Joint Research Group considering “Life with agriculture in urban areas”
Collaborative research objective: Solve the issue of open spaces in the city and the issue of deserted cultivated land by understanding the lifestyles and needs of elderly individuals interested in agricultural life.
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The “Life with Agriculture” Group visited a cooperative housing facility called “Sakura Garden” about an hour and a half outside of Tokyo. The facility includes a garden where residents can grow their own vegetables. The house is arranged in a u-shape on land which was originally used for farm land. The spacious inner vegetable garden faces a private road and connects to a barbecue venue where events are held several times a year. The group members listened to Dr. Yasuhiro Fujioka, who set up the house here, for four hours. The information he shared covered a broad range of topics from the birth of the community to the current status. One member said, “Thinking agriculturally is different from other ways of thinking. It’s great that there is a space where residents are able to share freely. We can see the massive potential and take great interest in how the garden will develop into the future.” The group plans to conduct field work two to four times. The next venue is Okutama Unazawa Fureai Farm. |
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View of the house from the vegetable garden |
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Because the residents plant vegetables, the community can also maintain free-range chickens. |
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Dr. Yasuhiro Fujioka (far left), who was kind enough to agree to an interview |
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There is a big cherry tree in the barbecue venue |
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A stone oven, hand-made by residents, is used to bake pizza. |
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