Shigaraki No Sato is a diverse project site on 6-acres of land. It includes terraced rice paddies, vegetable and tea fields, surrounding forests as well as two traditional Japanese farmhouses, where visitors learn about Natural Agriculture, reconnect with nature and explore Japanese culture. The Farmer’s house is used to train farmers in Natural Agriculture, for seed saving and to clean harvested produce. 

Balancing the Natural Environment  

To aid in restoring the natural landscape, Shumei thinned the forest trees in the surrounding hillsides, which was formerly cultivated for lumber.  This allowed light to reach the soil, promoting rejuvenation of shrubs and smaller plants in the area, increasing biodiversity and forest health.

On the 2 hectares (4.9 acres) of rice paddies, Shumei Natural Agriculture farmers planted two types of traditional rice varieties – Shiga Asahi (traditional short-grain rice) and Shiga Habatae (sticky rice). The rice is grown in a traditional way whereby it is planted without the use of any fertilizers or additives and harvested following the natural growing cycle. This involves allowing the rice to fully mature instead of harvesting it early which is now practiced by a majority of farmers in adapting to modern lifestyles. In addition, vegetables and green tea are also cultivated on the land following the Natural Agriculture approach.

The presence of Japanese honeybees has been declining in Japan, which is an indication of ecosystem imbalance.  However, the erasure of agri-chemical use at Shigraki No Sato has enabled the endangered Japanese honeybees to thrive in the area. In turn, the presence of bees helps with pollination of crops throughout the property which aids the environment in becoming increasingly verdant, fertile and revitalized.

Rice paddies are considered human-made wetlands, which have the capacity to restore and protect biodiversity in the same capacity as naturally occurring wetlands. According to the Ramsar Convention for Wetland Conservation, wetlands are critical in maintaining a healthy ecosystem and conserving biodiversity.[11] They are not only responsible for keeping aspects of the natural environment healthy, especially water regulation and purification, but the wetlands also help to absorb carbon emissions, impede adverse climate impacts, and reduce pollution in the atmosphere.

Community Involvement and Satoyama Living

As part of the educational component of Shigaraki No Sato, Shumei provides opportunities for visitors to learn about Natural Agriculture as a culture and as a way of life. The main cultural aspect of Shigaraki No Sato is inspired by two 200-year-old Kominkas, traditional Japanese farmhouses, which were refurbished and rebuilt at Shigaraki No Sato in 2004. The Kominkas showcase Japanese aesthetics and encourage visitors to incorporate traditional values, wisdom and aesthetics in modern lives. Visitors learn about the area’s traditional farming culture and are inspired to reconnect to nature.

The produce from Shigaraki No Sato is used to offer a “seed to table” experience for customers at the Miho Museum’s restaurant, which is nearby the farm as well as a farmer’s market at the Miho Museum. This affords visitors to the museum and local community members the opportunity to understand where their food comes from and the importance of developing a relationship with local farmers.  They learn that a healthy environment is connected to their own health, gaining insight into the interdependence of life.

[11] https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/ramsar-convention/