Working hard and healthy with an organic farmer who conserves beautiful culture and scenery in the countryside of Japan!

Gose(Nara) / More than 1 month (anytime)

Volunteer information
Code NICE-LI-GS21
Project name Gose
Location Nara
Periond More than 1 month (anytime)
Type Environment/Agriculture
Capacity Max. 2 volunteers
Background This project is actively working for SDG2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGS15 (Life on Land). This project is co-organized with Sugiura Farm that engages in organic farming for pursuing food safety and an environmental-friendly society. The owner of this farm is Mr. Sugiura, who is the only a man taking care of 2 hectares of farmland abandoned by local people. The local people became too old to keep working on the farm. Mr. Sugiura cultivates, harvests crops, even makes fertilizer and processes the harvest into products. He is working not only for crops, but also for conserving the environment and the beautiful scenery of living fields in the countryside of Japan.
Outcome International vols. gradually have become familiar with local people and community thanks to local host's effort. They not only worked at the farm but also joined local festival as a staff and went to language school to study Japanese. They are required to make good relationship with local and create valuable changes in the community.
Work Volunteers will engage in the process of organic farming with duties such as cultivating vegetables and rice, weeding, harvesting and packing them for shipment.
Location It is located in Gose city, Nara pref. which is about 50 km southeast of Osaka.
Accommodation Volunteers stay at an old Japanese house next to the local host's. The kitchen and shower are shared with the local host. Volunteers cook by themselves. Smoking is not allowed. A cat and dog is kept around the house.
Map
Recruitment information
Other activities Join the local events, many opportunities to learn the local wisdom, etc. Sightseeing, short trip (hot springs, temples and shrines).
Other As of 2020 Nov., it seems impossible to host the vols. from abroad. NICE and the local host will make decision to organize or cancel the project around 1 month before each start though the project can be cancelled even after that depending on the situation of COVID-19. NICE cannot compensate any damage on volunteers by this and strongly recommend them to book the flights as late as possible.
Requirement High motivation to learn and speak Japanese language, to work hard with simple mountain life in a remote area. Respect for the local culture and way of the local organization. Interests in agriculture.