The Positive Practice of Organic Farming in Japan - Heather Nagano Farm Tour
Channel: Seek Sustainable Japan | JJWalsh
Date: 26/09/2023

Heather Fukase is originally from Australia, but has lived in a beautiful rural area of Nagano above Matsumoto-city for the last 17 years where she has raised a family. For more than 10 years Heather (and her husband) has been growing vegetables and fruit organically and as naturally as possible. 

In this talk, Heather shows me around her farmland and talks through some of the challenges and successes of being a farmer in Japan. I have talked with Heather twice on the Seek Sustainable talkshow so it was so special to be there with her in her organic farm fields to catch up.

== Previous talks with Heather on Seek Sustainable Japan ==
** 2020 Talk with Heather: https://www.youtube.com/live/hqmjj9SQaBE?si=GPQu4CGW2Bm2rvUi
** 2022 Talk with Heather: https://www.youtube.com/live/v0-9ACjmo8U?si=cRa6mDAh51Zqd6EE

I was really struck by the community side of issues of letting your weeds grow and using pesticides as well as the historical significance of big changes in farming in her area from Mulberry trees for the silk trade, use of pesticides, and the industrial style of soba (buckwheat) farms. It also surprised me how passionate and excited she is about organic farming STILL despite all the challenges. 

It also surprised me that she has a side hustle as a teacher and doesn't know anyone who is able to survive on farming full time as their sole income. 

Please follow Heather on Instagram for more updates and if you are in Japan, you will love a delivery of her great veggies and fruit delivered fresh from her farm (I just got potatoes, rhubarb, apples and look forward to rice soon). 
https://naganonaturally.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naganonaturally/

---------------
Joy (JJ) is originally from Hawaii and long-time Hiroshima-jin (Hiroshima-local) since 1996. Co-founded GetHiroshima in 1999 & founded InboundAmbassador in 2019. 

As an entrepreneur, JJ works on a variety of sustainably-focused projects & content-creation focused on better ways to live, work and travel. 

The Seek Sustainable Japan talkshow & podcast was created in 2020 to promote "good people doing great things in Japan" - a chance to share positive stories and insights to a wider audience which inspire us to make choices which support people-planet-profits in balance.

I also do in-person and online tour guiding, talkshow speaking and moderation, teaching and training, consulting, as well as organize clean-up events. Feel free to get in touch: inboundambassador@gmail.com 
https://www.inboundambassador.com/  | https://www.gethiroshima.com 

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