Bob Lominska, owner of Hoyland Farm near Lawrence, listens as Satoko Miyoshi translates for Yoshinori Kaneko, right, in June 2009. Kaneko is explaining how he grows strawberries in this tunnel.

Scott Allegrucci and Katherine Kelley inspect greens prior to delivery to an organic restaurant. Allegrucci and Kelley were among a group of Lawrence residents who recently traveled to Japan to learn about farming there.

The most important thing I learned in Saitama, Japan, is that despite the history that got us here, the cultural differences and a minor language barrier, small-scale farmers across the globe can learn a lot from one another.

The journey to Saitama was the beginning of a project to build farmer-consumer relationships and strengthen communities through increased knowledge of agricultural practices and food systems. I was one of 10 Kansans to participate, thanks to the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, and our nine Japanese team members will travel to Lawrence later this month.

In both Kansas and Saitama, the age of the average farmer is rising, premium cropland is seldom available, small-scale farmers find competition difficult, and resources are few for young people interested in learning how to farm. In both regions, awareness of global food systems and food safety has risen in the last few years, and slow/local food movements and sustainability causes are beginning to take root.

Ogawa, Saitama (population 36,000), was the primary focus of our trip, and it is nestled into the mountains about 37 miles from the center of Tokyo. Ogawa is primarily known for paper making and clear streams, but there are many organic farms and supporters in and around this city.

One of our first stops was to the farm of Yoshinori and Tomoko Kaneko. The couple are leading the way for small farmers in Ogawa. Yoshinori Kaneko took over his father’s farmland in 1971 and began to farm without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, even though it was not popular practice at the time. His philosophy is to reuse everything and to continually replenish the soil. Kaneko has converted his vehicles and his tractor to operate on vegetable oil, and the Kaneko’s home is powered with solar panels.

Efficiency is the key at the Kaneko farm, which is only 3 hectares (just under 7 1/2 acres). The Kanekos supply 30 households a year with fruits, vegetables and grains in a subscription service, sell vegetables at a small farmers’ market and to area organic restaurants, supply soybeans to a local tofu shop and provide rice to a local rice wine brewery. In their spare time, the Kanekos train seven to eight interns per year.

High tunnels, or unheated greenhouses, allow the Kanekos and the other farms that we toured to produce vegetables year-round in a slightly milder climate. Trellis systems for vine crops make the most of limited space, and row covers are used extensively to assist with insect control.

Another highlight in Ogawa is a municipally owned Biogas Plant in Ogawa. Residents have collection bins for food waste that are exchanged by city workers in a system much like trash collection. The food waste is then composted in anaerobic conditions in an underground facility to produce methane and liquid fertilizer. Farmers use the fertilizer on their fields.

Beyond Ogawa, we had the opportunity to meet with personnel at Jiyuunomori Gakuen, a private school that serves only locally grown organic food.

As the Japanese team arrives this week, we will continue to learn about community-supportive opportunities and determine how to approach new local initiatives.

— Jennifer Smith is the Douglas County Extension Agent-Horticulture for K-State Research and Extension. She can be reached at 843-7058.