So, I was told that "Radiation Forest" isn't a common name for the woods surrounding the campus. I just heard the name from the right person. Bummer.
Anywaaay, there are days when we may all come together to prepare a particular unique food or some other thing of the like (so far just food). This would a day of learning something new for everyone (or most at least). I find this an intriguing part of intentional community.
We had a ARI community event last week that was miso making. Not miso soup, but the paste. After watching a short Japanese video on the process of making it we divided into groups and... began. There was a huge pot of black soy beans that had been prepared for the miso. we mashed the beans until you couldn't tell what they were anymore, and often got distracted by conversation. Then, mixing it with rice that was mixed with cups and cups of salt, balls were made. My beautiful balls lived a very short life because we really just made them to easily take the air out and pack into buckets. Now we wait as the miso ferments for several months! So much salt is used. And now I understand what miso is. groovy!
Bokashi even more interesting. Although, this was just for volunteers one morning led by the TA and TA-to be/volunteer. I had done an internship 2 summers ago that involved learning about compost and finding the best way to do it. I should have considered bokashi that summer! Anyhow, I like the idea of how to speed the process of preparing organic fertilizer since it takes months to get a pile of vegetable compost to breakdown and be ready. It focuses on the idea of giving micro organisms the space to reproduce. We give them a home (the soil and rice husk charcoal), we give them food (aged manure), water, and air to breath. Turning the pile everyday, we get to see those IMOs grow!!
Today we made mochi for lunch. There was a large wood stump carved into a bowl that we used to pound the cooked rice. Everyone took a turn pounding with LARGE wooden mallets/hammers. One played bongo drums while we cheered on those doing the pounding. It was difficult for me to do with an injured finger. I enjoyed this because food should be made with many people; even though now I am socially exhausted and would love to pitch a tent alone in the woods (it'll be reeeallly exhausting when the many international participants come in March).
I find it difficult to cook food on my own, or with one other person for the consumption of many, but to do it with many people is far more interesting. I've discovered it would be difficult to describe ARI without mentioning the food as an important philosophy to life- not just for income and general consumption.
Earth Community is defined in a number of ways, and I think that ARI contributes to that definition. Its about welcoming an egalitarian narrative to the biosphere, and breaking down hierarchies. ARI gives integrity to the Earth by giving integrity to the leaders, who give integrity to the farmers who cultivate the land. They seek to feed the grass roots organizations that also commit to similar ideas. The power of the big industries that sell chemical fertilizers, or the confused government systems that regulate and unknowingly hurt communities, are challenged. Communities can be empowered, and the Earth happier. It is enriching to be here, even if I have to be in the office for most of the day for now.
By the power of miso, bokashi, and mochi, may peace and community be with you.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Asian Rural Institute
I'm here, and its been adventurous and interesting. The first words I woke up to the first morning at the Asian Rural Institute were the first words of the song "We Shall overcome". A volunteer walked down the hallway singing this lovely tune. I knew I was at the right place.
The first step into Japan was interesting. I had no idea how to speak Japanese, so it made searching for the bus stop, phone, and train really difficult, but thrilling. After a 3 hour bus ride, I scurried through the train station with a minute to spare reaching my train. There was a group of youngsters who I had to ask for help, one took my guitar, and we sprinted to the train (he took it in helping me run to the train, don't worry). I sat in the train reeaally hoping I was headed the right direction to Nishinasuno. Greeted by my supervisor at the destination, all became well. I was told Japanese are very helpful especially in cases of arriving foreigners like myself. Indeed, that is so true.
The first morning the staff and volunteers at breakfast in the Koinonia Dining Hall were quite welcoming, and I heard much about the previous BVSer before me. Good people. Before I get into what its like here at ARI, the volunteers here are from around the world. One from India, Myanmar (Burma), South Korea, 6 from the U.S., and 3 from Japan. Though, there are quite a lot more from around the world. The one from Myanmar has an uncanny resemblance in appearance, personality, and humor to a friend of mine from studying in China. Alas, he will be leaving in a few months, just like 3 of the other volunteers. The Staff are mostly Japanese with one Canadian and one German. I have to put in the extra effort to learn Japanese because so many are focused on English here at ARI. Its more like ARI invented Japanese, or ARI invented Enlish, or ARI Japinglish that is spoken here.
Jet lagged and overwhelmed I learned that I have Food-life work at 7 in the morning (in the spring, it will be 6:30am), and the assignment changes every month. Then, the weekend assignments are up for grabs, and I have duties on the farm all the time. It will come to be my turn to cook every so often, too. The intentionality of this community is boiling with energy and productivity. The Foodlife consists of several aspects of the farm from taking care of livestock to food preparation, to vegetable sorting, and others. I get to sort soy beans right now! I discovered that ARI is not far into the countryside, but on the edge of town. I was so confused the first night... and several days after.
So, the gardens are in a spot that is open to the view of the mountains of the Tochigi prefecture. BEAUTIFUL. Cultivating crops from the garden is so far my favorite activity. The volunteer from Myanmar took me to my first harvesting chore, and had begun teaching me Japanese words. Mostly words he overuses in good humor. Within those gardens ARI grows wheat, which we have to stomp on every so often in its young stage (the stage in which it is just sprouting from the ground).
The intentionality of this ARI community is incredible, and one that I am still getting used too. The dorm life (my living situation here) reminds me of how community can be formed. Nothin' like having a roommate again haha. Living in close quarters with others can create an atmosphere of close community. In other news, my roommate is Japanese, and is really quite groovy. Hes helping me with my Japanese, we've found good common ground... and we both crawl out of our beds in the morning like slugs afraid of the cold.
