledge flows both ways, rooted in practical experience and respect for local wisdom.
KENYA
In November 2022 Kutluhan has been to Kenya to develop natural farming projects and grow food for the people as they are facing a very serious hunger situation and a very serious drought. In the period that Kutluhan was in Kenya he was able to develop and establish three vegetable gardens and organize with local tribes and communities the preparation of seedballs. When Kutluhan arrived in the Maasai tribe area, he realized that they were living in a very difficult condition and there was a serious problem of hunger. The Maasai survive on three things: meat, blood and milk. Natural Farming helps them to establish their own vegetable gardens, so they can be in control of their own food resource again. When Kutluhan returned to Italy he immediately planned to go back and grow more food with the Maasai in a natural way where they don't need any water or expensive tools.
In 2023 an even bigger international group volunteered for this project and helped making vegetable gardens and reforesting barren lands by planting trees and making seedballs. The group of volunteers also established many vegetable gardens at different orphanages in the Mombasa area. Children there are in need of love and a feeling of security. With our natural farming project, we were able to give them both.
Moved by the commitment of the orphanage, Kutluhan realized this was just the beginning. He called for further action, and in the following months, volunteers eager to support this meaningful cause traveled to Natural Farm Shizen, where they were trained in the principles of natural farming. Equipped with this knowledge, these volunteers returned to the orphanage to tend the garden, ensuring a steady supply of healthy, natural food for the children.
This ongoing journey has continued to shape Kutluhan’s path. Both in 2024 and 2025, he has remained actively involved with members of the Natural Farming Center and the RAN, deepening collaborations and strengthening the network around natural farming practices. For four consecutive years, Kutluhan has felt a strong inner call to return to Africa, driven by the urgency of food insecurity and the belief that communities can regain autonomy through sustainable, natural methods of food production. What began as a single initiative has grown into a long-term commitment to support local resilience, restore the land, and nurture hope through hands-on action.
