From Japan, with Love: Insects Hide

Entry #015:

2021 September 28

Today, I’m on my way to Saitama to meet with farmers and seed savers and get in a little bit of onsen time, I hope. Saitama is known as a “bed-town” area outside of Tokyo. A term that’s given to suburban neighborhoods outside of a large city, to express that people really go home just to sleep. But that does this prefecture such an audacious disservice as its vast land is lush and varied. Not just onsens, but also extensive mountains, rivers, and much much farmland. There are several specific areas within Saitama that have been known to farm fully chemical-free, and not just a single farm, but the entire town. Neighbors coming together to rally, discuss, and vote with their actions, in a time when “organic” farming was certainly not a popular choice. Ogawamachi is one of those towns. After WWII, when Japan lost to the US, Japan was required to import many commodities. Namely dairy, flour, and pesticides. As we know, the aftermath of all of the above has done quite a number on us here, but pesticides will play out an extremely longtail course. Ogawamachi is a quiet activity amongst the naysayers. Of the 2000 or so year history of agriculture in Japan, only about 15 years were spent using chemicals in Ogawamachi. Go them! And let them help all of us be fearless leaders.

♡ momoko

Microseasonal Stars

September 28 - October 2

Autumn > Autumn Equinox > Insects Hide

Are you making time and space to be with yourself and not so much physically, but emotionally too?