my trip back home

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2009/01/26
my trip back home

Ben' mom

I went back to Virginia to get some things we needed and to visit my family.I got some things for our baking venture and two butter churns,plus some clothes and some gifts for friends.I went to J.P.I. for some books and preps and gave Hugh Courney a brief report about our progress here.He asked me to write an article for his newsletter about my first year in Japan with Biodynamics.I could probably write a book,but I'm not a writer.But I'll try to write the article and let you read it here first.

J.P.I Hugh & Ben

It takes almost 14 hours on an airplane from Narita to Atlanta not to mention the train from Obihiro to Chitose then from Chitose to Haneda then Haneda by bus to Narita and the flight from Atlanta to Roanoke Virginia.I took the same route back to our home here in Sarabetsu.It was a necessary trip.I missed Konomi so much.I don't like to be away from her too long,even one day without her is too long.I was away from her 7 days.I was very happy to see her again.I missed being on the farm and our cows.I think Konomi and the cows were happy to see me again.I missed being in Japan too.I am happy to be part of this great country.Konomi and I have big plans here in Japan.As you know from my last letter we are on our way to help start the Biodynamic Agriculture Association of Japan(B.A.A.J.).It snowed a lot while i was gone and i was worried about Konomi.She works very hard to keep up the things around the farm and works a partime job too.Our neighbor,Okade-san help her push some snow one day.Thank you Okade-san for helping Konomi while i was gone.Some other friends checked up on her too.Thanks to them too.I want to help her as much as possible.We are partners.She had to carry my weight while i was gone.I really appreciate her letting me go home and and taking care of the farm.She is a great partner.Ilove her very much.Thank you Konomi.
The first day home we had a reunion dinner.All my family came to see me.the next day
I got to see my granmother on my mothers side of the family.She looks happy and healthy.We gave her a Japanese porcelain doll and a handmade Chrismas ornament that Konomi's mom made.She was very happy to see me and appreciated the presents.I got to see two of my mothers sister, an uncle and one cousin and her babies while i was there.We had a nice dinner and good conversation.They wanted to know all about my time in Japan and the Japanese costumes.I took some sweets from our sweetshop and we ate them while we talked.They enjoyed most of them.Some where strange to them.
After my visit with my granmother i went to visit my three brothers at their homes.They are all doing well despite the economic crisis.There was two babies born in the family while i was gone.I got to see only one.I was very busy trying to get everything done and tried to visit all my family, but i didn't have time to see this other baby.I stayed at my mothers house everynight and every morning she cooked me breakfast.We went shoping and out to eat one night.I have been craving a real American steak so we went to a steakhouse.My mother really enjoyed shoping for Konomi.Konomi loves her new clothes.Thanks mom for making Konomi happy.I took lots of pictures so i can share them with Konomi and friends.
It sure is good to be back home.I love our farm and our mission.It's back to work now on our mission.Now i'm looking for a partime job too.I would like to work on the farm teaching some people English and organic gardening,but i don't know how to do it yet.Anyone interested?I'll keep looking for a job until then.We will need help with the garden and csa deliveries when the time comes.We will need money to get us through the planting season until we get csa money more frequently.Our csa project is very important to our mission.Look at our csa diary page.CSA speech with definition 　We hope that our csa will support us through the whole year.Other csa's do.This is our first year,so we can expect some hard times.I still have a lot to learn about what to grow that the Japanese people would like to eat and the cold weather climate.In Virginia we have four equal seasons.Here it is a lot colder.
Tomorrow we will go to an organic gathering in Ato,somewhere nearv Sapporo.We hope to stay at the Meno-village with Ray and his family and talk about his csa.Kitagima-san volunteered to feed our cows for us while we are there.Thank you kitagima-san.Kitagima-san has been very helpful in the past.We really appreciate his kindness and generosity.I'll give you a report on whats going on at the event and what Ray has to say about our csa and his.
What can you do to help our mission?Support the B.A.A.J..Be a B.A.A.J. member.Be our csa member.Send a donation to either one.Support your local organic farmer and tell him about us and Biodynamics.Pray for us.Pray for peace on earth.If you have something other than money we can use on the farm, contact us .Can grow some herbs to make the preparations with.German Chamomile,Yarrow,Valerian,and Stinging nettle.Can you find cowhorns?We really want to help heal the earth anything you can do would be helpful.
My family is real proud of the work Konomi and I are doing for our earth.I will try to do my best to keep them proud and do whatever it takes for the Biodynamic movement as i have devoted the rest of my life to this cause.With a great partner like Konomi it makes the job easier and fun.Thanks again Konomi.
Love and peace.
Ben.

Ben's X'house

[ベン／ Ben Campbell｜Comment(1)]

Edited by ベン／ Ben Campbell 2009/01/26 19:16:06
Last Modified 2009/02/05 11:08:59

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コメント(Comment)

'what a nice article. I loved reading it and am glad to know you are happy. Konomi is a wonderful girl. Take care of yourselfces, love you bunches. Mom

投稿者(Contributor)：mom｜2009/01/30 22:33:35