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Located in the town of Tosa-machi, Kochi Prefecture, near the source of the Yoshino River in the center of Shikoku Island, is the "Tosa School of Nature," for people with a passion for growing chemical-free organic crops. The school is a collaborative venture between a local NPO and Kochi Prefecture. Together with the 14 students of various age ranges from all over Japan, the school's principle, Kazuho Yamashita, and his highly-capable staff acquire, develop and teach techniques for organic farming that produce high-quality crops in high yields.
Yamashita spent the first part of his '30s in poor health, and it was mainly through a strict diet of unpolished rice and organic vegetables that he was able to restore his health. This is what led him to become involved with organic, chemical-free farming. "With organic farming, microorganisms in the soil work to clean the soil. The farm itself becomes one large cleaning compound that contributes to the global environment," Yamashita informs us. His years of experience and burning desire to offer safe, delicious food and a clean environment to future generations of children are what drove him to establish the school. "I want students to study here and then apply what they learn to their own communities. I hope this network of students will change communities all over Japan and knowledge on to future generations," Yamashita explains. And helping him to achieve this and the students in their farm work is Honda's versatile tillers.
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