In a previous post, I wrote about the shopping street “Ponto-cho” in Kyoto City and the perplexing nature of its name. However, Ponto-cho is just one of many intriguing names in Japan. This time, I’d like to consider another: The Takase River. 

The Takase River or “Takasegawa” (高瀬川) as it is called in Japanese, is in central Kyoto City beginning just south of the grounds of the Imperial Palace of Gosho and terminating kilometers later into the Kamo River. For most of its length, Takasegawa is only a few meters wide, and so shallow that it is easy to walk across. It is a calm and unassuming stream. Given this image, when examining the kanji in its name, you are in for a shock!

Separating the river’s name into its components gives you “tall” (高, taka), “rapids” (瀬, se) and “river” (川, kawa), or what would now be called “whitewater rapids” — the kind usually navigated by helmeted daredevils in rubber rafts. How was it that such a placid stream wound up with such a thrilling name?

After doing some research, I learned that from the time it was dug in the early 1600s until the 1930s, the area where Takasegawa is located often had severe seasonal flooding, so it is easy to imagine that the water could get choppy at times.

I also learned that Takasegawa was once an essential part of Kyoto City’s infrastructure, transporting people and goods to nearby Fushimi on flat bottomed boats called “Takasebune”. For over 300 years, these boats brought products like silk and spices into Kyoto while taking lumber and sake out.

Strictly speaking, calling Takasegawa “a river” is incorrect. Rivers occur naturally whereas river-like waterways created by people are referred to as canals. As Takasegawa was dug by people, it is clearly a canal. However, I do not object to this misnaming because the Japanese word for canal, “unga” (運河), does not have a pleasant sound. Surely, Takasegawa is more harmonic than Takaseunga! Wouldn’t you agree?

Q1. Why does the author find the name of Takasegawa confusing?

Q2. How did the Takase river contribute to the development of Kyoto?

Q3. Why isn't Takasegawa really a river?

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

A1. Because the kanji in the name indicates a raging river but the actual river is shallow and calm.

A2. By providing a route for trade and people.

A3. Because it was created artificially. 

Valentine’s Day in Japan looks similar enough to the US version… on the surface. Downtown you can find decorations with similar themes, stores and shops have special promotions for chocolates and sweets, and couples celebrate together. But as I said, this is only similar on the surface. There are some differences that I still struggle with. 

When I experienced Valentine’s Day in Japan for the first time, what surprised me was that as a man, I didn’t have to do anything. Just get chocolate or sweets. If you haven’t heard before, in most other countries where Valentine’s Day is celebrated, men are the ones who do the work. There is no White Day where we get to defer our gift giving obligation for a month. In fact, the Valentine’s Day-White Day situation in Japan reminds me of the “girl’s choice song” at American high school dances… accept on Valentine’s Day, the girls make the “first move” every time. By the way, if you’re not familiar, “girl’s choice” is when the DJ tells the room that the girls ask the guys to dance for the next song. In the US, it’s usually the opposite, both on the dance floor and in other aspects of dating. 

But back to V-day. In my case, I have become spoiled. I got used to getting home-baked cakes among other things every year. Because this has become my “normal” every Valentine’s Day, I would probably have some trouble adjusting to the old way if I were back in the US, just like I did when I started celebrating it here. Every year, after I get my yummy cakes and chocolate, I quickly move on with life and forget until the last minute that White Day is coming. One month is just long enough to forget that I need to do something special for my wife. This results in me usually rushing around at the last minute to put something together. I haven’t had any disasters yet, but the point is that White Day always sneaks up on me. It’s something I have never gotten used to. If you are planning on studying/living abroad in another country and find yourself “involved” with someone, you might have similar problems adjusting to the change in procedure. My wife and I are pretty chill about it, but some people, at least in the US, take Valentine’s Day pretty seriously. Just remember this for a US Valentine’s Day; guys, it’s us who are giving the chocolate. Don’t be caught flat footed. And ladies, even though there is no White Day, when you get something nice from your man, don’t neglect to return the favor.

