Suggested train schedule from Tokyo Joetsu Shinkansen Toki 309 Departing Tokyo at 08:52, arriving Echigo-Yuzawa at 10:20 Joetsu local line Departing Echigo-Yuzawa at 10:30, arriving Joetsu Kokusai Skiing Ground at 10:44
Contents and bringing Weeding by hands. Will be cancelled only in stormy condition. Bring your own lunch for Saturday, and water during activities. Clothings may get muddy. Insect repellent, a hat/cap. We recommend to come into the paddy with bare feet to feel the soil directly. Beach sandals are useful to wash your feet in a stream. More information will be provided for those whose participation is confirmed.
定員 Limit of participants. 15人程度。Up to around 15 participants.
参加費 Fee 一般：16,000円（プログラム費、1泊2食の宿泊費、2日目の昼食、保険を含む）。学生12,000円（同）。男女別相部屋です。ご家族連れは調整させていただきます。学生等で田んぼ脇の民家での寝袋泊も可、9,000円。宿泊なしの場合は、大人8,000円、小学生は1,000円。 16,000 JPY including program fee, accommodations with two meals, lunch on Sunday, insurance. Shared room. Students and other youth with sleeping bags can stay in a house next to the paddy with 9,000 JPY.
On the weekend of May 25 and 26, 2024, an Ecoplus Weekend Farming Workshop, “ABC in a Rice Paddy,” was held in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. Nineteen people from the Tokyo metropolitan area, Yamagata and Nagano prefectures participated, ranging from families with elementary school children to university students, young professionals, and senior citizens. Local farmers also supported the event. Under a blue sky, the participants enjoyed farming in chemical-free rice paddies while admiring the dazzling fresh green of Uonuma’s nature.
On the first day, we climbed to the 700-meter-high mountain pass commonly called “Kannon-sama” overlooking the Uonuma Basin to get an overall view of the Uonuma Basin. The mountains on the border of Gunma and Fukushima prefectures were clearly visible in the distance. A number of rare species of butterflies called “Gifucyo” danced around us. On the way back from the pass, we walked along the “old road” that UESUGI Kenshin took when he marched in the Kanto region. We actually walked through the terrain where the land had been hollowed out by the soldiers and horses, and we were reminded of the scene nearly 500 years ago.
The second day, we worked in the rice paddies. In one corner of the rice field were four seedbeds the size of one tatami mat. There, seedlings about 10 centimeters tall were growing in tight rows. Nowadays, seedlings are usually grown in greenhouses with warm conditions, and open-air “water seedbeds” have almost disappeared.
We took on the challenge of removing seedlings from this water nursery, a task that was commonplace until about 50 years ago. Bending over at the waist with both hands outstretched, we scooped out the seedlings as if we were scooping up the soil. The wild millet seedlings were growing in the seedbeds, so we had to identify and remove the millet seedlings. Both were so similar. The participants were challenged to identify the differences.
In the rice field where the rice was to be planted, a hexagonal wooden frame is rolled out to make a mark, and the seedlings are planted on the marks. The work of taking the seedlings, carrying them, and planting them unfolded fluidly as we all found ourselves sharing the work.
In about three hours, we finished the planting of about 150 square meters of rice. The participants then enjoyed a lunch of onigiri (rice balls) at the edge of the rice paddy. Participants left comments such as, “The feeling of putting my hands and feet in the mud made me wonder why I felt so happy,” and “I now understand how rice is grown.
ECOPLUS will organize the workshop, “ABC” in a Rice Paddy, in 2024. Although the climate is very curious, such as the snow melted one month earlier than normal years, we will conduct the programs as follows.
Rice planting; May 25-26 Weeding in the paddy; June 22-23 Harvesting; September 21-22 (tentative)
The rice paddy, we will conduct the program, was where TAKANO Takako and OHMAE Junichi has been learning the traditional rice growing by elders living nearby since 2007. Since no chemical materials has been used for nearly 20 years, many creatures such as pond snails, dragonflies, newts, loaches and others including listed species.
Last year, we successfully revived a nice paddy which had had not been cultivated for more than a decade. We will use the rice paddy this year, too.