The best place at ARI? The Radiation Forest. I like to call it the Gamma Forest. There is still much radiation in the ground from the Fukushima Nuclear accident, and there is much in the woods surrounding part of the farm. ARI used to harvest mushrooms in the woods, but no longer do. Even today, I and some other volunteers were digging up tarp with high radiation levels in an unused greenhouse. However, the gardens have low enough levels to still grow and harvest vegetables.
There is still much to say, but that would lead to a very long blog post. Pictures will come later when the sun is up.
Peace, and may the force be with you.
The first step into Japan was interesting. I had no idea how to speak Japanese, so it made searching for the bus stop, phone, and train really difficult, but thrilling. After a 3 hour bus ride, I scurried through the train station with a minute to spare reaching my train. There was a group of youngsters who I had to ask for help, one took my guitar, and we sprinted to the train (he took it in helping me run to the train, don't worry). I sat in the train reeaally hoping I was headed the right direction to Nishinasuno. Greeted by my supervisor at the destination, all became well. I was told Japanese are very helpful especially in cases of arriving foreigners like myself. Indeed, that is so true.
The first morning the staff and volunteers at breakfast in the Koinonia Dining Hall were quite welcoming, and I heard much about the previous BVSer before me. Good people. Before I get into what its like here at ARI, the volunteers here are from around the world. One from India, Myanmar (Burma), South Korea, 6 from the U.S., and 3 from Japan. Though, there are quite a lot more from around the world. The one from Myanmar has an uncanny resemblance in appearance, personality, and humor to a friend of mine from studying in China. Alas, he will be leaving in a few months, just like 3 of the other volunteers. The Staff are mostly Japanese with one Canadian and one German. I have to put in the extra effort to learn Japanese because so many are focused on English here at ARI. Its more like ARI invented Japanese, or ARI invented Enlish, or ARI Japinglish that is spoken here.
Jet lagged and overwhelmed I learned that I have Food-life work at 7 in the morning (in the spring, it will be 6:30am), and the assignment changes every month. Then, the weekend assignments are up for grabs, and I have duties on the farm all the time. It will come to be my turn to cook every so often, too. The intentionality of this community is boiling with energy and productivity. The Foodlife consists of several aspects of the farm from taking care of livestock to food preparation, to vegetable sorting, and others. I get to sort soy beans right now! I discovered that ARI is not far into the countryside, but on the edge of town. I was so confused the first night... and several days after.
So, the gardens are in a spot that is open to the view of the mountains of the Tochigi prefecture. BEAUTIFUL. Cultivating crops from the garden is so far my favorite activity. The volunteer from Myanmar took me to my first harvesting chore, and had begun teaching me Japanese words. Mostly words he overuses in good humor. Within those gardens ARI grows wheat, which we have to stomp on every so often in its young stage (the stage in which it is just sprouting from the ground).
The intentionality of this ARI community is incredible, and one that I am still getting used too. The dorm life (my living situation here) reminds me of how community can be formed. Nothin' like having a roommate again haha. Living in close quarters with others can create an atmosphere of close community. In other news, my roommate is Japanese, and is really quite groovy. Hes helping me with my Japanese, we've found good common ground... and we both crawl out of our beds in the morning like slugs afraid of the cold.
The best place at ARI? The Radiation Forest. I like to call it the Gamma Forest. There is still much radiation in the ground from the Fukushima Nuclear accident, and there is much in the woods surrounding part of the farm. ARI used to harvest mushrooms in the woods, but no longer do. Even today, I and some other volunteers were digging up tarp with high radiation levels in an unused greenhouse. However, the gardens have low enough levels to still grow and harvest vegetables.
There is still much to say, but that would lead to a very long blog post. Pictures will come later when the sun is up.
Peace, and may the force be with you.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Geronimo!
The beginning of 2014 has been incredible already. With a bike ride into the new year (crossing over midnight has been a tradition of mine), I went north to see Jess. And it was spectacular. My heart was happy to see her. She had to poke me to see if I was real, too, for being away for so long. We were together again; if only for a short while. We drove down to North Manchester to see friends and go to a memorial service. The memorial of a great teacher of life- Viona Brown. There was much joy and equally much sorrow, but Viona's essence was truly still among us. I could feel it during my whole time in North Manchester this past week. It was in the encounter with the reunion of the Quad Force/802 (myself and several groovy friends- and whom I spent much time with this past week), and in the encounter with Viona's family and all others I knew and saw once more.
There was one particular place which Viona had suggested to a friend, and that friend had suggested it to a friend of mine, who then took us later to it. It was known as Bluebird Cafe. Viona's essence abounds. Needless to say, food brings community together, too.
I drove home having kissed Jess goodbye, gave and received water blessings, and wished others well on their life journey.
It is time to regather the volunteer inside me and focus on the project I signed up to do. BVS has already done its bit to my character in the course of 4 months, and now I leave for the Asian Rural Institute to serve others, farm, be with a intentional community, and grow.
You'll get more interesting news and thoughts once I'm there. This is my last post from the states, and I'm so happy that it is.
GERONIMO!
There was one particular place which Viona had suggested to a friend, and that friend had suggested it to a friend of mine, who then took us later to it. It was known as Bluebird Cafe. Viona's essence abounds. Needless to say, food brings community together, too.
I drove home having kissed Jess goodbye, gave and received water blessings, and wished others well on their life journey.
It is time to regather the volunteer inside me and focus on the project I signed up to do. BVS has already done its bit to my character in the course of 4 months, and now I leave for the Asian Rural Institute to serve others, farm, be with a intentional community, and grow.
You'll get more interesting news and thoughts once I'm there. This is my last post from the states, and I'm so happy that it is.
GERONIMO!
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