What is a farming activity?
It is a hands-on learning experience to experience nature and farming through activities such as actually entering the fields, touching the soil, growing and harvesting crops. This is a hands-on learning experience to experience nature and farming through activities such as actually going into the fields, touching the soil, growing and harvesting crops. At the Aizu Inawashiro Farm, we offer an agricultural experience program designed for educational institutions, where children can learn how food is produced through seasonal activities (sowing, planting, harvesting, etc.) with their own hands.
This experience is not just a leisure activity, but has been highly evaluated by many schools as part of “food education,” “environmental education” and "career education. By allowing children and students to use all five senses, this experience provides a valuable learning opportunity for nurturing the importance of life, a sense of gratitude, and the ability to think and act for themselves.
Furthermore, our facility employs former education board directors who have a deep understanding of the realities of the educational field. These staff members have established a system to ensure safe and effective implementation tailored to the objectives of each school and the characteristics of each grade level.
Seasonal Experiences
May to June
vegetables that can be harvested
onion
May to June
July to August
vegetables that can be harvested
potatoes
tomatos
eggplants
okra
zucchini
broccoli
lettuce
edamame
corn
July to August
September to November
vegetables that can be harvested
taro
sweet potatoes
leek
pumpkin
radishes
chinese cabbage
September to November
December to April
vegetables that can be harvested
snow covered vegetables (cabbage,radishes)
snow storage vegetables (cabbage,radishes)
December to April
Year Round
vegetables that can be harvested
strawberries
Year Round
Harvest Calendar
- * Season is a guide only, actual experience and harvest vegetables vary from farm to farm.
- * Please contact us for information on what is currently available.
- Please scroll through the harvest calendar to view.
Program Example
Eggplant harvesting experience and meals with harvested vegetables
Through the experience of harvesting vegetables, we will convey the importance and appeal of agriculture in a fun way.
You can cook freshly picked vegetables in a rice cooker and enjoy them on the spot.
You can cook freshly picked vegetables in a rice cooker and enjoy them on the spot.
| Target | Upper elementary school to junior high school students (for groups) |
| Duration | about 3 hours (afternoon to evening) |
| Sample Schedules |
3:00 p.m.
Greetings from Farm Manager Description
3:15 p.m.
Harvest Experience Begins
4:00 p.m.
Harvest Experience Ends
4:10 p.m.
Cooking harvested vegetables at the rice field
5:30 p.m.
Have a meal
6:00 p.m.
End
|
Experience Report
Comments from school teachers 1
During this agricultural experience, we had the valuable opportunity not only to harvest vegetables but also to cook and taste the vegetables we had picked ourselves. Even children who usually dislike vegetables eagerly tried them, saying, “I want to eat them because I harvested them myself,” and it was impressive how well they ate them. By experiencing the gratitude for food and the connection to life firsthand, we gained a deeper understanding than what is typically learned in classroom nutrition education. The staff also handled safety and operational aspects with great care, allowing us to entrust our children to them with peace of mind. We would like to request this program again next year as well.
Comments from school teachers 2
The experience of cooking vegetables harvested by each group and eating them outdoors seems to have become a special memory for the students. Many commented, “Vegetables have such a rich flavor” and “When you put in the effort, you appreciate your meal more,” and I realized how powerful the insights gained through hands-on experience can be. The staff's guidance was also very thorough, and their sincere responses to the students' questions left a strong impression. The presence of the former education director also made it possible to design the program with a clear understanding of its educational objectives, which was greatly appreciated.