Small urban organic farm @ Seijo: Sept. 4, 2010

Most lands in Tokyo are covered with houses and buildings, but we find small urban farms around the city.

Most of them are preserved by the farmers to keep tax benefits. Some farmers, however, are trying to develop new businesses and activities.

Small urban farm have become an important topic in environmental protection and the sustainable development throughout the world in recent years.

I visited “Shisidoen” farm about 25 minutes walk from Seijogauen-mae of the Odakyu Line in Setagaya ward. The town is one of the highest-quality residential areas in Tokyo.

The farm is small (about 100 x 100 meters) and surrounded by houses and stores. Public buses run along the farm.

There are roses, blue berry, herbs, tomatoes and many other plants. They cultivate organic plants.　People can enjoy picking the blue berries (admission fee is requires).

They also keep honey bees.

We had massive death of the bees in last several years in Japan (like other countries in the world). Scientists doubt several reasons –- climate change, electromagnetic waves, chemical products, destruction of ecological cycle in the regions.

The farm owner said that he would like to send messages from the small farm.

Map: Shishidoen Farm