Partnership with government and public bodies
To turn a vacant lot into a farm, three parties must work together: the landowner, the government, and the residents. We have opened idle urban land through partnerships with government and public bodies. Examples include PARK Minatogawa, a farm on a disaster-prevention open space in a dense urban area owned by Kobe City and UR; "Marutto Garden Asobiba!", which makes use of city-owned land in Tarumi Ward, Kobe; and a site run with UR and Kadoma City. We have also taken part through commissioned projects, such as Osaka City's urban agriculture promotion project and the formulation of a community-building plan for Higashiosaka City.
Going forward, we will also take on projects with government in the welfare field, such as places for children and older adults and employment for people with disabilities.
From practice in the field to knowledge for society
Turning vacant lots into farms. Making a shuttered shop into a hub for children. Returning what we learn from such work to society as surveys, research, and recommendations is also an important part of what we do.
- Commissioned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for its survey on community building where the city, greenery, and agriculture coexist (fiscal 2016 to 2018)
- Member, Osaka Prefecture Committee for Promoting Agricultural Space Creation (since 2021)
- Special invited member, Residents' Council of Mihara Ward, Sakai City (2019 to 2021)
- Part-time lecturer, Faculty of Architecture, Kindai University (since 2019)
- Hosting visits from universities and local governments in Japan and abroad, lectures, and writing
- Operating the information base for urban farms, the "Urban Farm DB"
What it means to share wisdom
Someone who was taught at the farm becomes a teacher the next year. A method we tried in Kitakagaya is used in the cities of Kobe and Neyagawa. This cycle is what we call "nurture nurturing." For consultations, visits, and joint research, please contact us through For Companies and Organizations.
