Nou-En

In rural Japan, as in many areas around the world, small communities are suffering from rapid population decline as young people flock to the cities. A self perpetuating cycle develops in which rural communities lose their youth to entertainment and work opportunities in the city, which cripples the local economy by leaving behind small towns and villages lacking an able workforce.
Here in Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, the evidence of this can be easily seen on any walk or bike ride around the valley. In some villages more than half of the houses are vacant. Many fields have been abandoned and have begun the rapid transition back to a more natural state. Elementary schools with great facilities are being forced to close due to low enrollment. At our local elementary school this year's First Grade class has three students. Village elders possess a lifetime of priceless skills and knowlege that is not being passed on because of a lack of interested youth. Looking forward in time, it is worrisome to imagine the state of these communities if current trends continue.
Seeing these things, we here at Nou En have been motivated to work for positive change. Our aim is to encourage young people from around the world to return to rural communities. We organize enthusiastic volunteers (mostly through the WWOOF organization, http://www.wwoofjapan.com) to help local farmers in exchange for healthy food and invaluable local knowlege. We network and assist local organic farms with vegetable and rice production on a regular basis. We try to enthusiastically jump in and help local villagers whenever we can. In addition to these projects, we also have our own fields and gardens as well as chickens and goats that we care for.
Because part of our aim is encouraging people to want to live in the country side we also take time to enjoy the benefits of country living. We go hiking in the surrounding mountains, swimming in ponds and streams (especially during the hot humid Japanese summer!), barbecues with friends on weekends, kendo lessons at the local gymnasium and much more.
Mostly we try to provide a communal living environment where we work, learn, and grow together, all while striving to benefit and elevate the local community.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A note from Chris

This is Chris, from England, a Nou-En participant who stayed with us for five weeks this summer. He worked really hard to get this project off the ground and we miss him a lot. This is what he had to say about his experience:

Sasayama's great, and the Nou-En project was a really good way to experience both farming and Japan for the first time. Helping local farmers made the work we were doing feel very rewarding. Not that weeding black bean fields isn't rewarding in its own right - there's something really satisfying about changing a row of sad looking black beans, drowning in a sea of weeds, into a row of happy looking plants standing proud in the soil. Doing that with 8 other young people so the Obaa-san (who's just brought you a basket full of cakes and drinks) doesn't have to break her back doing it by herself makes it even better.

Weeding rice paddies barefoot is also really good fun - it's like playing in the mud as a child, but instead of being scolded by your parents you get more cakes and snacks, and sometimes fruit and vegetables or a 30kg bag of the best tasting rice you've ever had to take home. It all seems like a pretty good deal to me!

The work done through the project appears to be genuinely acknowledged and appreciated by the people of Tsuji. We were invited to a couple of community events and I was lucky enough to be allowed to take part in a festival, carrying the Dashi (Festival cart) to and from a nearby Shrine. These are all experiences I doubt I would have had anywhere else and am really grateful for them.

The people I've met WWOOFing in Sasayama, both villagers and fellow WWOOFers, from different countries and backgrounds to myself, and are all brilliant people. I'm truly thankful I had the chance to live and work with them all for the 5 weeks I've stayed here. That all this was in the stunning fields and valleys around Tsuji makes it all the more memorable.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)