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Vacant lotActiveSince 2012

Hamarassen Farm

Rikuzentakata, Japan · Operator: 岩手県立高田病院

Overview

Gardens opened near temporary housing in Rikuzentakata after the 2011 disaster, with a prefectural hospital borrowing idle land free (since 2012) — using interim disaster-area land for elderly health and interaction.

Citizen participation

About 100 residents (average ~70, ~80% women) grow flowers and vegetables; each garden has a leader and residents share crops and roles.

Operating model

A prefectural hospital borrowed idle land free from owners and opened gardens near temporary housing — non-profit, aimed at elderly purpose, disuse-syndrome prevention and resident interaction.

Impact

Shifted from a survivor-garden to an allotment model, becoming a model for recovery-era health and community programs.

Land tenure

Free loanInterim use

Free loan from landowners (interim); temporary use of idle land near emergency housing.

Crops

  • vegetables
  • flowers

Scale

震災後の仮設住宅近接の遊休地を活用。市内11か所の仮設住宅に開設。

In the media(1)

Sources(1)

This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.

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Hamarassen Farm — Urban Farm DB