Q1. According to the passage, what is the main difference between Valentine’s Day in Japan and the US?

a) Japanese couples like to eat white chocolate more than American couples on White Day.

b) In Japan, it is more common to eat cake on Valentine’s Day than in the US.

c) Men usually give chocolate or gifts on Valentine’s Day in the US and on White Day in Japan.

Q2. In the second paragraph, why does the author think Valentine’s Day and the “girl’s choice song” at a dance are similar?

a) In both situations, couples get to dance.

b) In both situations, women are supposed to be more assertive than men.

c) In both situations, women are supposed to wait for the man to do something.

Q3. In the last paragraph, which answer has the closest meaning to this sentence? “My wife and I are pretty chill about it.”

 a) It gets pretty cold around Valentine’s Day.

 b) They are not very serious about Valentine’s Day.

 c) They try to relax in serious situations.

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz

A1. c

A2. b

A3. b

During these Covid-19 times it is not easy to travel internationally, but we are all hoping that changes for the better soon. Today, I would like to tell about one of my favorite countries for traveling – Laos. I have made several trips to Laos and never grow tired of this unique country. As a tourist destination in Southeast Asia, Laos is not as popular as some of its neighboring countries like Thailand, Cambodia, or Vietnam. I think this is one reason it is such an interesting place to visit.

Many people start their trip to Laos by flying into Vientiane. Even though it is the capital of Laos, Vientiane is a small, relaxed city. People are very friendly, and it is a great place to just walk around for a day or two and get a feel for the culture. The mighty Mekong River forms the eastern border of the city, and eating local dishes for dinner in an open-air restaurant on the banks of the Mekong while watching the sunset is a highly recommended way to finish your day.

A few hours bus ride north of Vientiane is the small, fun town of Vang Vieng, which is very popular with young, backpacking travelers from around the world. It is surrounded by beautiful karst mountains and jungle and is a great place for outdoor activities. You can go tubing and kayaking in the river or try caving and rock climbing.

Further north is the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang. Also set on the banks of the Mekong, it is a fascinating city with many Buddhist temples and historical French colonial architecture. A great thing to do here is to take a boat ride for a couple hours up the Mekong to the Buddha caves of Pak Ou. Luang Prabang also has excellent restaurants and a cool night market for shopping.

For the adventurous traveler with more time, Laos has some other interesting destinations. In the far north around the town of Luang Namtha you can go trekking to remote hill-tribe villages. In the south of Laos there is the coffee producing Bolaven plateau and the incredible Falls of the Mekong, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia.

Fairly close to Japan and very affordable to visit with fascinating cultures, friendly people, and incredible natural beauty, Laos is a great choice for adventurous university students wishing to explore off the beaten path in Southeast Asia.

Q1 What are 3 countries mentioned that are next to Laos?

Q2 What is the capital city of Laos?

Q3 What are some adventurous outdoor activities you can do in Laos?

Scroll down for answers

A1 Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

A2 Vientiane.

A3 Tubing, kayaking, caving, rock climbing, and trekking.

Today, I would like to introduce the idea of using a fountain pen for daily use. I know that electronic media such as smartphones and tablets have become a part of our daily lives, but it would be nice to enjoy a traditional writing method instead. Recently, I went to Kinokuniya near Osaka station and found a section of fountain pens. There were a lot of them lined up in a row for us to try them out casually. Many people just enjoy such pens as a collection, but fountain pens have many purposes: to enjoy the pleasure of writing, to use as a tool, and to appreciate having time for yourself. 

The first idea is to enjoy the feeling of writing. It is a feeling that only those who have tasted it can understand, but even just by drawing a line, you can feel it in your hand. When I wrote with a fountain pen for the first time, I was amazed at the sound it made when I wrote. Later, after using it several times, I began to feel the steady sound was comfortable. In particular, it is a beneficial tool for people with weak writing pressure compared with regular pens or pencils.

