熱帯気候の恩恵を受け、植生循環も日本に比べると格段に早い当地での農業は、しかし同じように強くしたたかな虫や人間との戦いでもあります。笑（筆者目線）

Thanks to the benefits of the tropical climate, the vegetation cycle is much faster than in Japan. But agriculture here is also a battle against strong insects and strong humans. :p Note: it’s my point of view. 

フィリピンでの活動の由来
Origin of activities in the Philippines:

もともと別NPO団体の植林活動がきっかけでフィリピンに行った私の父と、現地の友人たちが立ち上げたのがMind of the Earthです。NPO時代、日本式農業を気候や環境の違うフィリピンで「教育」「普及」しようとしたものの、現地の方の勘や経験に勝る物はないと実感したそうです。分裂・崩壊したNPOで関わっていたフィリピン人も離散する中、父と友人が目指したのは彼らの得意とする方法での生産・流通の確立によって彼らの生計を成り立たせること。フィリピンに息づく小農文化を、F1種の流通や大規模プランテーションなど大企業・他国の影響で失われてしまわないように守ることでした。

Mind of the Earth was started by my father and local friends who originally met in the Philippines by the forestation activity of another NPO organization. In the NPO era, they tried to “educate” and “disseminate” Japanese agriculture in the Philippines even though which has a different climate and environment. But he realized that there was nothing better than the intuition and experience of the local people to get the best result. It is what he and friends aimed for when the NPO collapsed was that to establish their livelihood by establishing production and distribution in the way they were good at. My father hoped that It will protect the small farming culture that have taken root in the Philippines so that it would not be lost due to the influence of F1 seeds distribution and large-scale plantations from large companies or other countries.

活動目的（拠点ごと）
Purpose of activity (for each location):

現地メンバーについて／About the members of the Philippines

彼らはもともと日本のNPO団体の活動に参加しており、日本野菜の生産経験が豊富なプロフェッショナルたちです。生産拠点は最低でもマニラから2時間以上離れた場所に点在しており、豚やヤギなどの畜産が各家庭で行われていたり、幹線道路に沿ったエリアでもバナナやランブータンなど果物の木が当たり前のように密生している環境があります。そのため、植物にせよ動物にせよ、普段の生活の中で非常に距離が近い印象があります。
開発が進み宅地が増えている一方で、衛生面・環境配慮面での意識の欠如が結果的に生活を少しずつ脅かしているように感じます。土地の循環能力の高さが魅力的な分、そこにもっと寄り添うことができれば理想的な栽培循環が出来そうですが、現実はそう甘くありません。。

They are professionals with a wealth of experience in producing Japanese vegetables because they participated in the activities of Japanese NPO groups originally. The production bases are scattered at least 2 hours away from Manila. In these areas, livestock such as pigs and goats are carried out at each household, and fruit trees such as bananas and rambutans are also used in areas along the main road. Therefore, the circumstance  looks like that plants, animals and people are very close to each other in ordinary life.
While it looks like that the lack of awareness regarding hygiene and environmental considerations is endangering their life little by little. 
The high circulation ability of the land is attractive, so we guessed that we would be able to achieve an ideal cultivation cycle if we get closer to it. But the reality was not so easy…

理想的な活動について（実現したい目標）
About ideal activities (desired goals):

• 世界基準に達したオーガニック野菜の生産、畜産環境の構築、その価値が認められる販路の確保
  Production of organic vegetables that have reached global standards, construction of a livestock environment, and securing sales channels that are recognized for their value.

オーガニックという言葉の響きの良さだけを表面に着て、実際にはその基準に全く達していないものがまかり通ることはその精神への冒涜であり、目的への裏切りとなります。ただ、現状維持が精一杯という中で、一部少量の農薬や肥料に頼っている現実があります。将来的にはこれを是正し、自家採種・無農薬の生産の実現と流通の確保を目指します。
It is a blasphemy to the spirit and a betrayal of the purpose to wear only the good sound of the word “organic” on the surface and to pass the thing that does not actually reach the standard at all. However, there is a reality that some of the pesticides and fertilizers are used to maintaining the status quo. In the future, we will correct this and aim to realize self-seeding and pesticide-free production and secure distribution.

