From February 19th to the 28th, 12 of us (10 participants and 2 staff members) joined the Asian Rural Institute’s Indonesia Study Tour under the theme “Experience the Lives of Rural Leaders!” In the first installment of this three-part report series, we share our days in Siborongborong, North Sumatra.

Participants gradually gathered via transit points like Narita and Malaysia, finally meeting face-to-face for the first time at Medan Airport. With a mix of excitement and nervousness, we were welcomed with smiles by the local graduates, and our journey finally began.

It was about a 7-hour drive from the airport to our first destination. Along the way, we visited a facility of a disability support organization where graduate Junpiter Pakpahan works, and we observed and experienced making Batik, a traditional Indonesian textile. (We will share more about Junpiter’s wonderful initiatives in Vol. 3. Stay tuned!)

We then arrived at our first accommodation, “Kenny’s Farm,” run by ARI graduates Feny Tampubolon (2005 / 2012 TA) and Kengo Ishida (2012). Here, they practice a sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature using a “Food Forest” (an edible forest).

■ Travel Log: Days of “Deep Immersion” at Kenny’s Farm During our stay, it wasn’t just about observing as guests. A program was organized for us to actually step into the cycle of their daily lives, smell the soil, and share farming and meals together.

• Classes and Field Tours: We learned directly from Kengo’s passionate words about “What is a Food Forest?” and went to the actual farm. We walked through a rich environment where the forest itself is like a supermarket, touched the soil, and sweat together doing farm work.
• Cooking Together: For our daily meals, we cooked local ingredients ourselves alongside Feny. The process of giving thanks for the life of the ingredients and cooperating with friends to cook local dishes and process food was truly a time to experience that “eating is living.”
• “Nightly Reflection” Created by Participants: Actually, what fundamentally supported the deep learning of this tour was the reflection time held every night. Every evening, taking turns to lead, participants reflected on what they had learned and felt that day. Sometimes we talked using Nonviolent Communication (NVC) methods, and some nights we let go of words and did a “walking meditation” through the Food Forest. By repeatedly opening up and sharing ourselves, the participants proactively created a safe space to deepen connections with each other, allowing us to absorb the study tour’s content with much higher sensitivity.

■ Voices of Participants (From the post-tour survey) Through the few days at Kenny’s Farm and the deep reflections at night, participants fundamentally re-examined their own ideas of “abundance” and “way of life.” Here are some of the realizations shared in the survey:

“I was amazed that such rich and diverse food could be obtained right nearby, and I learned of a new possibility that combines hunting-gathering and agriculture.” “A life where the food forest is your market was very attractive.” “My greatest learning was the noble beauty of people working with conviction.” “I realized that I am interested in the lifestyle of people who live in harmony with the natural environment, even—or perhaps especially—in modern times.” “There were encounters that exceeded my expectations, such as being able to share thoughts with other participants and practicing looking at my own body and mind.”

The ARI philosophy of “living closely with nature.” It was a farm stay where seeing this philosophy firmly taking root and being vigorously practiced in Indonesia was engraved in the hearts of every participant.

For more on Feny and Kengo’s initiatives and ways of life, please also check out the article we previously published in our “Peace from Food” series.

https://ari.ac.jp/en/peace-from-food-from-the-tables-of-ari-graduates-vol-4/

Next time in [Vol. 2], we will report on our visit to the coffee farmers cooperative of the powerful and energetic Gani Silaban and Lampita Silaban, as well as our homestay experience with local families!