Second, a fountain pen is an excellent tool for organizing your thoughts. Nowadays, it is easy to make voice recordings and convert your ideas into text. However, there is a limit to how much you can write by hand compared with electronic media. In this sense, you can unconsciously replace writing time with organizing time in your mind.

The third is to set aside time for yourself. This idea is similar to the second benefit but different. As long as you have a pen and paper in front of you, you can think only of yourself. No person or sounds will disturb you. In this age of IT advancement, it is precious to be in a space where you are not connected to the Internet, where information is flowing. Especially for writers, such a tool can be a treasure trove of great ideas.

In conclusion, many people love fountain pens, such as writers and cartoonists. However, fountain pens are not only for specialists but also for people in general to enjoy the benefits and pleasure we have discussed. There are several series of pens for beginners with an economical price. So, why not give it a try?

Q1. What is the first benefit of fountain pens?

Q2. What is the second benefit of fountain pens? 

Q3. What is the third benefit of fountain pens?

--- Scroll down for answers ---

A1. They help you to enjoy the feeling of writing.

A2. They help you to organize your thoughts.

A3. They give you space to think of and for yourself.

You know LEGO. We all know LEGO. These plastic brick toys have been world famous for over 70 years. There are toys, models, robots, animated movies, visual art, and more. For most people they are a childhood toy; something fun and creative to play with on a rainy day. But LEGO are not just simple blocks. Behind the popular toy is a deep history of cutting-edge technology, manufacturing, research, design, and engineering. 

Materials

The LEGO company originally made toy blocks from wood. Eventually they shifted to plastic in 1947. Different types of plastic were tried, but eventually LEGO chose ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) as its main material. ABS has been LEGO’s only plastic for over 50 years, but recently they are changing this. Since 2018 they started using a bio-based plastic made from sugarcane. The company is planning to completely change to an eco-friendly plastic by 2030 and is already ahead of schedule.

Finding a good material for LEGO is difficult. The LEGO quality standards for materials are some of the highest in the world. LEGO pieces must be precise, strong, and last for a long time. LEGO manufactures over 36,000,000,000 parts in a year (1,140 bricks/second) with a success rate of 99.999982%. Each piece is so strong one brick can support 375,000 bricks. To break the bottom brick, you would have to build a LEGO tower 3,591 meters high. Independent testing and in-house company testing shows that the life of a LEGO piece is between 2,000 to 3,000 uses (maybe more, depending on the piece). 

Design and Engineering

LEGO pieces are not only strong, they are well-designed. For each piece the maximum size variation is 0.004mm (that is less than the width of a human hair). In 1958 LEGO designers and engineers created, and still use, a special “universal system” for piece design. This means EVERY piece from EVERY set since 1958 will fit together with ANY other piece from ANYWHERE in the world.

To create the pieces and sets LEGO designers create and customize special 3D imaging software, modified versions of CAD, and even virtual reality models. Recently LEGO has also been training AI to design pieces, sets, and to package the toys. 

The People

LEGO Designers have backgrounds in engineering, CG modelling, design, fashion, art, architecture, and more. The application process is very difficult, very competitive, and candidates must be highly qualified. LEGO often scouts and recruits people from PhD programs and high-tier universities worldwide to become designers and LEGO creators. 

Q1: How many bricks are needed to break one LEGO brick?

A. 2,000-3,000

B. 375,000

C. 3,591

Q2: What were the first LEGO blocks made from?

A. Sugarcane 

B. Plastic

C. Wood

D. ABS 

Q3: What is special about LEGO’s “universal system”?

A. Every piece is almost perfect in size and shape.

B. Every possible piece fits together.

C. Every piece is made from eco-friendly plastic.

--- Scroll down for answers ---

A1. B

A2. C

A3. B

When we think about the winter holidays and Christmas, images of Santa Claus often come to mind. Popular characters dress in Santa-themed clothes. Many people cosplay at holiday parties as Santa and/or Mrs. Claus. Santa’s classic red-and-white colors are used in decorations, advertisements, and more. But did you know that Santa wasn’t always dressed in red-and-white? 

