Udon, Mayor of Samegawa & potatoes!

Today morning we went back to Tanpopo-no-ie to see the Udon making. First we have to really cover ourselves up....jackets, shower caps, gloves..... I felt like I'm going into a nuclear facilities!

Washing & scrubbing our hands before going in. We had to spray our hands with alcohol too! Very hygenic!

The dough is made yesterday. Then they use this machine to flatten it and cut it up.

The workers collecting the cut up udon.

And hangs it on this rack for drying before packing. About 7 people working together on the machine and collecting the udon. I think only 2 of them are staff. The rest are persons with intellectual disabilities. Team work is very important here. I bought 4 packs of the udon...315 yen per pack..... can't wait to go back to Malaysia and cook it!

Quality control. They will randomly check the moisture of the udon noodle.

After the udon section we left Tanpopo and went to the Mayor of Samegawa's office. He brief us about the situation of the village and situation of the disable people staying there. Nice and humble man. They are trying to promote the village as a tourist area..... I would highly recommend it. Nice, quiet surroundings.

That's the Mayor sitting between Kiran & Indra. On the right is the deputy mayor. The 2 ladies at the back are staff of Tanpopo-no-ie. Oh yes and dun forget Professor Nanaka at the back who is one of the committee member who planned the course. He's also from FUkushima that's why he followed us here.

This is the Tanpopo-no-ie building.

Lunch there again.....I dun mind having lunch here everyday. The ingrdients are so fresh! oiiishiii
Of course after lunch we have to work....... put on the boots and glove and of we went to the plantation area to pick potatoes.
Picking potatoes. Easy...pull the plant out and take all the potatoes from it. We also have to dig deep into the soil to look for more potatoes. A lot of fun... for me... City slicker never work in a farm before! The PWIDs were experts picking and digging out the potatoes.....

Group photo......only 2 staff and the 3 of us...the rest are PWIDs......

Having a tea break after the hard work!

After tea break.... separating the potatoes into big, medium, small & rotten

Saying bye bye to them........Sayonara!! Had a lot of fun picking and separating the potatoes. Too bad dun get to eat them!

We then stop by at the tomato farm that uses the hydrophinics technic. That way they can get the crops at least 3 times a year. And also becoz the vines are up on the stands a wheelchair user can pluck the tomatoes. Another idea of employment for PWDs. But it's expensive to setup a hydro farm...... and not easy as you have to control the temperature.....
Looks beautiful? We were plucking it and eating it.... very sweet & juicy! oiiishii

Prof Nonaka & I