Ryunohara Retreats
Ecology Edition
The beauty of living in a traditional farmhouse is that you are indoors and outdoors all at the same time. The ancients designed houses to protect, to breathe, to absorb, to release, everything all at once. The world at large is no different. On the Ecology Edition of Ryunohara Retreats we focus on the complex web connecting the land, flora and fauna, our human traditions, politics, and economics. At the same time we will enjoy and delight in what the ecosystem provides.
Sample Itinerary
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Day 1
Meet up at Kii-Tanabe Station at 2pm. Shuttle to Ryunohara.
Check in to Ryunohara Hatago, introductions over a Welcome Drink
First lesson: How to set up a fire for your onsen soak
Dinner featuring seasonal ingredients at the main building
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Day 2
Wood
The Wooden Farmhouse and the Land: The Edo Period Wisdom We Can Learn From
Meet our carpenter, make your own chopping board using the traditional planer
Visit two different kinds of forests: Monoculture and Multiculture. Practice your observation skills. Bring your choice of recording device: a camera, a stylus, pencil, brush, or microphone. We record, and share our thoughts.
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Day 3
Soil
Meet the Animals, learn about their quirks and personalities
Visit local farmers practicing natural farming to see first hand how weeds promote growth
Harvest seasonal vegetables and make a part of your own dinner at a local vegetarian restaurant.
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Day 4
Water
Water & The Paddy Field: Life With Rice - farmers have diverted water to where it wasn’t, giving us the landscape we see before us
Cook rice at the paddy field - Distance from farm to table: 0 metres.
Quiet moments at a sacred waterfall. We’ll boil the spring water for tea.
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Day 5
Breakfast, check out at 10am
Arrive at Kii-Tanabe Station by 11am for your journey onwards.