Host #3

TAKANO     FARM

We switched to the next WWOOF Host on Wednesday morning.  It is actually down the road just a bit from host #2 which I did not know until after choosing three hosts.  I initially wanted the hosts to be somewhat near each other so we did not have to travel a full day in order to arrive at the next place. Host #2 and host #3 actually know each other quite well and have shared farming ideas and techniques for many years.  They actually met on a kibbutz in Israel many years ago and both ended up organic farming in Hokkaido.

This farm is owned by Kenji and Miho Takano.  Kenji grew up in the area and has been farming for 32 years and has been part of the organic movement in Japan for many years.  He has taught many people about organic farming and has a larger farm with a small variety of vegetables.  He sells locally as well as in the Tokyo area.  He sends produce in a five ton freight car to Tokyo during harvest time.  His main products are potatoes and Japanese pumpkins.  They have four kinds of potatoes and two kinds of pumpkins.  They plant 1/3 of their land with a variety of other vegetables for local sale and for household use.  

Mr. Takano has been discussing and teaching organic farming for a long time and has hosted WWOOFers for eleven years.  He has always had a separate living space for his helpers including a few rooms in a shed, an old bus on the property, and his old house across the driveway from his new house.  We are staying with an Italian Family in the WWOOF house.  They are here for four weeks and the wife is Japanese.  They have two children ages five and two.  The husband works at an organic ranch with WWOOFers near Florence.  We are working hard and enjoying good food and snacks.  It has been sunny and warm working in the full sun.  Keeping hydrated and upbeat as much as possible.  The surroundings keep us going and the thoughts of swimming in the ocean on our day off.