Ecovillage Newsletters
Newsletters
We, HEPP, publish our newsletters 4 times in a year. We report what we did and advertise next events. Please check these out for more information!
If you want it mailed, please reach out via access info below.
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Volunteers & Internships
WE NEED HANDS!!
We worked with more than 500 volunteer workers total in 2019. We can offer variety of tasks for you to experience hands-on skills of sustainable lifeltyle. We may sometimes feel some tasks are boring, but we believe that they will be the steps for the future progress.
Every single task has its own meaning in Ecovillage.
Application period: April 2020 ～ November 2020. (the longest stay will be 2 months max for each person)
Work hours: 6hours between 8am ～ 4pm including lunch break (it may vary due to visitors, weather and seasons)
Day offs: 2 days off basis. (it may also change because weekends are usually busy)
Task variety:
- House work (cooking & cleaning)
- Guesthouse work (bed making, cleaning, & Preparing stuff)
- Taking care of farm fields (garden, vegetable fields & wine grapes)
- Taking care of animals (sheep & chickens)
- Hosting student programs (work, talk, & hangout together and have fun!)
- Helping other local farmers
Study theme
Sustainability and low-impact lifestyle: You will learn, from those with knowledge and experience, how to reduce your impact to the environment trough daily actions such as cooking and eating seasonal and locally produced foods, choosing local products with ecological packaging at the supermarket, and reducing, reusing and recycling materials.
Organic farming: By taking care of the fruit trees (cherry, plum, berry, etc.), the grape plantations and by planting, fertilizing and harvesting vegetables, you will acquire knowledge on ecological alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. You will also gain awareness of natural cycles and the function of diverse elements in different ecosystems. By doing so, you will be able to work in harmony with nature, taking advantage of its cycles and reducing the damage to the environment.
Community: Working and sharing with the local area the knowledge and goods produced at HEPP is vital for the success of the project. While living here, you will have the opportunity to interact with other farmers, learn techniques from them, and share your culture and opinions. You will be able to experience and be moved by community ties built around one common goal and the strength of teamwork. Even though Japanese language is useful when interacting with others, it is not necessary to make friends and become part of the community.
For more detailed info
Accommodations:
Shared room in the main house or a container house (male and female are separated).
Food & Meals:
We prepare the meals together by turns. We basically eat something local and seasonal as much as possible. We also flexible for vegetarian food. You will have to make meals for your dayoffs.
What is available & NOT:
AVAILABLE: shower room, kitchen, laundry, mattress, pillow, blanket, duvet.
NOT: wi-fi, bed sheet, car, machines and tools (you must have background of using them)
Language:
English (Japanese is not necessary, but we're pleasure to give some Japanese lessons)
Staying fee:
1000 yen per day (accommodation and insurance included)
Location & Direction:
Agricultural country side, 60 km Northeast of Sapporo.
It takes about 10 min by car or 45 minutes walking from Yoichi JR station to HEPP shared house.
From Tokyo（Haneda or Narita）1.5 hours by airplane to Sapporo Station. From Sapporo Station, 1-1.5 hours by train (change trains in OTARU) or bus.
SR:
The temperature in the area goes from -10oC in winter to 28 oC in summer (be prepared with adequate clothing depending on the weather and rainy season).
Throughout the year, HEPP organizes various activities, welcoming different kinds of guests including groups of kids and Jr. High school and High school students. Volunteers who enjoy working, playing, communicating and living with kids are welcomed to help!
Trial week for about a week is required. The conditions can be negotiable depending what you can do and what you want to do, as well as what we need on the season.
Contact US & Access
Hokkaido Eco-village Promotion Project
Yoichi Eco-college Secretariat
〒046-0002
1863, Nobori-cho, Yoichi-town, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido
*10min. from JR YOICHI Station by a Local Bus (Get off a bus that AKAIGAWA LINE at MONGAKU-stop)
TEL/FAX: 0135-22-6666
Hokkaido Eco-village Promotion Project
Sapporo Secretariat
〒064-0959
2-1-1-303, Miyagaoka, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-city, Hokkaido
FAX: 011-640-8422 (Sakamoto)