The character of Santa Claus has roots in many traditional stories and characters from across Europe and Central Asia. The stories and characters of Father Time, Sinterklaas, King Frost, Wotan, and Father Christmas all added to the story and character of Santa Claus. A 4th century Christian priest (Saint Nicholas of Myra) is the base for a lot of the personal background and character of Santa Claus. Many people think that the red robes of Saint Nicholas are the source of Santa’s famous outfit. The real story is much more recent. 

Many older images of Santa Claus are very similar to what we see now. An older man, dressed for cold winter weather, usually with a long cap and white fur. The colors are usually very different though. Often Santa is dressed in all white, white-and-brown, or white-and-grey. There are even purple versions! And yes, if you search there are some Santas wearing red, but they are rare. 

Santa wasn’t always the most popular part of Christmas though. For many years Christmas was a quiet religious holiday. Over the years the nature of the holiday changed, and slowly it became more festive with presents, drinking, singing, and parties. The character of Santa really started to become popular 200 years ago (through stories, books, and songs), and the colors of green and white became the “orthodox” version. Green and white matched many of the other winter decorations and traditions (pine trees, snow, etc.). Santa stayed green for almost 100 years. 

About 90 years ago (in the early 1930’s), red Santas started appearing again. The most famous version was made for the Coca-Cola Company by the artist Haddon Sundblom. The colors of Santa were made to match the Coca-Cola brand, and Santa became a bit fatter and kid-friendly. Coca-Cola was (and is) a popular and famous brand and the company started an aggressive sales campaign. The Coca-Cola Santa spread, becoming a huge hit and in a few years, magazines, television, and other media “locked” Santa into his classic red-and-white colors. Now there is no going back.

Q1: What were original colors of Santa Claus?

A. White and brown

B. Purple

C. Red 

D. All of the above

Q2: Who was the main base for the character of Santa Claus?

A. King Frost

B. Nichola of Myra 

C. Sinterklaas 

D. Father Christmas 

Q3: When did the trend of red Santas begin?

A. 100 years ago

B. 90 years ago

C. 200 years ago

D. 1700 years ago

A1. D

A2. B

A3. B

When I was young, I used to love watching American TV shows and dreamed of America. I wanted to go there someday but traveling abroad was not something anybody could do at that time. Flights were very expensive and there were hardly any opportunities for young people in Japan to learn practical and conversational English in the late 1970’s.

My interest in America and its language grew as I became a junior high school student. I was motivated to study English and was determined to enroll in the YMCA High School Conversation Course after graduation. YMCA was probably one of the very few institutions that offered practical English learning to high school students at that time in Osaka. In my senior year, I participated in the English speech contest hosted by the Osaka-San Francisco Sister-City Association as the representative of the YMCA. Winning the contest gave me a free ticket to California to do homestay for 6 weeks in the coming summer of 1981. There are no words to express the joy and excitement that I felt then.

The experience I had in the U.S. that summer instilled in me a strong desire to study at an American university. As I look back on my life, the funny thing is that I learned more about Japan and myself as a Japanese when I was living in the U.S. I grew to love my country and appreciate being a citizen. The experience made me want to teach English and help young Japanese people have positive experiences in their lives just like I did.

Being able to speak English has blessed me and brought much happiness into my life over the years, and I would like to share one experience I had this summer. The year 2021 was a special year for Japan to hold the Olympics in Tokyo after 57 years even though it was in the middle of the Covid pandemic. I decided to volunteer for the Olympics, and they put me in the Athlete Village where all the athletes from 220 countries stayed. My responsibility was to help the athletes install the smartphone game that IOC created for them. The booth I worked at was inside the cafeteria building, so I must have seen and met most of the athletes and coaches. I had never seen so many different nationalities of people before. Being able to meet and talk with them is one experience that I will always cherish and remember. I learned that it surely is possible that all the people from different nations can be one regardless of politics and religion. How wonderful it would be if all the people in the world could love and respect each other! It is my hope that you strive to improve your English skills and let your light shine in the world by sharing your talents and kindness. I believe that this is something we can do for world peace.

