The 6th Green Pal Cafe was held at the Eco-Petit Terrace, which is managed by the Adachi Green Project. Executive Director of the Adachi Green Project, Mr. Hiroyuki Hirata, shared the Eco-Petit Terrace's history and his thoughts on "green revitalization" of communities. Mr. Yoshitaka Shiraishi, Executive Director of "Oizumi Wind School," a community-focused farming school in Nerima Ward, joined the discussion to explain his views on the importance of vegetable gardens in urban areas. After the discussion, all participants enjoyed fresh veggies and a BBQ.

Although the day was unusually chilly for late-May, approximately 130 people of (including pre-registered and walk-in participants) gathered at the Eco-Petit Terrace. With a kiwi trellis selected as an impromptu lecture site, the discussion was heated and exciting..

Lecture by Mr. Hiroyuki Hirata, Executive Director of The Adachi Green Project

[The Eco-Petit Terrace has many ecological gadgets]
This is called Eco-Petit Terrace. It is an experimental project, combining the "Petit Terrace" program run by the Adachi Ward Machi Zukuri Foundation with a new ecological viewpoint. (link to Eco-Petit Map web; http://kids.greenproject.net/eco_map/top.html )

There are many ecological gadgets here. We are now in the "Eco-Square." It has big flower gardens on both sides, which are maintained by Adachi Green Project's Garden Dept. The water for flowers is stored in the rainwater tank. There are many carpenters in our project and the automatic watering device is hand crafted by them. Solar panels are used to generate power for the sprinklers.

There are now 19 community gardens in Adachi Ward. In order to differentiate ours from the others, we haven taken an environmentally-friendly approach.. We give lectures about composting the garbage for the garden. We measure the garbage brought to the Eco-Petit Terrace and disclose the data. We also installed water drums at each lot, so that project members can store leftover water from the bathtubs or rainwater for use in the garden. As a result, some project members stopped using bath salts, as they harm the vegetables.

[Eco-Petit Terrace as a Heat Island Measure]
The Eco-Petite concept is that of a "heat island" reduction measure. The main players in this concept are 25 kiwi fruits trees. Currently these trees have fruit with a size of a marble. The term "heat island effect" refers to temperature increases caused by heat from air-conditioning systems and automotives, or by the heat stored in asphalt. In Tokyo average temperatures have already increased by 3 degrees. If the heat island effect continues, it is estimated the Tokyo will experience 40‹+ (C) temperatures in near future.

I wanted to reduce heat island growth through greening.. For example, if we plant a zelkova tree, it takes 20 to 30 years to grow, which takes a long time to have any effect. As this land will eventually be returned to Adachi Ward, we decided to use fast-growing, climbing plants. We are using a "tasty curtain" strategy, in which we cover the vacant land with a green roof of fast-growing kiwis, and harvesting their fruit in the autumn. Kiwis can be enjoyed raw or in baked goods - we are working with a local bakery to bake "heat island measure kiwi bread", with the idea of getting the community to "see, learn and get involved" with the environment.

700 tsubo or 660 square meters of land is managed by residents living nearby the Eco-Petit Terrace, with 80-90% of residents reaching the garden by bicycle. Although we didn't make any special promotions, people who go for walks naturally gather here. The resident living in front of the garden often kindly offers electrical power or a cup of tea. Although we did not officially start out as an organization to study the environment, we gradually grew into one.

Next I would like to talk about why I started this community garden activity.

[What A Big Tree Taught Me]
From 1998 to 2000, I walked through Japan painting pictures of big trees. I heard from storytellers about that thee trees were weakening. A big tree is very sensitive, and easily can be broken and die. I felt that hundred year-old lives were failing and that something strange was occurring within the environment. I felt that, if we ignored this environmental issue, I would not be able to pass big tree stories down to future generations. I tried using my paintings to raise awareness of this environmental crisis, but this didn't seem to work.. Paintings of trees in remote places didn't connect with my intended audience's personal or daily experiences. I then realized that my message and call to action wouldn't be heard unless it was closely connected with a familiar or daily experience. While I was trying to come up with some ideas, vacant lots here and there in my neighborhood caught my eye. I made up my mind to use vacant lots to provide people with experience in environmentally-friendly activities.

