As we get ready to say 'goodbye' to Adam and Adam, we are happy to say 'welcome' to Fernando, our new long term volunteer. Fernando is from Spain, but has spent the majority of his life traveling and living in different countries around Europe. In a past life, Fernando operated his own media company but now prefers work that benefits the greater good. We have no doubt that he will be a great help in our fields over the next few months. Welcome, Fernando!

Click and drag on the image above for a panoramic view of the Solar Cafe.

Thanks, Adam Shane!

Eden provides Eco Homes in the form of modern self contained village developments. We plan and build secure communities that have independent wind and solar electricity generation, on-site farms for food production and state-of-the-art communication facilities. Located in quiet natural areas within easy access to urban financial centers, Eden villages are the ideal housing solution for modern commuters wishing to live a healthier more relaxed lifestyle.

Fore further information, please visit our website.

Thanks to a two-year ad campaign by Forest Ethics—attacking Victoria’s Secret printing catalogs on paper made by clearcutting Canada's boreal forests—the lingerie retailer has decided to relent and go green.

The felling of trees to produce paper for the 360 million annual catalogs was destroying endangered Caribou habitat in the great white north. They will now be printed on paper made from sustainably harvested FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certified fiber.

Thanks to the pressure applied by Forest Ethics, Victoria’s Secret has also agreed to look for even more ecological friendly ways to produce their catalogs. So now you lust with a clear conscience.

Weblinks
www.victoriassecret.com
www.forestethics.org

To read more about sustainable living, see Jake Reiner's column in Outdoor Japan

H₂O. Water. You know the story; all living creatures on Earth came from the sea, and the human body is 70 percent water. In another sign proving that businesses are catching on to the eco-trend, bottled water sales are booming. There are more than 80 types of water available in markets across Japan.

In addition to straight water, many stores are now stocking slightly flavored carbonated waters with no sugar or additives. Stay away from the “No-Calorie” and “Calorie-Off” waters because they are filled with artificial sugar substitutes (much worse than the real thing).　

Weblink
www.mizuhiroba.jp/en

To read more about sustainable living, see Jake Reiner's column in Outdoor Japan

Most modern soaps are synthesized from petroleum, that black oily stuff we fight wars for. Yuck. Dr. Bronner’s soaps are all organic, 100 percent eco-friendly and made from natural, fair-trade oils such as coconut, hemp, almond, lavender and peppermint.
An icon of the ’60s and '70s counter culture, Dr. Bronner used his soaps to promote ecological businesses and his “All-One” message of peace (written in fine print all over the bottle).

These amazing liquid soaps can be used as shampoo as well as for face and body. Gentle on the skin, they leave no residue, and the fragrance of the essential oils is rejuvenating.
Non-animal tested, 100 percent post-consumer recycled packaging. Employee profit sharing. Best of all, they are finally on the shelves in Japan. (Most recently spotted near the checkout of the Don Quixote store in Shibuya.)

Weblink
www.drbronner.com

To read more about sustainable living, see Jake Reiner's column in Outdoor Japan

Solar panels have been around longer than you think; since 1883, to be exact.
So why aren’t we getting all of our energy from the sun?

P.V. (photo-voltaic) cells make electricity by energizing silicon with sunlight.
The drawbacks are efficiency and cost.
Until now the cells only converted seven percent of light into electricity, and the payback time on installation cost was 20 years.
But as sales have increased, production cost is dropping, and SunPower of California is now making panels with 22 percent efficiency.

Japan now accounts for 30 percent of all sales in the world (Germany is the top with 39 percent and the U.S. third at nine percent).
Another incentive to install them is that you can now sell your excess power to the grid.
Your meter will actually spin backwards, and the power company will owe you money.

Weblinks
www.sunpowercorp.com
www.kyocera.co.jp/prdct/solar

To read more about sustainable living, see Jake Reiner's column in Outdoor Japan

Nozomi is the latest person to join the staff at the Solar Cafe. Originally from Kofu, Nozomi has been traveling to different parts of the world for the past two years and has decided to settle down at the Solar Cafe, which she first visited in 2002, because of its peaceful atmosphere and good friends. Not only does Nozomi bake delicious treats, but she has a cheerful smile which makes everyone happy to have her here. Welcome, Nozomi!

Please welcome Hiromi, our new field manager. Hiromi grew up in Osaka before moving to Tokyo. After years of working in an office, she decided to come work at the Earth Embassy's organic farm to help attain her goal of one day living a completely self-sufficient lifestyle.

This entry was taken from the blog of Earth Embassy volunteer Adam Shane. To read more, please visit AdamShane.com

Kanako and I awoke at 4:30am and climbed to the top of Koyodai Lookout to witness sunrise on this exceptionally clear day. After standing in awe, staring at the indescribable beauty of the rising sun enveloping Mt. Fuji in its warm glow, Kana gave my first yoga lesson. A brisk walk back to the café found us perfect timing to catch a ride to the onsen before a day and night of play for adult and child alike.

