Nerima Ward Agricultural Experience Farms
Nerima, Tokyo, Japan · Operator: 練馬区 / 農業体験農園園主会（農家が開設・運営）
Overview
Nerima created Japan's first agricultural experience farm in 1996 and is a pioneer of urban agriculture. The 'Nerima model', in which farmers act as instructors for residents, has spread nationwide, with over a dozen farms still operating in the ward. It is a leading model for using urban farmland as a place of learning and community exchange.
Citizen participation
Residents enrol in farms opened and run by professional farmers (the owners), who provide all seeds, fertiliser and tools. Under the owner's guidance, participants experience the full cycle from sowing to harvest, learning vegetable growing year-round even as complete beginners.
Operating model
Opened by farmers as part of their farm business and funded by annual user fees. Nerima Ward pioneered and supports this 'Nerima model', simultaneously preserving urban farmland (productive green space) and stabilising farm livelihoods.
Impact
Birthplace of the experience-farm model now spread across Japan, simultaneously conserving urban farmland, securing farm income, and providing residents with food/farming education, health and community building.
Crops
- 季節野菜全般（ナス、トマト、キュウリ、ダイコン、ハクサイ等）
Scale
1996年に全国初の農業体験農園『緑と農の体験塾』が開園。現在区内に十数園（17園前後）が運営され、各園主の指導のもと多数の利用者が栽培
Sources（2）
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
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