[Vacant Lot Created by Land Adjustment Work]
The Eco-Petit Terrace is categorized as a site for land adjustment work; a 700 tsubo land secured for maintaining the town. This land is to be used as town adjustments are required, but this process takes 20 to 30 years. Although land adjustment may help build a good town for the future, what happens to the current town? What happens to the residents who are 50, 60, or 70 years-old? Until the lot is eventually used, it will fill with thick weeds, trash, discarded bicycles, mattresses, tires, etc. By using such lots as a dump, neighborhood safety deteriorates, making it a ghost town. I was not against the land adjustment work itself - however, for residents who live in this neighborhood now, this land adjustment is mere destruction of the town. I strongly felt that as someone born in this town, we should build a community where residents feel happy, even during the land readjustment phase or afterwards.

[Negotiating with Adachi Ward to Establish the Eco-Petit Terrace]
In order to establish a stronghold for environmental education by utilizing a site allocated for land adjustment work, I visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Land Readjustment Office and the Adachi Ward Office. As environmental education was my objective, I first visited the Board of Education, which turned me down completely. The Environmental Department turned me down too. The Recycling Department from the garbage composting point of view also rejected me. It was advised that if my request was about land, I should go to the city planning department. The department had a hard time relating "heat island" or "environmental education" to their plans. However, one kind staff member racked his brain to implement my proposal. As a result, we came up with a test case to add ecological value to their current Petit Terrace project run by the Machi Zukuri Public Corporation. As my project needed collaboration with the local authorities, I appreciated Machi Zukuri's faith in us.

Regarding the Eco-Petit project, Adachi Ward gave us the following requirements:

-The land is for temporary use (3 to 5 years) and it shall not block the land readjustment work
-The land shall maintain its function as the Eco-Petit Terrace and shall be open to public.
-There should be a clearly set forth difference from the other Ward community gardens
-The land shall have reliable management and maintenance.
By fulfilling these requirements as a stronghold to think about environmental issues from the ground up, the Eco-Petit Terrace Project was launched.

[Making A Wasted Vacant Lot into A Healing Space]
Although the agreement with Adachi Ward was reached, I was at a loss on how to develop a 700 tsubo vacant lot that was left for 7 years and with thick with weeds. I feared, that even if I started to mow from the front, the weeds would have come back by the time I finish at the other end.... My fear grew when one of my relatives, who is a farmer, said the mower would be swallowed up by those weeds. The mower didn't work and there was no organization to develop the land. I was overwhelmed by fear of not knowing how to deal with the situation. Taking advice from a neighboring farmer to start by dividing the land from a center line, I started to design the site by ropes with a dozen of fellow workers. While we were working, people passing by asked what we were doing. After listening to our project description, they came back with a shovels and work boots to join us. Local residents showed up one after another, as if they sprang up from the ground like mushrooms. Most of the residents were from the same town, and most of them I had never met before. I asked the neighbors of the Eco-Petit Terrace to rent a parcel, and the entire 52 parcels were rented in 10 days, even before information was distributed via a flier. How the information was distributed is still a mystery.

A lot that originally started with only ropes and 7 year-old weeds was gradually cultivated with shovels and hoes. It was hard labor, but we helped each other. As many people gathered and we didn't know who was who, we issued "eco-volunteer card" with a photo ID, which helped us to communicate with each other and to be conscious of how independently maintaining this site. While we worked together, those who were advanced in age have become healthier and healthier.

As for the place kept used as the heat island reduction measure, a construction acquaintance of mine has raised support by asking local contractors to build a kiwi trellis. He collected over 1 million yen of in-kind contributions for us, saying that we all should support this kind of effort to make our town better.