昨年復田した10数年間使われてこなかった田んぼ。 A rice paddy, which had not been cultivated for more than a decade, was revived last year and will be used this year.
Suggested train schedule from Tokyo Joetsu Shinkansen Toki 309 Departing Tokyo at 08:52, arriving Echigo-Yuzawa at 10:20 Joetsu local line Departing Echigo-Yuzawa at 10:30, arriving Joetsu Kokusai Skiing Ground at 10:44
Contents and bringing Planting seedlings by hands. Will be cancelled only in stormy condition. Bring your own lunch for Saturday, and water during activities. Clothings may get muddy. Insect repellent, a hat/cap. We recommend to come into the paddy with bare feet to feel the soil directly. Beach sandals are useful to wash your feet in a stream. More information will be provided for those whose participation is confirmed.
定員 Limit of participants. 15人程度。Up to around 15 participants.
参加費 Fee 一般：16,000円（プログラム費、1泊2食の宿泊費、2日目の昼食、保険を含む）。学生12,000円（同）。男女別相部屋です。ご家族連れは調整させていただきます。学生等で田んぼ脇の民家での寝袋泊も可、9,000円。宿泊なしの場合は、大人8,000円、小学生は1,000円。 16,000 JPY including program fee, accommodations with two meals, lunch on Sunday, insurance. Shared room. Students and other youth with sleeping bags can stay in a house next to the paddy with 9,000 JPY.
ECOPLUS conducted the rice planting workshop on the weekend of May 21-22 in Tochikubo village in Minami-Uonuma, Niigata. The workshop had been shrunk as one day trip because of the COVID-19 and this was the first time to organize as the full-program since 2019. For the rice planting workshop, from elementary school kids to retired person, in total of around 30 were joined.
On Saturday, we gathered at the “Chateau Hotel Ipponsugi“ near the village. We moved up to the top of the mountain ridge by cars and observed the view of the Uonuma basin which is the home of the famous “Koshihikari” rice. The mountain area was once a bottom of ancient ocean. According to the locals, the minerals once accumulated in the bottom of the ocean is still seeping out, then provides rich nutrition to the rice.
Through the mountain ridge, parts of ancient path since the medieval tome were remained. We strolled along the small part of the path which was still covered by snow. Edible mountain vegetables were also identified in the forest near the path.
In the Tochikubo village, Mr. FUEKI Akira gave us a lecture on rice growing focusing on rice planting period. Many works needed before the rice planting, like spreading organic fertilizer, tilling, fine tilling with water, selection of well grown seeds with salt water, making seed bed, and others. Participants were impressed by so many steps with well experienced skills and knowledges were hidden in daily life in rice farming.
At the dinner, local edible vegetable were offered in different dishes. Surprisingly, the long dinner table which was decorated with local vines with purple flower and arrangements of edible vegetables provided the atmosphere close to the nature. The dinner was followed b the slide show of different seasons of the area.
On Sunday, it was still raining in the breakfast time but when we arrived to the rice paddy, rain was almost stoped. At the begging, we used an hexagon wood frame with 3 miters wide to mark on the soil to identify where the seedlings should be sit. First, OHMAE of ECOPLUS made one round trip, then other participant followed. It was not easy to go straight. Elementary school kids and high school student also tried to roll the frame with the supporting calls.
Surrounded by the beautiful nature, we enjoyed traditional planting works in this non-chemical rice paddy. ウグイスの鳴き声などに包まれて、無農薬田んぼで伝統の技を体験しました。
Rice paddy was not so cold and we could feel the softness of the soil. In fact, bear feet would be the best to experience the rice planting. Big rubber boots would make big foot prints which might lay down planted seedlings. With bear feet, we could feel the difference of depth of the mud and difference of the quality of the soil.
Time by time, we had blue sky with beautiful sunshine. Participants accustomed to plant seedlings gradually then, all the rice paddy were filled with young seedling in order by the noon. The lunch was prepared by a local inn; rice balls, cooked mountain vegetables and miso-soup with different mountain vegetables.
