Miracle Apples ~ Natural Farming ~
November 9, 2025
If it feels like dying, allow yourself to be a “fool.”
Have you heard of the “Miracle Apples”?
Modern agriculture can hardly function without pesticides; for apples in particular, yields are said to drop by about 90% without them. Against all odds, Akinori Kimura succeeded after years of trial and error in growing apples without pesticides or fertilizers. His apples came to be known as the “Miracle Apples.”
Back in my undergraduate lab, we explored why this “miracle” could happen. While not everything is understood, I believe it was born because the apple trees were allowed to truly coexist with the surrounding ecosystem.
Composting, fertilizing, and weeding may seem helpful to the trees, but these actions can disturb the ecological balance of microorganisms and insects. When we remove weeds and over-apply nutrients, beneficial organisms decline; roots tend to grow shallow, plants lose innate resilience, and their immunity weakens. Eventually, they become dependent on agricultural inputs to survive.
This is not just about apples. Pesticides and fertilizers have enabled large-scale food production and supported our lives—but the Miracle Apples story reminds us how far we’ve drifted from nature.
Our home gardening philosophy is rooted in this story. If you’re curious about natural farming, this is a book—and a film—worth your time.
Miracle Apples (Book)
The moving true story of Akinori Kimura, who overturned the “impossible” by growing apples entirely without pesticides and fertilizers. Not just “organic,” but truly “natural cultivation.” It invites us to rethink how modern agriculture relates to nature—and how humans might coexist with it.
Miracle Apples (Film)
Starring Sadao Abe and Miho Kanno. A moving portrayal of a couple who held fast to their beliefs through years of hardship. Highly recommended after reading the book.