Marina and Kei, who have been coming to our farm as weekend volunteers, came to work for the last time this year with two of their classmates from a massage therapist training school in Waikiki. Marina and Kei have completed their studies and practical training to become licensed therapists in Hawaii. And they will soon leave for their next destinations as professional massage therapists. Before the departure, they called on junior staff who they thought would love nature here and suit this farm operation, and they asked the junior fellows to take over as their successor volunteers.
Here are the notes in their volunteer notebook.
“I am glad to have met such a wonderful farm! I will come back again!” (Marina)
“I love the breeze I feel at the farm! I want to come back again” (Kei)
They want to share their experience here with others. They surely want to come back, hoping the farm continues with other volunteers forever. That is why they introduced their selected friends. — I could feel their feelings and gave them a big hug.
The person who brought Marina and Kei to the farm in the first place was a senior at the same school, who was also introduced by her senior…and so on…people, who experienced natural farming at our farm while living in Hawaii as short-term exchange students, are passing the baton to their chosen juniors.
Second Nature Farm has no detailed rules for volunteers. Our only requirement is to agree with one rule: “Nature is the No.1 boss here = follow the order of nature.”
In this space where time seems to have stopped, away from the hustle and bustle of city life and surrounded by natural forest, you can quietly continue simple tasks such as making soil, weeding, and planting seedlings. While doing so, thinking carefully about what you are doing, you will discover many things, from unknown plants and insects to the essence of life.
In the past, many volunteers have departed with big smiles on their faces, having found what is truly important to them and their dreams, after having regained time here that they had left behind somewhere in their busy lives. It is a sad moment for Gary and Takae to see them go, but at the same time, it is their very happy moment.
Second Nature Farm’s volunteers have had a variety of backgrounds. Some are young “locals,” born and raised in Hawaii, some are business people or retirees who have moved to Hawaii from other parts of the country or abroad, some are families with children, and some are students from overseas who have studied at vocational schools, universities, or graduate schools in Hawaii. Until now, the majority of our volunteers have been word-of-mouth referrals, such as the one mentioned at the beginning of this article, but thankfully, inquiries have recently increased via this website from those who are interested in volunteering at the farm.
Seeing is believing. If you agree with “nature is the No. 1 boss here,” why don’t you take a look at Second Nature Farm? Normally, Saturdays are volunteer days, but other days and times can be arranged if you like. So, please click “Contact Us” on this website.