Coming back the hotel, we had the reflection session. As a full program for two days, we had lecture and other activities in advance of the actual works in the rice paddy. Many participants said, with the enough background understandings, actual rice planting work was more meaningful experience. ECOPLUS also confirmed that the full program could offer deeper learning on rice, history, tradition. and sustainability.
Next workshop is scheduled on the weekend of June 11-12 with the theme of “weeding.”
On June 11 and 12, ECOPLUS will conduct “Weeding Workshop” in Tochikubo village, Minamiuonuma as two-day program, only with those who are PCR negatives.
Summary In the south-east facing terraced rice paddies, we will clear weeds in the 100% chemical free rice paddy by hands. Weedkiller and other chemical materials have only 60-year-history. Until then people had been growing rice organically for thousands years. Through the weeding works by hands, we will learn about the relation between the nature, human and agriculture.
Schedule Gathering; 11:00 am on June 11, at our accommodations, “山田館YAMADA-KAN” The nearest railway station is Joetsukokusai Ski-jo mae on JR Joetsu line. Let us know if you use public transportation.
交通案内 6月11日午前8時52分東京駅発とき309号、10時21分越後湯沢着 10時30分越後湯沢発上越線普通列車長岡行、10時45分上越国際スキー場前駅着 Joetsu Shinkansen Toki 309 Departing Tokyo at 08:52, arriving Echigo-Yuzawa at 10:21 Joetsu local line Departing Echigo-Yuzawa at 10:30, arriving Joetukokusai Ski-jo mae at 10:45
Contents and bringing Strolling the area, lecture on rice growing, interaction session and weeding by hands. Will be cancelled only in stormy condition. Bring your own lunch for Saturday, and water during activities. Clothings may get muddy. Insect repellent, a hat/cap. We recommend to come into the paddy with bare feet to feel the soil directly. Beach sandals are useful to wash your feet in a stream. More information will be provided for those whose participation is confirmed.
定員 Limit of participants. 20人をめどとします。Up to 20 participants.
参加費 Fee (＊宿泊先変更により、変更。参加決定者にお知らせします） 18,500円（プログラム費、1泊2食の宿泊費、2日目の昼食、保険を含む）。男女別相部屋です。ご家族連れは調整させていただきます。1人部屋使用の場合は、1,000円増し。大学生以下中学生までは、13,500円。小学生は9,500円。地元からの参加で宿泊しない場合は、大人9,500円、学生4,500円、小学生は1,000円。 18,500 JPY including program fee, accommodations with two meals, lunch on Sunday, insurance. Shared room. Single room available with extra 1,000 JPY. 13,500 JPY for students from Junior high to college, 9,500 JPY for primary school students.
申し込み Application 下のフォームからお申し込み下さい。Please use below application form. 問い合わせは、tappo@ecoplus.jpまで。If needed contact to tappo@ecoplus.jp
On May 21 and 22, ECOPLUS will conduct “Rice Planting Workshop” in Tochikubo village, Minamiuonuma as two-day program, only with those who are PCR negatives.
Summary Experience Japanese traditional rice planting by hands in organic rice paddy overseeing gorgeous mountainous view. Release your body and mind restricted by Covid-19 in the safe open air. You may also deepen the insight of rice and agriculture through the workshop, as well as Japanese history and society.
Schedule Gathering; 11:00 am on May 21, at our accommodations, “Chateau Shiozawa.” The nearest railway station is Shiozawa on JR Joetsu line. Let us know if you use public transportation.
交通案内 21日午前8時52分東京駅発とき309号、10時21分越後湯沢着 10時30分越後湯沢発上越線普通列車長岡行、10時47分塩沢着 Joetsu Shinkansen Toki 309 Departing Tokyo at 08:52, arriving Echigo-Yuzawa at 10:21 Joetsu local line Departing Echigo-Yuzawa at 10:30, arriving Shiozawa at 10:47
Contents and bringing Planting seedlings by hands. Will be cancelled only in stormy condition. Bring your own lunch for Saturday, and water during activities. Clothings may get muddy. Insect repellent, a hat/cap. We recommend to come into the paddy with bare feet to feel the soil directly. Beach sandals are useful to wash your feet in a stream. More information will be provided for those whose participation is confirmed.
