Couple questions about Masanobu Fukuoka's The One-Straw Revolution. ...

1. He talks about not tilling the soil. If I don't till the soil, should I just spread the compost on the top layer?

2. Also, is there a way to get my fruit trees to the point where I don't have to prune them anymore? Or can I only do that if they're young?

1. Yes, you'll want to add any organic matter in the same way it would happen without human intervention. All the material would just fall on the surface and the various creatures responsible for decomposition do the rest. Keep in mind that those creatures can only do so much at a time, but they are well-equipped to build soil from what drops to the ground.

2. There is another thread somewhere on these forums about the fruit trees. To apply his method, I believe you'll need to find trees that not only have never been pruned, but also that have never been grafted. Once grafted or pruned, a tree is dependent upon you for constant care throughout its life. Trees in untouched forests grow happy and healthy without people hacking off limbs or stitching together various parts. Fukuoka simply applied that to his orchard and made a fruit forest that never needed pruning. But if you try that on a tree that's already been cut or altered in some way, you run the risk of killing the tree.

That's how I understand it.

thanks

I heard that Fukuoka just planted a perennial crop of clover and cut down the small areas for plants to grow in. By the time the plant has taken, the clover comes back and restores what damage you have done. Also by stressing the clover, you're getting nitrogen pulses that your plant can absorb.

I'm going about it that way, I'll report on any success.
W

If you want to know something about how Fukuoka prunes trees, take a look here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft0ylk4sU5M

Go to minute 0:21:05

"Do nothing but cutting the unnatural branches" -- which entails learning which branches are natural and which are not. The video helps.

Thought you might like this.
I'm going to ignore comments about natural farming not being permaculture.

William