Q1. How did the writer make his dream to go to America come true?

Q2. What was the writer’s responsibility as a volunteer at the Tokyo Olympics?

Q3. What does the writer think we can do to contribute to world peace? 

Scroll down for answers

A1. He won a speech competition that had a homestay in the US as a prize

A2. To help athletes install a smartphone game

A3. You can learn English and share your talents with the world

I have a question for the students of Ritsumeikan University - are you bi-cultural? Have you ever had the opportunity to live (or study) in a foreign country for long enough to become familiar with its culture? As for me, I have had the good fortune to live in England (my home country) and Japan for long periods of time. Therefore, I have become familiar with the cultures of both countries. One of the main advantages of being bi-cultural is that you are able to compare and contrast nations and cultures. Like all countries, England and Japan have attractive points as well as some less-appealing ones. I would like to discuss some of the more attractive points about living in Japan, when compared with England, as well as some of its less-appealing ones. 

First, I love travelling by train and Japan has perhaps the best railway network in the world – far better than England’s. Unlike my home country, you can usually rely on Japanese trains to arrive on time. The passengers tend to be considerate to others such as not using their mobile phones or speaking loudly while on board. Furthermore, Japanese trains are usually clean because passengers almost always dispose of their rubbish at the end of their journey. Unfortunately, the English tend to leave their rubbish on the seats and tables in the train. 

Next, there is little vandalism in Japan. Japanese people tend to respect other people’s belongings which I am afraid is not always the case in England. Did you know that a recent public cycle-sharing scheme in the northern city of Manchester was stopped because more than half of the bikes were either vandalised, stolen or thrown into the city’s canal? As an Englishman, I am not only deeply saddened by this thoughtless vandalism, but also perplexed by this behaviour. Why are the English and Japanese so different in this regard? It is a complex question, which I cannot answer with any great depth here. However, I suspect the answer is deeply rooted in the differing education systems, cultural and social norms. 

Now, I would like to discuss a few things that I dislike about Japan when compared to England. Firstly, I hate the habits of slurping and sniffing. Although I can barely tolerate the culture of slurping noodles, I loathe it when the Japanese slurp their tea and coffee. However, what is even more annoying than slurping is sniffing. I dislike it when people sniff constantly, especially in enclosed spaces such as restaurants or on public transport. When I was a child at school, if I sniffed a teacher would usually offer me a tissue. I am sorely tempted to do the same with Japanese ‘sniffers.’ Just seeing the reaction would be worth the effort!

Another thing that I dislike about Japan is the regular absence of polite ‘small talk’ in everyday situations. In England, neighbours, shop assistants, café workers and so on, often initiate friendly conversation by asking “how are you today?”, “terrible weather, isn't it?”, “are you busy at the moment?” or something similar. However, in the block of flats where I live in Kyoto, some of my Japanese neighbours do not even acknowledge me, not in the lift or in the foyer of the building. It appears that I do not exist to them. I wonder why this happens? Have I upset my neighbours in some way? I do not think so, as I pride myself on being a polite and considerate one. Nor is language a hurdle as I can speak Japanese – not perfectly, but I can communicate pretty well. In addition, although I often go to the same cafes in Kyoto and am served by the same people, there is little effort on their part to converse with me. I have often initiated ‘small talk’ but it has usually ended in failure. Although Japanese service is efficient, I consider it cold, as if being served by an android. Therefore, Japanese service often lacks the warmth of customer service that can sometimes be found in England. 

In conclusion, being bi-cultural is a blessing in many ways, not least because it enables you to compare and contrast. It allows you to appreciate the finer points of a country, but also be conscious of its less pleasant ones. Therefore, being bi-cultural helps you to manage your own expectations when travelling, so when I arrive back to my home country I am mentally prepared for disruptions and annoyances on the railway. In contrast, upon my return to Japan, I look forward to travelling by train, as it is so often a pleasant way to travel. That is unless someone is sniffing next to me during the journey! I hope that you will be able to become bi-cultural in the future and discover the many pleasures, as well as occasional annoyances, which other countries and cultures may offer.

