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 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)
Web articles and features that cover this case.
Sources(1)
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
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