定員 Limit of participants. 20人をめどとします。Up to 20 participants.
参加費 Fee 18,500円（プログラム費、1泊2食の宿泊費、2日目の昼食、保険を含む）。男女別相部屋です。ご家族連れは調整させていただきます。1人部屋使用の場合は、1,000円増し。中学生以上大学生までは、13,500円。小学生は9,500円。地元からの参加で宿泊しない場合は、大人9,500円、学生4,500円、小学生は1,000円。 18,500 JPY including program fee, accommodations with two meals, lunch on Sunday, insurance. Shared room. Single room available with extra 1,000 JPY. 13,500 JPY for students from Junior high to college, 9,500 JPY for primary school students.
申し込み Application 下のフォームからお申し込み下さい。Please use below application form. 問い合わせは、tappo@ecoplus.jpまで。If needed contact to tappo@ecoplus.jp
On June 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27, ECOPLUS will conduct “Weeding Workshop” in Tochikubo village, Minamiuonuma as one-day program, only with those living in nearby cities or those who finished two weeks self quarantine or PCR negative persons. Come to the rice paddy with your lunch, drinks and snacks.
Summary Experience traditional weeding works in organic rice paddy overseeing gorgeous mountainous view. Have your shrunk body and mind by Covid-19 relieved in the safe open air field. You may also deepen the insight of food and farming through the workshop.
集合時刻 いずれも午前9時集合（遅くなる方は別途連絡を）。いずれも午後3時ごろには終える予定です。
Schedule Gathering; 09:00 am, if you come later just inform us. Closed around 03:00 pm.
Contents and bringing Weeding by hands. Will be cancelled in stormy condition. Take your own lunch, drinks and snacks. Clothings might be get muddy. Insect repellent, hat/cap. We recommend to come into the paddy with bare feet to feel the soil directly. Beach sandals are also easy to wash your feet in a stream.
定員 Limit of participants. 20人をめどとします。We will only have up to 20 participants a day.
参加にあたって For the participation 無農薬田んぼ応援のためのNPO法人エコプラスへの寄付（1人、1口3,000円以上）をお願いします。保険には入りませんので、ケガの場合はご自身の保険でお願いします。No fee for the program. We ask your contribution more than 3,000 Yens per person to support ECOPLUS for the support of organic rice farming.
On May 22 and 23, ECOPLUS will conduct “Rice Planting Workshop” in Tochikubo village, Minamiuonuma as one-day program, only with those living in nearby cities or those who finished two weeks self quarantine or PCR negative persons. Come to the rice paddy with your lunch, drinks and snacks.
Summary Experience Japanese traditional rice planting works by hands in organic rice paddy overseeing gorgeous mountainous view. Have your shrunk body and mind by Covid-19 relieved in the safe open air field. You may also deepen the insight of food and farming through the workshop.
Schedule Gathering; 09:00 am on May 22, if you come later just inform us. Closed around 03:00 pm. On 23, the schedule may ba changed based on the progress of works on 22.
Contents and bringing Planting seedlings by hands. Will be cancelled in stormy condition. Take your own lunch, drinks and snacks. Clothings might be get muddy. Insect repellent, hat/cap. We recommend to come into the paddy with bare feet to feel the soil directly. Beach sandals are also easy to wash your feet in a stream.
定員 Limit of participants. 20人をめどとします。We will only have up to 20 participants a day.
参加にあたって For the participation 無農薬田んぼ応援のためのNPO法人エコプラスへの寄付（1人、1口3,000円以上）をお願いします。保険には入りませんので、ケガの場合はご自身の保険でお願いします。No fee for the program. We ask your contribution more than 3,000 Yens per person to support ECOPLUS for the support of organic rice farming.
ECOPLUS conducted rice planting workshop on May 23, 2020, at Tochikubo village, Minamiuonuma, Niigata. Considering national emergency on COVID-19 situation, only Niigata locals joined the program although every year many participants from metropolitan area joined the program.
Total nine participants from university students to aged local ex-farmer stepped into the rice paddy with bare feet feeling warmed soft soil. We used old wooden framed to make marks on the soil so that young seedlings could be sit on each crossing section.