[Sustainable Lifestyle without Knowing It]
The most popular reason for resident to join us is to work with the soil. However, at the Eco-Petit Terrace, we wanted to make this a place to raise awareness about the environment, which was required to differentiate us from other Adachi Ward community gardens. However, I have changed my way of thinking t a little this year. As a global warming reduction measure, the Environmental Ministry is encouraging us to shorten time watching TV as a way to save energy. People coming here to plow a garden or to have tea do not watch TV nor turn on the light nor drive a car. Without knowing it, their lifestyle itself prevents global warming. Although these people are not especially eco-conscious, their new lifestyle is suited to ecology. I guess maybe we don't have to talk about difficult topics.

Environmental issues are ones that I would like everybody to think about. To do so, we don't necessarily need to focus directly on ozone holes or heat islands - instead, we should try to enjoy environmentalism. For example, if garbage recycling is too troublesome task because of too many worms, people stop doing it. But if there is some fun involved to overcome this trouble, environmentalism works. I hope there is pleasure in harvesting delicious vegetables grown with recycled garbage, which in turn serves as a heat island reduction measure.

[What I Learned from Project Members]
I think we have proven results from an environmental perspective, but I learned from everybody coming here that the Eco-Petit Terrace has value from a community-building perspective.. For example, one project member says that many people on their way work in the morning compliment his work with garden flowers. Although there used be nothing here, Jumonji-san (a workman) and Itakura-san (a painter) worked together build a table, chairs, and a hut. Toyoda-san contributed by saving 30 drum cans from his company to store rainwater, and Mori-san brought them here. An expert of vegetable farming, Kenmochi-san, teaches farming., Ishiwatari-san bought cartons of flower,. Inomoto-san does daily clerical work.... You get the point, we all work together, strengthening the community.

I have learned from everybody that there are a variety of people in this town and we can do many things by connecting with each other and making the town a livelier place. Again and again, I understand that real wealth a living environment connecting and supporting us with each other, through healing and laughing

We hold a monthly assembly, the "Zentai Kai." This turns out to be a case of killing two or even three birds with one stone, as we have fun by appreciating flowers, planting & harvesting potatoes, while contributing to the environment. Having fun seems to bring out members' new agility, leading to new activities. Lately, our project members play a core role in cleaning up a neighboring river, which is another of our areas of activity. Our objective of "think about the environment from the ground up" is flourishing through ecological activities originating with the Eco-Petit Terrace.

[Power from the Soil]
I suppose our energy for taking on community activity comes from the soil.

How moving it was to seed the soil, see yellow-green cotyledons grow and harvest them, while having friends to share the joy. The soil seems to create power to give us strength and healing, and further develops our activities. Even now I laugh to myself when I remember being at a loss looking at the weeded land. Now I am sure there are people that believe in me and would answer to my call, "let's do this together." By depending on others in harmoniously or working together, we can create solutions for our regional environment. Small regional activities can expand infinitely by connecting them together. The fact that that waste land has become this wonderful environmental stronghold has given me confidence about this possibility.

As this is a site for land readjustment, it will be gone in the near future. As it was originally designated that way, I have no regrets. However, over these 7 years, I would like as many people as possible to gain some relief, a smile or some joy of living from that vacant lot. There is nothing inherently special about this place - rather, it is the beauty and harmony of ordinary people making an ordinary effort that makes this place special. Nothing would make us happier than the creation of another eco-terrace in some other place.

Panel Discussion
Mr. Hiroyuki Hirata, Adachi Green Project
Mr. Yoshitaka Shiraishi, Oizumi Wind School
Ms. Rumi Sato, NPO Birth

Sato (Sa): I think many in the audience wish that there was such a garden in their neighborhood. In fact, the use of greening to make a community healthy is becoming a standard in many countries. In New York City's Green Thumb project, the administration and citizens collaborated to make a vacant lot into a vegetable garden to make their community safe and to improve communication.. In Berkeley, an NPO, BOSS, supports garden therapy and homeless people. A San Francisco NPO, SLUG, grows plants that have a purifying function in contaminated soil areas, and holds an experimental educational youth programs and composting lectures. This Eco-Petit Terrace is another example of cutting-edge activity. Today, we have invited a cutting-edge city farmer, Mr. Shiraishi.

