april 9 2009

< 前のページ | ベン／ Ben Campbell BackNumber | 後ろのページ >

2009/04/09
april 9 2009

We are preparing for our Easter event this weekend and the winter has gone by faster than i thought it would and spring is now here.I thought that during the winter i would have time to relax and read and study.Wrong!I was very busy.In fact i was so busy that i could not find time to write or i was too tired to write.I'm tired and busy now too,but i'm writing anyway.Since my last article to Hugh Courney there has been a lot of good things happening for the organic and biodynamic movement and us.I started working partime at the candy factory near our home.It has real flexible hours and days we could work so that was very convenient for us.I had to shave my beard to get the job but as soon as i got the job i quit shaving.By the time my beard grows back it will be time to quit my job and start farming.I had a partime job as a guest at a bookstore school for elementary after school kids.It was only for about 7 days but fun.
Konomi went to Micheal college at windy hills farm in Date city to give a class on biodynamics and was gone for about one week.I stayed home to tend to the cows and keep up the snow work and the candy job.She did a good job there and i'm proud of her doing that kind of work.
In March we went to our village processing center,there they have classes on cheese making and a kitchen,a conference room,and a large recreation area used during the winter for boys baseball practice,and some other rooms.We had our Christmas event in one of those rooms.We attended the cheese making class and learned how to make a soft gouda cheese.Also we rented the kitchen to bake bread for the events where we could sell and give free samples to get people to talk to us.

We were part of a commitee for the Akamine lecture and workshop.Akamine is a famous organic farmer on the Kyushu island.He has written several books on farming and food and health and their connection to each other.We were very happy to participate.We got to set up a booth with other organic farmers and try to recruit csa members,sell bread and seeds and give away free organic seed catalogs.Akamine lecture was very well recieved by some 350 people.We got one csa member but got a lot of attention and met some people to network with.

There was a lecture at the Obihiro Agriculture college about two organic farmers who were farming in Hokkaido.One farmers was growing apples and the other was a dairy farmer.The lecture was actually held near Sapporo at an agriculture college there but we got to see it in Obihiro by satelite.There was about 250 people at the Sapporo campus but only about ten people in Obihiro.Konomi translated the lectures for me and i thought it was very interesting and inspiring a hope the attendees felt the way i did and did something.
We were invited to be members of the first organic farmers market in the Tokachi area by a man who is building a bakery and farmers market facility in Obihiro.Of course we are interested and gladly excepted his offer.We are among 8 or 10 other farmers invited.We are still having meetings to figure out schedules and rules and things like that but i'm real excited about it.It will be a excellent thing for the organic/biodynamic movement.
We gave a workshop on seed starting for a 2 day event.We had abot 8 people attend.We all learned alot and got to make some more networking relationships.
Konomi went to Denis Pallauds on the Kyushu island for a meeting for B.A.A.J. they met with a representatives from Demeter International in Dornach Switzerland.Idont have time now to explain all the details of that trip but i can tell you now that we learned a lot from him how to start our B.A.A.J.Konomi then went to Tokyo for seminar for anthroposophist.She was gone from me about a week but she was doing very important work and i'm greatful to her for doing that.
While Konomi was in Tokyo i had to give a speech on our mission with biodynamic to a group of farmers and organic interested people in Tokachigawa Just a little bit north of Obihiro.Our good friend from Shimizu Keiko Ohara -san translated it for me.I didnt have time to write a good speech so i just talked and asked for questions.I showed some pictures of my garden in Virginia and everything went well.After the lecture we had a big dinner and party where got to talk and exchange ideas and information.So we were both helping with organics but in different places at the same time.
We interviewed Ito-san for his work with the organic movement to send to J.P.I. and others to let them know that there is some good people doing great work here too.
We are having csa meetings and on every Wednesday we conduct a study group on Maria Thun's book "Gardening for life"
We were doing these things while working partime jobs,moving snow and keeping the cows and chickens fed.So maybe you can get an idea how busy we were this winter.Now we are starting seeds and are hatching chicks and getting ready for our Easter event.Sorry i can't go into more detail on some of these things now, but if you want to comment I'll reply to you in more detail then.
I got to go now and I'll try to write again soon.
Love and peace.Ben.

[ベン／ Ben Campbell｜Comment(2)]

Edited by ベン／ Ben Campbell 2009/04/09 07:23:31
Last Modified 2009/04/13 22:46:23

< 前のページ | ベン／ Ben Campbell BackNumber | 後ろのページ >

コメント(Comment)

Wow, what a busy winter you've had. Best of luck to both. Love, mom

投稿者(Contributor)：mom｜2009/04/10 22:55:45

Hallo Mr. Campbell,
Ben is it?
My name is Rainer, Westfalian, well born is central Europe 1953,
I am just wondering what to do with your attempt to be a grower, natural, well bio, in this country.
As I bring my honeybees to Hokkaido since 10 years, also to the Date area and I even have met your wife at least once;
but as it is a very isolated area: these Kuril islands off the Asian coast of the pacific. Do you expect the same enthousiasm for natural farming as in your country?
Well, if you don't own your own land you are a nobody, for starters.
Then, everybody strives to do it as everybody else does.
And then even should you be a winner in ww2 first you have to overcome 300 years of isolation.
So obstacles aplenty, moreover no neibouring country really wants to copy what you are doing.
Well bio then, only Donny with his family, children exempted(sports is what they go for), so he is staying course around of here as it is.
Well it would be nice to see your german video and maybe next year meet you there in Sarabetsu if you are still there that is.
Appreciating your attempts
and keeping watching
Rainer

投稿者(Contributor)：rainer｜2009/08/11 21:34:50