Q1. What are the two main good points about living in Japan?

Q2. What are three main bad points about living in Japan? 

Q3. What are the reasons for the differences between England and Japan regarding vandalism? 

Scroll down for answers

A1. The train network and the lack of vandalism

A2. Lack of polite small talk, slurping and sniffing

A3. The differing education systems, cultural and social norms

A sunny autumn day like today is a liminal time, an in-between state, when something is at its birthing stage. A fresh new beginning has just begun to open its tight bud into a slow blossom. Tsubaki camellia flowers strike a pose, wearing soft pink petals like a multi-layered evening gown. Fresh new leaves, a very dark matcha green, offer up the soft buds of flowers with a very distinct contrast. Deep autumn is just around the corner. Fresh new amber orange and red in their fantastic colors vie for attention. Two years ago, in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic halted the world to an almost complete stop, I discovered a secret joy. I was afraid to say it. Too many people all over the world were suffering. Many lost loved ones. Some stood at death’s door. Others battled awful symptoms. Some luckily won over the corona virus with a sniffle and a sneeze. But no doubt, countless people suffered in their own way. In the midst of all of this, I carried this secret joy. I could not share this with anyone. It didn’t feel right to voice it out loud when so many were suffering.

Like last year, I made my way to the spot where I discovered this joy. The afternoon sun was warm on my face. I couldn’t help but hum my favorite song. Can a day be as perfect as this? Everywhere I looked there were hints of autumn colors. I quickly made my way to my destination – Nanzenji temple. Last year, I had the temple to myself, a breathtaking but simple architecture – so still, ever gentle. Standing in this open space with hardly anyone around, I breathed in refreshing air, and I breathed out the stress of the frightening 24/7 news cycle of illness, death, doubt, and strife that had become a part of everyday life. What had this temple witnessed over the many centuries of its existence? Now, it became my oasis. It offered me a quiet, calming joy, almost like an extended helping hand. Since then, I have been savoring this soothing feeling of being surrounded by this breath-taking beauty and the joy of having it all to myself.

But lo and behold… What is this? Who are they? What is going on? Stop, stop, stop! Cameras clicked, loud laughter echoed in the chilly air, buzz of non-stop conversation whirling around my head, cars honking, the burned smell of rubber spewing out dark fumes from tour buses, the high-pitched voices of young tour guides mindlessly carrying high their little flag. No, this can’t be. A heavy feeling found a place in the pit of my stomach. The once high feeling slowly but surely dissipated to an increasing low. The serene Nanzenji, a place of quiet calm, the seat of Zen, was overrun once again. “Life as usual,” “Back to Normal,” “With Corona,” threatened my secret joy, this rare moment of quiet, the essence of Zen. Experiencing history, tradition, and ritual of calm in temples like Nanzenji is what I had been savoring within these two years of the pandemic. I knew that it would not last long. 

Now, on this beautiful day, I am once again one among thousands, making an autumn-foliage pilgrimage to Nanzenji. Disappointed, I weakly hold up my camera, trying to capture that perfect shot of what my eyes behold. I try my best to ignore the mass of people. Click! I frown at the shot of a passerby’s tip of his white sneaker that invades my picture. Delete! The sun shines through the dark orange leaves. Ah, beautiful. I point my camera at that perfect shot, the side view of the temple peeking through the colorful foliage. I wait to click. A person in front is taking forever to get his own perfect shot. He finally moves out of my way. I hurriedly point the camera back at the leaves and the edge of the strikingly regal wooden temple. The sunray now has shifted. I lower my camera. Irritably, I walk through the over-crowded temple ground. 

