こだわりの栽培
1.環境を活かした自然栽培
the rice farm の環境は、土・水・太陽のどれをとっても最高の環境です。この環境の良さを最大限いかすため、肥料や農薬を一切つかわない自然栽培（Japonic）による栽培を行っています。
自然栽培は、肥料や農薬を一切つかわず、稲や土が本来もっている力を最大限引き出そうとする栽培方法です。
しかしそれは、人がなにもしない「放置栽培」ではありません。常に土の状態に気を配り、水の温度が高まるような工夫をし、稲の状態をよく観察して必要な管理を行います。勢いよく生えてくる雑草は、機械による除草を行いますが、それでも取り切れないものは手で一つ一つ抜いたりもします。
自然栽培（Japonic）は決して楽で簡単な方法ではありませんが、獲れたお米は養分たっぷりの環境で育ったものとは違い、あっさりとした味でとても食べやすく、玄米特有のえぐみを感じません。
The rice farm has the best soil, water, and sunshine. To make the most of this environment, they use natural cultivation（Japonic） methods without the use of fertilizers or pesticides.
Natural cultivation（Japonic） is a method that does not use any fertilizers or pesticides, and seeks to maximize the inherent power of the rice and soil.
However, it is not "abandoned cultivation" where humans do nothing. They always pay attention to the condition of the soil, take measures to raise the water temperature, closely observe the condition of the rice, and perform the necessary management. Weeds that grow vigorously are removed with machines, but those that remain are pulled out one by one by hand.
Natural cultivation (Japonic) is by no means an easy or simple method, but the rice that is produced is different from rice grown in a nutrient-rich environment; it has a light taste and is very easy to eat, without the bitterness that is typical of brown rice.
2.圃場環境の3つのポイント
●もっともピュアな南アルプスの「水」
南アルプスの源流から流れ出る水が、石灰岩質から浸み出たミネラルを多く含むため、「川下り米」として伊那市でも美味しいお米が出来る水として昔からよく知られています。特にthe rice farmは最上流に位置するため、上に民家も農地もなく、まさにピュアな南アルプスの「水」。山間部ならではの水の綺麗さは、the rice farmの最大の売りの一つです。
The water flowing from the source of the Southern Alps contains a lot of minerals that have seeped out of the limestone, and has long been known in Ina City as the water that produces delicious rice, known as "rice that flows down the river." In particular, the rice farm is located at the very top of the river, with no houses or farmland above it, meaning the water is truly pure Southern Alps water. The cleanliness of the water, which is unique to mountainous areas, is one of the rice farm's biggest selling points.
●「土」づくりへの情熱
長野県伊那市の山間地で、耕作しにくいため耕作放棄地となっている田んぼを借り受けて再生し、耕作面積を拡大しています。
耕作放棄地の地力は高いと言えます。火山灰が堆積した後、様々な植物が優占し表層に多くの有機物を含むからです。また、肥料を投入しなくても稲が健康に育ちます。さらに、水はけがよい田んぼが多く、還元状態で起きやすい有害なガスも発生しにくいのが特徴です。
In the mountainous area of Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, we rented and regenerated rice fields that had been abandoned due to the difficulty of cultivating, expanding the cultivated area.
The abandoned farmland can be said to have high soil fertility. This is because after the volcanic ash was deposited, various plants took over and the surface layer contains a lot of organic matter. Furthermore, rice grows healthily even without the addition of fertilizer. Furthermore, many of the rice fields have good drainage, and are characterized by a low production of harmful gases that are prone to occur in reducing conditions.
●「太陽」に近い標高の高さ
1,000m近い長野県伊那市長谷の標高は、昼夜の寒暖差を生み、その冷涼な気候は、病虫害の被害を軽減します。
生物多様性を保存するため、除草剤・農薬を使用しない栽培にこだわり、取り組み4年目となる2020年には、栽培する水田にゲンゴロウが生息していることを確認しています。標高の高さは、無農薬栽培を行うのに最適な環境なのです。
The altitude of nearly 1,000m in Hase, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, creates a large difference in temperature between day and night, and the cool climate reduces the damage caused by pests and diseases.
To preserve biodiversity, they are committed to cultivating crops without the use of herbicides or pesticides, and in 2020, the fourth year of this effort, they have confirmed the presence of diving beetles in the rice paddies where they cultivate crops. The high altitude provides the perfect environment for pesticide-free cultivation.
