Comments on: Finding a Model in Japan’s Young Farmer Corps

By: Susan Kano

Susan Kano — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:23:28 +0000

I love the appetizing narrative of the loving preparation of local fare, and the introduction of city dwellers to country farming life. Let’s share more experiences!

By: Betty

Betty — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:05:59 +0000

It’s inspiring to hear of young folks experiencing healthy work and essential livelihood through farming, but the goal must be to sustain that effort through time. When city folk get “well” will they give up country work, fortified to return to the fast-paced fun of the city? Is there a deeper imperative involving turning back some urban amenities? Musing…

By: Civil Eats » Blog Archive » The Obamas in the First 100 days: “B-” on Agriculture Policy

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:19:10 +0000

[...] He can begin by initiating a “farmer corps” program to incubate new farmers, similar to one recently implemented in Japan. Furthermore, instead of just talking about ending subsidies for industrial commodity farms, he [...]

By: Rich Navies

Rich Navies — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:28:26 +0000

That’s what I’m talking about! Farmer training would be excellent for so many of us in the Belly of the Beast! This piece gives me inspiration as I put the pieces together for my own organic garden…without the benefit of an experienced guide!

By: Nancy Hachisu

Nancy Hachisu — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:25:19 +0000

Great article Nina. Sadly, these kinds of places are few and far between. Although the food/farming situation in Japan has not reached the crisis status as it is in the U.S., the greying population of Japanese farmers is a reality–as is the preponderance of convenience store eating. As Japan is not as far off of their agrarian roots, I still think Japan can turn this around. But we need young farmers. We live fairly near Kanna machi in a town called Kamikawa-machi–it’s one town over from Kamiizumi-mura. We do Slow Food events that focus on getting urban dwellers on to the field. My husband is an organic farmer and we have friends up where you were in Kanna machi and Onishi. I have a school garden project for my Immersion English preschool here in Kamikawa. Let us know if you come back this summer. Gordon should know how to get ahold of me.

By: Tina Yokota

Tina Yokota — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:37:45 +0000

Thanks for breaking it down Nina! It’s great to hear real, tangible solutions for our current problems and I hope that American policymakers can humbly learn from the examples of others. Plus, I’m seriously hungry for some Japanese food now. Oishi!

By: Nina

Nina — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:21:39 +0000

Yes, they did a play on words by spelling it this way: 田舎で働き隊。It’s both “Countryside Working Squad” and a wish, “I want to work in the country!”
Japanese love them some puns. =)

By: sarabeth

sarabeth — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Wow, this program sounds great! I wish I had heard about it while I was studying in Japan. watashi mo inaka de hatarakitai! ^^