Lovers walk hand in hand. Families talk, run, pose for one another. Selfie sticks swim through the crowd. A young girl quickly readjusts her front bangs with one free hand and then smiles into her smart phone held six feet away. Taking in these images like a slow-moving picture, my secret joy slips through my fingers. I walk heavyhearted on to the side-street away from the crowd. Wait. What is this? The sun-ray beckons me ever so quietly. I follow it. I hear the whispered invitation through a rustled wind moving through the colored leaves. I look through a half open door. This moment – a re-encounter with this knowing joy, it is here. It never left. I just needed to look closer. The discovery, the joy of seeing the beauty in the very small things, ever so quiet, very subtle, but definitely present, quickened my heartbeat. This small temple, posing now so elegantly before my eyes, may not be the grand and beautiful main attraction, but it imbues a beauty of its own, waiting quietly for that moment of mutual discovery. The secret of finding joy in the small things, present everywhere, always ready to be seen and discovered, made this autumn day… well… perfect.

Q1 Why was the writer afraid to verbalize her secret joy? 

Q2 Where was the primary place where the writer found this secret joy?

Q3 Why did the writer feel that the secret joy was slipping away?

Scroll down for answers

A1 Too many people all over the world were suffering. 

A2 Nanzenji temple.  

A3 Because many visitors and tourists are once again overcrowding historical sites of Kyoto.

This summer, my friend and I finally started planting a food forest. We have been preparing the site for the food forest for several years. For example, with an excavator, we dug a pond at the top of the site so that we can keep the trees in the forest well-watered after they are planted.  We also dug swales on the land which will act to retain the moisture in the soil rather than allow it to run off. I live on a small island in the Pacific Northwest which gets a lot of rain during the winter months. However, many people are surprised to learn that during the summer it doesn't rain at all, so it will be necessary to water the trees for a few years so that they can establish themselves. 

You might be asking yourself, "what is a food forest"? To answer that question, we should first look at the concept of "permaculture." According to Bill Morrison, who made up the term in 1978, permaculture is: "The conscious design and maintenance of agricultural reproductive systems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of the landscape with people providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way." In this sense, permaculture combines the sense of permanent, or sustainable, and the practice of agriculture. 

These days, as the mass effect of "consumer culture" is increasingly viewed as unsustainable, the focus has expanded to include sustainable cultures, such as indigenous cultures, which can be considered models of land stewardship. Just as a natural forest matures to a point where it becomes a self-sustaining culture of plants, a food forest is intentionally planted with edible trees, perennials, annuals and shrubs which mature and become self-sustaining. In other words, after a certain time, the plants work to support each other just like plants found in a natural forest, creating an integrated self-sustaining eco-system that, in the case of a food forest, provides sustenance. The overall idea is to work with nature, not against nature, to achieve this aim. Unlike monoculture, in which a farmer plants one crop and then intensively battles nature to protect the crop against insects and other plants, a food forest is intended to be a habitat for insects, birds and other plants and animals. The idea is to create an abundance which is shared. 

To give our food forest a fighting chance to establish itself, we put in posts, and we're going to put some screening net around the site to protect the young trees from deer. Unfortunately, deer like to rub their bodies against trees and when the trees are still small that damages the bark and the trees die. Deer also like to eat delicious young leaves, so it's necessary to keep the deer out until the trees have established themselves and grown taller. In the future, when the site has become an established forest, we will be able to take down the screen netting, so that the deer can also take part and contribute to the forest. One of the very first trees we planted was at the top of the site, where the clearing meets the natural forest that surrounds it. This area is higher and drier, so we planted an Italian pine tree there. This pine tree produces lots of pine nuts. We're looking forward to the day the Italian pine tree will be just one of many trees in a thriving food forest in which we can share in the benefits.

Q1. What is the purpose of swales?

(a) They help the land stay moist by absorbing rain

(b) They help prevent floods by allowing water to move flow freely.

Q2.  True or false: The word permaculture is a combination of two words, permanent and agriculture.

Q3.  Food forests are planted to benefit:

(a) only humans

(b) the entire eco-system? 

Scroll down for answers 

A1: a

A2: True

A3: b