Once again this year, the rice paddies at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) ripened to a beautiful golden color. Our entire community—participants, volunteers, and staff from countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Japan —came together for the annual rice harvest!

The small seedlings we planted in the spring grew strong under the summer sun, bearing a rich and plentiful harvest.

Under a brilliant clear autumn sky, we all got muddy together, carefully cutting each stalk by hand with sickles.

Songs and dances in many languages filled the air, and the paddies were overflowing with smiles and vibrant energy.

This rice was lovingly grown by our community, completely free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Each and every grain is filled with the warmth of the sun and the heart of everyone who nurtured it.

This year, too, our participants come from many different countries—some where rice is a staple food, and others where it is not.

However, the experience of growing your own food with your own hands is a special one for everyone. Sharing this common understanding, we harvested each and every stalk with a deep sense of gratitude.

May our spirit be passed on to the future community that will be nourished by this rice.

We give thanks for the blessings of nature and for this shared work of building peace.