Natural Farm Visit: A Very Short Report

Working the potato rows at Hamma Noeun.

If I had to describe our visit to Kazuto and Erina Hamma's natural farm in a single word I would choose: amazing. Then I would choose affirming, enlightening, hilarious, thought-provoking, inspiring, satisfying, and mind-blowing. And then I might choose a few more, such as delicious and fun, but that little list will have to suffice.

Kazuto and Erina, a brother sister farming duo, use natural farming techniques to grow the best rice I've ever had, fantastic tea, shitake mushrooms, and heirloom vegetables. Set in a small rural village in the mountains of Nara Prefecture, their fields bloom with life and health above as well as below ground. Their soil is rich and springy, and the rows simply overflow with sansai (mountain vegetables), happy tea bushes, and daikon setting seed.

And for the moment, I'm going to stop there. I've sent out a pitch to a magazine to tell this story, and I don't want to say too much here before I know their response. Suffice it to say, though, I don't see things in the same way any longer. I hope to go back and learn more.

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Japan Farmers Markets

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