The children’s festival started in the morning with a famous Japanese comedian carving a log into a bear with a chainsaw. The kids then made their way over to the Café for live music and cotton candy. Later they learned about ecology and planted mint. Before the event came to a close the children were treated to an awesome Karate demonstration. The youth of the day faded away with the sun, and ravers began to arrive to set up tents in the surrounding fields as the kids slowly filtered out.

The evening began with sparklers around a small fire. As the flames grew the party escalated into one of the most exceptional events. Hundreds of people gathered to dance to pulsating house music under the stars at the base of Mt. Fuji. I spent the night drinking shochu, making friends with a few of the coolest people in Japan, and dancing around the blazing inferno.

By sunrise the party was still thumping despite the downpour of rain. I was called up to one of the stages to play drums for an impromptu jam session. After playing non-stop for a couple hours, I took a break to head outside for a few hours of dancing in the mud and rain. About thirty hours of hiking, yoga, playing with children, dancing, drumming, and having a great time eventually drained my energy and I finally passed out….

When I woke up the next evening, I was invited to the onsen by Nabe, Shu, Seino and seven other partiers who were all still going strong since yesterday!! We ended up hanging out for the rest of night. I got a few invites back to Tokyo and was told about a few events coming up the weekend I go back. It’s going to be a fun time for sure…

Click here for more pictures of the Children’s Festival…

… and here for more pictures of the Rave

This entry was taken from the blog of Earth Embassy volunteer Adam Shane. To read more, please visit AdamShane.com

I’ve learned that there is no such thing as a typical day on this farm. The unique work I’m doing changes everyday as we get closer to the festival. It keeps the days fun, but the real magic of this place reveals itself at night. As Jake described it, the Solar Café is a place where people come together. I don’t think he could have said it any better way. In the weeks preparing for the festival I’ve met the most unlikely cast of characters who have provided exceptionally interesting interactions.

The staff and locals have all been truly accommodating and have provided a great look into the life of people here in the mountains of central Honshu. Jake, the owner, is an expat from NY who has been living in Japan for twelve years. In the last six, he opened the café/guesthouse/farm/eco-school that is slowly but surely gaining a foothold in the valley around Mt. Fuji. Naoko, the café manager/chef has been cooking the most amazing vegetarian food imaginable as well as helping me out with my Japanese. The other Adam who I met on my first day here is staying for about the same duration before heading to Thailand and Laos to do more volunteer work. Kanako, a Japanese volunteer and yogi from Tokyo speaks perfect English with an Aussie accent. I’ve been to a party in house with no walls by Shojiko Lake. I’ve been to dinner with local English teachers in a restaurant hidden a 1m tall door on a large white wall in the woods.

Every night or two the guests in the ryokan would cycle through and pave the paths for a few friendships. Chris, a drummer from England who has been living and traveling in Japan for the last 5 months. Marcel, a Japanese guesthouse owner from nearby Kofu who defies the typical cultural barrier and provokes intriguing philosophical and cultural exchange discussions. G the DJ, Ozan the manager, and 3 of the dancers from a gentleman’s club in Roppongi, Tokyo. Matthew, a multi-instrument musician / recording engineer from Australia who spent hours with me discussing recording technique and professional music. Uutaka, a djembe player from Northern Honshu who helped me create a couple hours of drum circle magic and then learned how to play the American drinking game Asshole. Shauna from Shizouka, and Austin from Kyoto who has recently used one of my songs in a film about contrasting life in Kyoto. Anthony, a high school teacher from Toyko who video-interviewed me in front of Mt. Fuji to use as instructional material for his students.

Amongst the campfire discussions, improvised music sessions, and drinking I’ve been overwhelmed with adventure activities in the surrounding area. Kanako, Adam and I have made explored the Aokigahara forest, hiked to Saiko Lake, and climbed to the top of Koyodai lookout for sunset and through the fog at midnight. I even fixed up an old bike and began a few excursions into the wooded paths before nearly meeting my death when the brakes weren’t strong enough to stop me flying down a bumpy volcanic rock hill and breakneck speed.

Add this all together, mix in the fun attempts at communication in Japanese, and sprinkle in some shrines and you get the most unique enjoyable experience conceivable. It’s hard to remember which day is which anymore. They all seem to blend together in an indistinguishable blur of stimulation which would keep even the shortest attention span occupied behind its wildest imagination. And then it stopped…

The festival arrived and each day took on its own purpose, superceding the anticipation which was rising for weeks. The first day was mostly spent building a stage, and helping the sound crew from Tokyo; Nabe a bass player, Shu and Seino who are guitarists. After a couple bands played, we ended the night by playing a great jam session in front of a roaring campfire. A relatively exciting experience, but still nothing compared to what the next day would bring….