2017 Volume 80 Issue 5 Pages 647-650
Responding to the growing interest in agriculture by urban residents, business enterprises in Japan are starting to support operations of ‘experience gardens’, gardens run by farm households where participants can learn how to grow vegetables. Although practical supports by business enterprises may provide chances for more farm households to run experience gardens, levels of enterprises’ involvement may vary according to each garden’s physical and social characteristics. This study aims to identify the extent of enterprises’ involvements in the 62 experience gardens and classify the gardens by their physical and social characteristics. The study identifies 3 types of the operations as A) operating mainly by enterprise for assistance of participant’s activities (48 gardens), B) operating mainly by enterprise and acting over participant’s activities (4 gardens), and C) operating mainly by a farmer and enterprise supports them (10 gardens). The type C was identified as a new type which has not been reported and may contribute to fostering motivated farmers who intends to operate experience garden themselves basically.
