[Risonare Nasu] Learn the Cycle from 'Seed' to 'Soil'! Food Education Experience 'Farmer's Academy ~Summer Vacation Independent Research~' to be Held

## Press Release Information At the agritourism resort 'Risonare Nasu,' the food education experience 'Farmer's Academy ~Summer Vacation Independent Research~' will be held from July 24 to August 31, 2026. This program allows children to learn about the cycle from vegetable 'seeds' to 'soil' and nurture their curiosity. Participants will engage in 'experiments' to observe seed mechanisms, use compost and tillers to return vegetable scraps to the soil in 'soil making,' and experience the entire 'lifespan of a vegetable' from seed to fruit and back to soil. Afterward, they will make pizza using freshly harvested summer vegetables. The program is designed to help children complete their summer project by summarizing what they learned in a worksheet. ### Background As interest in environmental issues grows, learning about the 'food cycle' has become increasingly important for children. According to a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (*1), about 80% of citizens are interested in food education, with particularly high demand for nature experiences like harvesting and cultivation. In response, Risonare Nasu prepared an authentic agricultural experience program at its on-site farm, 'Agri Garden.' Beyond simple harvesting, it explores the depth of agriculture through experiments on soil making and fertilizer cycling, supporting children's curiosity and the completion of their summer projects. *1 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 'R6 Survey Report on Awareness of Food Education' ### 4 Steps of 'Farmer's Academy' **Step 1: Learning how fruit grows from 'seeds' [NEW]** After observing various vegetable seeds at the 'Agri Garden,' children check the results in the adjacent field to discover the unique 'interesting aspects of seeds' for each vegetable. Using summer vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, they perform a 'dissection' to find where the seeds are inside the fruit. By learning about seed mechanisms and germination, they gain interest in the next step: soil making. **Step 2: Learning about the farm's 'cycle' from compost [NEW]** At Agri Garden, vegetable scraps from the facility are put into compost to create nutrient-rich manure. Children put the vegetables used in their experiments into the compost themselves, realizing the mechanism of 'circulation' where scraps return to the field's nutrition. They also challenge themselves to make soil using a tiller, mixing in nutrients necessary for growth, an experience unique to an agritourism resort. **Step 3: Making original pizza with harvested vegetables** After learning about cycles, children harvest summer vegetables like mini tomatoes and peppers that are ready to eat. They then experience making original pizza using these freshly harvested vegetables, baking them in an authentic stone oven to enjoy the natural, condensed sweetness of the fresh produce. This helps them rediscover the importance of food by learning the background of how it grows. **Step 4: Summarizing the learning into a worksheet for independent research** After all tasks, children reflect on the flow with staff. They record what they learned, felt, and harvested in the 'Nobi-Nobi Worksheet,' a plan benefit. By attaching photos taken by staff during the experience, the worksheet becomes a memory of their learning. ### Program Schedule 15:00 Check-in 17:00 Dinner (Reservation required separately) 07:00 Breakfast 08:20 Meet at Agri Garden 08:30 Vegetable Experiment 09:00 Compost & Tiller Experience 09:15 Vegetable Harvesting 10:00 Worksheet Creation 10:30 Original Pizza Making 12:00 Check-out ### Overview Dates: July 24 – August 31, 2026 Price: 10,000 JPY per elementary school student (tax incl.) Location: 'Agri Garden' farm Included: Farmwear rental, farming experience, pizza making, Nobi-Nobi Worksheet Capacity: Up to 2 groups/people per day Target: Staying guests in 3rd grade and above (Ages 8-12 recommended) Reservation: Official website