Over the past 6 years we, Seeds of Life institute (SOLi) have been opening and supporting local community actions along the Naka River, Japan.
Originating in the Nasu Mountains and flowing down to the sea at Mito City, Naka River has long been the highway of culture and economy. It is now divided by men’s politics into two prefectures. This has meant no cohesion in local actions or policies, taxes spent to grow money not communities and cultural ties thrown to the winds. Education strictly following national policies. Farmers firmly guided into buying F1 seeds and using commensurate chemical poisons.
Naka River used to be a salmon spawning haven before men built dams and polluted streams with industrial scale cattle and farm abuse.
The views of the mountains are wonderful, if you can ignore the smells of mountains of cattle poop and urine, piled up over the decades . Naturally, this all travels down stream to flow into organic farming and natural native seed communities.
The Seeds of Life institute supported kindergarten hidden inside a forest with its own natural farm to feed the kids and supply the wonderful on-site restaurant is equally haunted by smells when the wind blows in the wrong direction.
However, recently government supported milk and cattle has stopped and the local environment is cleaning itself.
T
The river is starting to smile again.
I was reminded of the Māori saying, I am the river and the river is me. Our kids play in the river. Our seasons are matched and our fields washed by it. All life evolves out of its wetlands. And its beautiful to watch.
Local farming communities supply the supported local community store in Nasu Shiobara City. It also hosts a cafe and event space and a space for community carers and nurses to offer first level advice to citizens. Regular seminars on nutrition and food safety, education and health are weekly events.
Flowing down river we arrive at Bato Village where SOLi supports a
Natural farming campus of more than 9 hectares. They contain a biotope, a 3 hectare reforesting area, rice fields, natural farming fields, a seed DNa library and currently grows 40% of its own local native seed crops. around 40 families receive a veggie box weekly.
There is also an area network of at least 10 natural farmers all linked ECOnomically and as a local seed library.
This manner of farming ensures at least a 50% higher level of nutrition from the same acreage. Researched over 10 years by SOLi. Also confirmed by Texas University research as reported by McKinsey report 2021.
These foods first go to local communities and the community store. This grows a local nutrition ECOnomy.
Any extra food is sold in the SOLi SEED marche in Tokyo about two hours away by car. These markets sell out inside hours, every time.
The only food sold at his marche is grown from local native seeds. The nutrition ECOnomy in action.
There are always talk sessions at the Marche about how to relocate into the Naka River zone. They detail how we can support people who wish to move and work and study along the Naka River. A big hurdle for city people is not knowing anyone in the local areas. Well, in the Naka River zone there are communities and local ECOnomies waiting to support you and your family.
There are always workshops at the Seed Marche on how to make your own miso, tofu, mill flour from local grains or grow seedlings on your city balcony.
Float a little further down stream and you meet Hitachi Omiya a city that declares itself to be organic. This action is financed by the national government policies and currently hosts a few organic farmers to produce organic beer and potato chips.
The next beautiful area of Motegi is a stunningly clean and well tended countryside that any nation would be proud to uphold. Here SOLi supports local natural farmers, seed libraries and deep Japan agri tourism.
Again, community stores and local produce supporting local growers. Hosting weekly study seminars
A little further down stream and the river flattens out into the alluvial plane before it greets the ocean tides. Mito City.
Here, SOLi supports a high tech company to study how to grow its own food to feed its families and donate any extra to local children’s homes. It also operates a local community radio show to honor local peoples dreams and actions.
This City, next year, will open SOLi supported vocational school for sustainable business, food and life studies. All students will open local businesses inside the city and action study their way into new futures.
It is possible to grow new futures.
It just takes less talk and more action.
Learn as you grow.
If you would like to hear more, tune into the zoom online Naka River Summit. Or send an email to info@seedsol.org
OCTOBER 8: 19:00 (Japan time)
Natural farming and native seed exchange network, Community carer system, local community stores and cafes, kindergarten farms,a restaurants, seed libraries, native plants sanctuaries, Biotope, Forest replanting systems, Food Academy campuses, Sustainable Food, Naka River actions, housing and works, next native foods and you!
You are invited to listen, learn, contribute and even move to live and participate in the Nakagawa Zone. See you online. Individuals, communities, companies, local governments all give voices to grow the Naka Gawa: a zone for life! Supported by Seeds of Life Institute friends and supporters.
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