Development of resources for health promotion: agriculture club activities of elderly women in a mountain village in Japan

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  • 里山の環境を保全し健康資源として利用するための諸条件-高齢期の女性有志による里山の遊休農地を利用したグループ農業活動事例の調査から
  • サトヤマ ノ カンキョウ オ ホゼン シ ケンコウ シゲン ト シテ リヨウ スル タメ ノ ショ ジョウケン コウレイキ ノ ジョセイ ユウシ ニ ヨル サトヤマ ノ ユウキュウ ノウチ オ リヨウ シタ グループ ノウギョウ カツドウ ジレイ ノ チョウサ カラ

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Abstract

Activities of elderly women belonging to an agriculture club cultivating a fallow field in a mountain village were investigated to identify the factors enabling utilization of satoyama environment as a resource for health promotion. The data collected through participant observation and interview with the club members were analyzed in combination with the information from official magazines published by the municipality. The women participated in the activities on their own initiative and enjoyed cultivating edible plants and planting various flowers. They cultivated soy beans specific to the region, a kind of millet, and pumpkins in a field near a very old temple respected by the villagers. The men's group of the village helped the women with harsh activities such as cultivation by tractor. The results indicate that the factors for sustaining the activities are 1) respect for spontaneity, 2) traditions of group activities molded by the geography and subsistence of the community, 3) pride for the beautiful scenery, and 4) municipal support. This suggests that it is not only the club activities themselves but their combination with the naturehuman environment of satoyama that would promote the health of participants. Therefore, it is necessary to support spontaneous activities of the elderly paying attention to geographic and cultural characteristics of their community to utilize the satoyama environment as a resource for health promotion.

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