Japan
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*** We need a few strong people to help us build a rock wall and carry some logs***
Help to create and maintain a Garden of Five Continents situated in rural Itoshima, near Fukouka City, rated the 7th best City in the world. We are situated at the top of a small Japanese village and only a five minute walk to the beach. Itoshima is a beautiful place to stay renowned for its many beaches, mountains, countryside and is well known for it Oyster and seafood huts right by the sea.
The owner of the project, Jonathan, lives in England and he visits occasionally. The manager, David, is also English and lives off site. Volunteers will live amongst themselves and cook for themselves. Food is provided which is orientated towards what is commonly sold and available in Japan.
Gardening
General Maintenance
Help with Eco project
Volunteers will be immersed in a typical Japanese village and there are opportunities to attend local events or events in Fukuoka. There are local buses into Itoshima town, you can catch the subway to Fukuoka and we have a few bicycles for you to use to explore the local area.
We have 10,000 square metres of land separated into different areas overlooking the ocean. The overall plan is to create a Garden of Five Continents. We have two tea fields with orange trees, a fruit field with a grape pergola and polytunnel recently built, a vegetable garden is being created, the back of the house will be the Japanese garden, in June we will be planting for the Australian and Mexican garden and an English walled garden with an orangery, used to serve tea and hold events will be created sometime this year. Help is required on preparing, creating and maintaining all these areas. Work is usually outdoors and varied such as weeding, building simple structures such as bamboo raised beds, digging, cutting up trees, pruning, keeping the bamboo away, house maintenance and whatever needs doing. On average we have around five volunteers here at a time.
Occasionally on a weekend we hold outdoor activity based English language events for Japanese children in partnership with Momenta Kids and volunteers will be expected to help out at these events.
English
Volunteers will live in a typical modern Japanese house constructed 18 years ago. All modern amenities are provided, shower, washing machine, cooker, bread maker, rice cooker, microwave/oven, internet etc. You will usually be required to share a room with other volunteers. The owner of the project lives in England and visits often and the manager lives off site so volunteers will cook for themselves. Food is provided.
Apart from the beach, with its safe swimming and surfing, there are all kinds of water sports. The area is known for its 'oyster huts', where freshly farmed oysters and other seafood is barbecued on the beach. The world famous Sakurai shrine and the Famatugaura 'sunset' beach are close by. There are dramatic waterfalls and sea trips. Fukuoka, rated the number 7 city in the world, is half an hour's drive away, and can be reached by Japan's renowned public transport system. A local resident has given us 3 kittens, just to let those know who might be allergic to cats!
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
More than two
We work from 7am - 1pm (with a one hour break for breakfast from 9-10) Monday to Friday and the rest of the time is yours. When volunteers work a weekend day at the kids language events a day off during the week will given.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