• レストラン
  Managing a restaurant

各拠点で取れた収穫物や畜産の恵みを生かしたレストランを経営し、地域の中で回る小経済システムの構築。開発が進む地域の中にでも農地が生きること。新型コロナウイルスの影響で流通が停止し、各家での栽培などが活発になっている昨今、その価値は改めて見直されることになるという気がしています。
They will operate a restaurant that takes advantage of the harvests and livestock raised at each base. The purpose is to build a small economic system that operates within the region. They can keep an agricultural land even in areas where development is progressing, if the it will be more sustainable one. In the Philippines, people had to experience the situation of the distribution was suspended due to the effect of the covid-19. And nowadays the cultivation in each house is becoming more active, so that I think the necessity of that its value will be reviewed again that small economy system in each small areas.

• 日本とフィリピン間での相互農業／文化交流体験
  Mutual exchange programs about agriculture/culture between Japan and the Philippines

ホームステイ型での拠点滞在により、生活を通して文化や習慣に触れ個々の視野を少し広めること。自然環境の違いを肌で感じ理解し、お互いの知識を相手に沿ったアイデアとして提供できる環境を作ることで、共感や共存の能力を高めることを目的にしています。また、日本においては経済格差による渡航困難や、日本の移民難民政策の厳しさなども視野に入れ、一つの安全な機会として機能することも目標にしています。
By staying in a homestay style base, you can experience the culture and customs of other life and broaden your perspective. The aim is to enhance empathy and coexistence by creating an environment in which the difference between the natural environments can be felt and understood, and mutual knowledge can be provided as ideas in line with the other person. In Japan case, we also aim to function as a safe opportunity, considering the difficulties of travel due to economic disparity or the strictness of Japan’s immigration and refugee policies.

現在の活動状況／Current activity status:

• 農業生産
  Agricultural production

生産は不安定ながらなんとかやっていましたが、タール火山の噴火や新型コロナウイルス流行の煽りを受け、現在現地の農家はギリギリの状態で換金作物の生産をしていたり、出稼ぎに出ざるをえなくなっています。
Although the production was managed in spite of being unstable, due to the eruption of the Taal volcano or the pandemic of the covid-19, local farmers are front in the hard situation now. They try to producing crops to just gain cash, or have to go to Manila to work.

• 農業体験
  Farming experience

フィリピンでの受け入れは可能でしたが同上の理由で停止中。日本の農場はまだ開拓が始まったばかりです。
It is possible to accept in the Philippines. But it is suspended for the same reason. The development of Japanese farms is just beginning.

• 拠点滞在
  Base stay

フィリピン・サントトーマスと、協力地・バンコンカホイバレーでのみ実践していましたが同上の理由で停止中。今後日本の農場等が安定すれば相互、他国・他地域からの受け入れを積極的に検討する予定です。
It is possible in Santo Tomas, Philippines, and in the cooperative area, Bang Kong Kahoy Valley. But it is suspended for the same reason. In the future, we will actively consider mutual acceptance from other countries and regions if Japanese farms become stable.

フィリピンでの課題／Tasks in the Philippines:

• 生産のための販売仕組みづくり
  Creating a sales system for production
  
• 世界基準に達したオーガニックの野菜、より良い畜産環境の構築
  Making of organic vegetables that has reached the global standard and creating a better livestock environment

課題発生に至る過去の状況／Past situation leading to tasks:

オーガニック野菜の生産に成功、マニラでの販売を実践→災害や水やりホースの盗難など、災難続きで生産が不安定に→生活のために換金可能な野菜を少量の農薬を用いながら生産→本来の目的である環境に配慮した農地を増やすという目的から逸脱、という悪循環が発生してしまっている。
手間をかけたオーガニック野菜を購入できる販売先は都市圏に集中し、栽培拠点はマニラから２時間以上かかるところに点在しています。車を購入したり、農薬不使用の新規農地の開拓などやってみているものの、理想の実現には時間がかかる見通しです。

Succeeded in producing organic vegetables and sales in Manila → Production became unstable due to troubles such as disasters and theft of watering hoses → Producing vegetables that can be cashed for life using a small amount of pesticide → This  vicious circle have kept them away from the origin purpose, which to increasing the number of eco-friendly farmlands.
The customers who can buy organic vegetables with efforts are concentrated in the urban areas, and the cultivation bases are scattered from Manila over two hours. Also the local logistics system looks like not much safety and solid way to transferring the products. Still, we have tried to over the troubles by cultivate new agricultural land where has never used pesticides, or buy a car.  But it is expected that it will take time to achieve the ideal

課題改善への計画／Plans to improve issues:

• 販売ルートの模索
  Develop for sales routes

元々は彼らの得意とする日本野菜生産を生かして、日本人コミュニティやレストランへの販売を計画。日本人を仲介に置く予定だったが新型コロナウイルス流行で渡航困難状態が続く。
↓
Facebookなどを活用したコンテンツの充実と”次の世代”への協力を仰ぎ教育を促進し、現地でのオンライン販売や販路開拓を目指す方向に展開したい。

we have aimed to sell to the Japanese community and restaurants by taking advantage of their experiences of Japanese vegetable production. We planned to put the Japanese as an intermediary, but the covid-19 pandemic keeps traveling difficult.
↓
We would like to try promoting education by enriching contents using Facebook and cooperating with the “next generation” and aiming for local online sales and market development.

• 世界基準に達したオーガニック、より良い畜産環境を目指す
  Making crops by organic that has reached the world standard and creating better livestock environment

自分たちが実現できるギリギリ農薬の使用減という現状を最低限保ちつつ、一方でより広い視野をもち、目指すべき物はなんなのか他の人はどのように実践しているのかということを学ぶことが必要と考える。
↓
次の世代になり得る人たちに仕事としてMind of the Earthに関係する記事を作成してもらい、その制作を通して広く情報を集め、学び、ウェブサイトやFacebookページを情報交換の場として活用してもらう。彼らが将来的にどんな道を選ぶにしても、その情報集取能力・表現力の向上は役に立つだろうし、蓄積された情報は販売においても一助になると考えています。

It’s one of the most important things that learning what is the aim and what others are doing think necessary  while keeping the current situation of reducing the use of pesticides that can be realized by themselves, and while having a broader perspective. We should consider that there were many plans that were unfinished even though it was near completion due to the priority that changed in daily life. It’s necessary that people who do the project at the area understand the importance of formulating and executing a plan from a long-term perspective. And how, it’s that using a time effectively.
↓
This is the first small experiment. We plane to have next generation people create articles related to Mind of the Earth as work, gather information widely through their production, learn, and utilize websites and Facebook pages as places for information exchange get. No matter what path they choose in the future, it will be useful to improve their ability to collect and express information, and we believe that the accumulated information will be helpful for our community as well. 

寄付のお願い／Please give a donation

フィリピンでの新型コロナウイルス流行は深刻で、初期のロックダウンでは２ヶ月以上の厳しい外出制限がありました。通いで世話をしていたビロッグビロッグの豚の生死が危ぶまれたり、収穫物を販売できなかったりした上、値段の変動や教育活動の停止など現在も影響が続いています。私はこれは来年・再来年まで変動しながら尾を引くと考えているので、２年計画で逆算して今できることを考えマイナスをなるべく押し留めたいと願っています。
ただ、今まで全てを自費で賄っていたため、個人的にもそろそろ限界が見えています。もし可能であれば、寄付をいただけると幸いです。

Mind of the Earthでは、ご寄付をいただいた方々をゲストメンバーとして捉え、活動の有無にかかわらず、ご希望の方には寄付金の使用拠点滞在などを体験していただけるようにしたいと考えています。移動は自費となり恐縮ですが、心に留めておいていただけると幸いです。
何卒よろしくお願いいたします。

（ご興味がある方、ご寄付いただける方はこちらよりご連絡ください。追ってメールにて詳細を連絡いたします）

The pandemic of covid-19 in the Philippines keep the serious situation, and they were forced  severe restrictions on going out during these months. Especially, they experienced the danger of life and death of pigs in the farm of BilogBilog in the initial lockdown. Because it’s where far from the living house and the member couldn’t go to there to caring them. Also, Some of them couldn’t sell the crops for the sales channel was cut off by the same reason. the quarantine was eased now, but the price fluctuations and suspension of educational activities continue to affect the community. Also, it’s not like the crisis was gone. I think this situation will continue changing conditions. So I would like to think on what I can do by doing a backward calculation in the two-year plan and hold back the negative as much as possible.
At Mind of the Earth, we would like to consider those who made donations as guest members. So that we prepare that the plans you can experience the stay of the donation base etc. regardless of whether there is activity or not.   

However, personally I am about to see the limit because I have covered everything at my own expense until now. If possible, I would appreciate a donation. Note: I’m sorry about traveling cost is at your own expense, but I hope you keep this in mind.

Please let me mail or use contact form if you would do the donation. Thank you for your cooperation.

(Click here to contact, donation)