Shiraishi (Shi): The Shiraishi Farm has been in existence for 400 years in Nerima Ward. We have 152 lot parcels offered to Ward residents to teach experimental vegetable farming.. We provide vegetables for school lunches, and grow Nerima radishes with children. We also have a comic storyteller hold storytelling sessions on the farm. In the autumn, we organize an event called Fiesta in Vinyl House, where 200 people gather in the farm to enjoy live jazz. I think strengthening communication with our community is as important as growing vegetables.

(Sa): In the Fiesta, a professional chef cooks food grown on the farm. In the elementary school they learn composting.

(Shi): Nerima Ward is working actively on garbage recycling. They set up compostors at elementary schools and make compost called Nerima no Daichi, by collecting wasted vegetables and fallen leaves.

(Sa): I heard you have handicapped residents participate in your programs.

(Shi): We lent one lot parcel for daycare activity for the mental health hospital -- 20 patients now participate.. Also, we provide 4 people with a workplace as a part of a return-to-work training program. For those who have mental health problems, the field makes a very effective place for their rehabilitation. It is said in Japan one out of 100 citizens has a mental health problem. The farming field can be a place of healing for all of us.

(Sa): So the farm is not only a place for products but also used as a place for welfare, education, and to create a regional community. What do you think about this Eco-Petit Terrace?

(Shi): I was surprised. This farm was created out of nowhere in the middle of the residential area as a collaboration of many people. The reason why Edo (old Tokyo) has developed as a million people city was because there was surrounded by fertile lands. Farming land can be well-suited for the city.

Hirata(Hi): There is always somebody here and one can hear laughter from the morning onward. We have created a gentle network connected by a shared territorial bond. Residents did not use to greet each before our project, but nowadays we hear greetings everywhere. I have come to love this area as a place that has created affection for the community and enhanced face-to-face relationships.

(Shi): Hirata-san started this activity from an environmental point of view. Our experimental farm takes fee to help sustain our farming business. The fee is 29,000 yen, but each lot parcel yields about 80,000 yen of vegetables. The point of the farm is not only that. We rejoice when we see sprouts, we have fun with our friends here, our discussions about vegetables often become a drinking party.

(Sa): Were the neighbors interested before the experimental farming started?

(Shi): We used to hear neighboring residents say that they suffered from dust coming from the farm. On the other hand, we had a hard time with dogs or cats stepping in the field or with littered cans. If the field is involved with the neighborhood, the relationship between the farmer and the residents changes. For example, we sell vegetables on the premises. Buying locally grown vegetables changes residents' view about the field. It is not always easy to make a good relationship with the community, but we can make effort.

(Sa): There must be many people who would like to start a farm or garden in a city area. But finding the land is an issue. Farmlands are owned by farmers. What approach should we citizens take?

(Shi): How about asking your Ward or Agricultural Association? In Nerima, there is a system to support experimental farms. They plan to have 16 farms, opening one farm every year. So far there are 9 farms. As an experimental farm is a part of farming business, it saves farmers. Farmers and citizen can have a excellent relationships with help from the administration. Setagaya and Suginami Wards also plan to start a similar system this year. I suppose Adachi has about 150 hectares of farmland. I hope that community farming will grow.

(Sa): What is your advice about land under administrative management like the Eco-Petit Terrace?

(Hi): It is important to collaborate with the administration and create a trusting relationship. If you build a partnership, it is important for it to be a win-win situation, cost efficient, and appealing to the public. Thinking of the other party's view helps build the trust. If it is built step by step, this trust will not be broken.

(Sa): What an amazing place -- a town where if one opens the window, one sees a field in and hear people's joyful laughter. After hearing your stories, I feel we can build a town like that. Thank you very much.

NPO Green Project Web Site