Japan Farmers Markets

A farmer, his mother and there delicious kabu at the Kamakura Farmers Market. It is hard to believe that January is already winding down. Here in Kanagawa it's nearly time to plant potatoes (yes, you read that correctly) while still harvesting daikon and other winter vegetables once the frost leaves the soil. It's a lovely time of year to be eating, so don't miss the chance to head on out to one of these great markets this weekend. Kamakura Farmers Market - Kamakura Every day A small local affair featuring Kamakura heirloom fruits and vegetables raised in yet another former capital city, the Kamakura Market is a small but wonderful venue. Head in early to get the best selection and pick up a loaf of Paradise Alley's charcoal infused bread while you're there. 7am until sold out Map Futamatagawa Farmers Market - Yokohama Every Friday A charming little weekly market tucked conveniently just outside the turnstile at Futamatagawa Station in Yokohama whe

Permaculture isn't just for those with vast garden spaces, according to Juliet Kemp, author of Permaculture in Pots , and she's quite right. In the January/February, 2015 issue of Urban Farms Magazine I talk with Kemp about turning balconies, window sills, and back patios into productive permaculture havens and why it matters. You'll have to buy the magazine, but it's worth every cent!

The finished product - rice cooker yeast bread. When we lived at home in the United States, I made bread on a pretty regular basis. I loved the process, inspired by my mother and Uncle Bob, I would mix and knead, breathing in that wonderful yeasty smell. I would also snarf down in short order the resulting golden brown loaves, butter and jam pooling on the grainy surface. Since moving to Japan six years ago, I have not had an oven. Yes, I know I can get one, but I don't want to give up the counter space, and I don't want another thing I have to lug with me when we move. But, I do find that I crave homemade bread. Dense, heavy breads made with dark flours that go well with cheese don't really exist here. Oh, they do if I go to a specialty bakery, but I'm relatively lazy. When I want my bread, I don't want to ride the train for an hour and a half to find it's sold out or not what I really wanted. My friend Hitomi, as she often does, came to the rescue earl

The UNU Market in warmer days... The weather looks promising for the weekend despite a spate of rain this week, so don't be shy about heading to the markets. As always, the Earth Day Market in Yoyogi promises some of the best fun to be had, but the other markets are wonderful, too. Grab your backpack and head out for some of the best veg the season has to offer!  Earth Day Market Sunday, January 25th I could go wax on forever about how great this market is and how important it is for the future of Japanese farming and global food security. Instead, I'll just insist that folks go and see for themselves what great things the market and these innovative growers are doing. This month the market will be a a three-day wonderland of organic and fair trade goodness not to be missed. Come frolic and enjoy! 10am to 4pm, Rain or shine! Map Futamatagawa Farmers Market - Yokohama Every Friday A charming little weekly market tucked conveniently just outside the turnsti

Nagano natto mixed with umeboshi and topped with miyoga. Serious yum. As a farmer and gardener, I love to eat and thankfully, Japan is chock full of terrific food. My favorite spouse and I have wandered near and far exploring this lovely land, its food, and meeting some terrific people. However, there are many places we haven't been able to explore yet, but lucky for us antenna shops and places like d47 Shokudo are around to remind us the tasty adventures to be had. d47 Shokudo is the foodly arm of Kenmei Nagaoka's d and design firm, which focuses on show-casing the best each prefecture has to offer. It's a brilliant scheme, and the shokudo is just as wonderful in the array of foods offered from each of Japan's 47 prefectures. My review in Metropolis Magazine takes readers on a mouth-watering tour, hopefully inspiring a wander over to sample for yourselves. Affordable, delicious, and ridiculously fun. Go!

I wasn't kidding when I said I review books for Permaculture Magazine . It's a great publication full of practical advice, recipes, and stories of people creating sustainability all around them. (Think Mother Earth News with feet firmly planted in permaculture.) I love it and what they're up to, and heartily recommend subscribing. I also heartily recommend Stephen Barstow's Around the World in 80 Plants . Barstow , a charming author and talented permaculturalist, shares a selection of the perennial edibles in his collection of more than 2,000 plants. He includes history, recipes, and other lovely tidbits that made this book almost impossible to put down. Barstow has had a very good time exploring, eating, and writing about these plants, and I am convinced this book is his way of sharing the fun. It is also excellent advice for those of us zipping along the front wave of climate change. Read my review here and then pick up a copy for yourself and let the fun begin!

Yummy organic wine at the Earth Day Farmers Market. A rather hip-hopping weekend of markets is upon us, Tokyo and Yokohama! Don't miss the chance to head out to find some of winter's best on hand and explore the city a bit, to boot. Beautiful weather is forecast for the weekend, so it's well worth the effort. Ebisu is always fun and there's Afuri Ramen just around the corner to feed your weary bones afterward. Nippori never fails to delight and Kitamura-san is sure to be on hand with the best her winter fields can offer. I would be remiss in not mentioning her mother's homemade pickles. They sell out quickly, so do try and go on Saturday. See you there! Ebisu Market Sunday, January 18th Don't miss the opportunity to head to a nifty part of the city where on these sweet Sundays you'll find farmers and producers galore. (One even comes from Okutama with a lovely array of vegetables and a vegetable-based spread that will knock your socks off.) It

It has been my great pleasure to review books on a somewhat regular basis for Permaculture Magazine. One of my latest is of Farming the Woods by Ken Mudge and Steve Gabriel . I won't repeat every word of my review here, but I will say it's a book that should be added to the shelves of those who like to eat and do so sustainably. It was inspiring, informative, and hopeful. Read the review and then add it to your collection. You'll be glad you did. http://www.permaculture.co.uk/book-reviews/farming-woods

I have been busy, busy writing about food in Japan, and trying to spread the word about farmers markets around the country. Tokyo certainly has the greatest concentration that I've found here so far, but other cities large and small often have them, too. My advice is to always ask at Tourist Information, which is how I learned about this little gem of a market down in Hamamatsu. It's a small, local affair that's big on heart and even bigger on excellent food. Don't miss it! Check out my article about it in Outdoor Japan's Autumn Traveler, page 11 .

Delicious brews at Y. Market Brewing in Nagoya. Late last year I had the great pleasure of writing for a fantastic magazine and website, Modern Farmer , about craft beer in Japan. As a daughter of Wisconsin, beer is a beloved beverage. Good beer in Japan has been an elusive prey. Thanks to a friend, a son of Wisconsin born in the heart of our fair state's beer culture, I found my way to a variety of beer places in and around Tokyo and beyond. The result? Delighted taste buds and this article - Japan's Craft Beer Movement Takes Off - detailing the evolution of craft beer thus far. So, curl up with a favorite brew and settle in for a good read.

The Nagoya Organic Farmers Market in warmer days. Welcome to the January, 2015 listing of markets in the Tokyo and Yokohama areas! Posts may be sparse this month, but I'll do my best to catch up. All of that aside, winter is the best season for eating in Japan, and that means the markets are full of glorious vegetables and other assorted fun bits for your munching pleasure. Don't be shy! Dig right in and enjoy yourself! Ebisu Market Sunday, January 4th and Sunday, January 18th Don't miss the opportunity to head to a nifty part of the city where on these sweet Sundays you'll find farmers and producers galore. (One even comes from Okutama with a lovely array of vegetables and a vegetable-based spread that will knock your socks off.) It's worth noting, too, that  Do One Good , an animal NPO will be on hand with some of the cutest dogs ever waiting to go home with you! 11am to 5pm Map Market of the Sun Saturday, January 10th and Sunday, January 11th The