Chuck's adventure with organic farming started by accident in 2009 when he tried to buy land north of Kyoto. After some trial and error, he became a planting expert and started producing more than his family and friends could ever eat! That's when he set up 'Midori Farm', an organic farm operating in Shiga and Kyoto, that offers experiences out in the Japanese nature and overnight stays in the countryside. We had a chat about how Chuck's farm came about and he shared some tips on how to become a more sustainability-focused traveller.
Hi Chuck, thanks for talking to us today. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m the founder of Midori Farm, an organic farm operating in Shiga and Kyoto. I raise over 50 varieties of vegetables and sell them directly to customers without packaging. I make my own compost using leaves from Kyoto shrines, coffee grounds from a Kyoto initiative and a community kitchen-waste collection program I started. I accept volunteers and guests from Japan and around the world. Midori Farm is implementing an educational program in 2022 to inspire more people to discover the joys of organic farming.
What were the beginnings of your journey with farming in Shiga? Any unexpected funny incidents or stories?
I began farming by accident, in 2009 I wanted to buy a small plot of land in a remote mountain village on which to build a log cabin. It was difficult to find a plot the residents were willing to sell as the land had been in the family for over 15 generations. When I found one available and agreed on the price, the deed for the land was so old the zoning needed to be updated which doubled the price making the transaction too expensive. The elderly land owner encouraged me to use it as a garden, as his wife had in the past, then other residents would see me regularly and get to know me. In this way they might offer other plots of land for sale. Reluctantly I planted some seeds and hoped for the best, failing miserably the first year. Fortunately I was stubborn enough to keep trying and with a bit of success the second year I was hooked. Since then I gradually shifted my work schedule from teaching to farming until 2021 when I gave up teaching and took on organic farming full time.
How did you start ‘Midori Farm’?
After growing vegetables as a hobby for 5 years or so, I began to produce more than my family and friends could eat. I began selling them but felt I needed a name and website. I tried OK Fields for a few years getting some help from an artist friend who insisted I rebrand and set up the current website.
Do you have any advice for people who are visiting the Kyoto area and want to be more sustainable?
Over the past 10 years with a boom in international tourism combined with a cosmopolitan population vegan and zero waste shops have popped up everywhere. There are vegetable delivery services which specialize in organics and lots of country tours available- much like the ones at Midori Farm. Ohara is a good example of a nearby township with farm and nature tour experiences available.
How would you combine a visit to Shiga with a stay in Kyoto?
Midori Farm offers AirBnB experiences which pick customers up in Kyoto city, transport them to the farm for the day to return in the evening. Accommodations can be made to stay over at a nice onsen hotel in the mountains. There are likely other such opportunities available.
What places or experiences would you recommend to people who want to experience life in the Japanese countryside?
There are a number of inns and other experiences available now for tourists seeking mountain and seaside trips. Renting a car is the easiest way to go, but access by JR and bus can be found. Kyotango and Wakayama offer trips which combine the satoyama and coastal communities. Visiting organic farms is also more common, with more farmers looking to supplement their income and continue the initiative to spread the word about sustainability.
Thank you!
You can find out more from Midori Farm's website, YouTube channel, Facebook, and Instagram.
