Earth Garden

Not a day goes by that there isn't some kind of festival or to-do here in Tokyo.  Some are definitely more interesting than others.  What is deemed interesting is all about finding what is up one's alley much more than just finding something to do.  So, when I found what appeared to be a hippie festival, I was eager to head to Yoyogi Park.

Earth Garden Winter Festival is an outdoor market and festival with "a focus on promoting an ecological lifestyle."  It sounded right up my alley.  After going to the vegetable shop in the morning, my son and I took the train to Yoyogi. 

It was a small festival with artisan booths, lots of food, and even artists creating masterpieces on site.  It was a really fun atmosphere. 

I especially loved watching the artists put paintbrushes to canvas.  My son stood there for the longest time watching them.  He was really curious why they were painting on fabric and not paper, as well as how they were coming up with what to paint.

I didn't find very many educational aspects or encouragement for an environmentally friendly lifestyle.  It was more just selling interesting products and food.  Maybe I was missing those things because of the language barrier (which is totally on my shoulders).  Who knows.  But it didn't mean we did not have fun.  It only meant that I expected more proselytizing or information on how to be more eco-friendly.

I don't know how these (beautiful) paper cards promote an ecological lifestyle.  

But I did enjoy looking at them! 

I have really struggled with how to be as eco-minded in Tokyo as I was in Seattle.  I had the recycling system figured out.  I knew where to take used goods and where to buy eco-friendly products.  I was very knowledgeable regarding buying food that was kind to the environment.  I feel like I have been slacking in my personal values as I struggle with simply maintaining emotional balance and living in this foreign environment. 

I've recently been going through some of my belongings, purging what I don't need.  However, I have a hurdle that I have yet to overcome.  Some people choose to simply put all the things they don't want into the garbage that will be sent to the incinerator.  However, I'd much rather send old clothes to be recycled into new material, old kitchen gadgets to a new home via a resale shop, and unwanted toiletries to those who need it.  In the US I knew exactly what to do with everything.  In Japan, not so much.

I was looking to learn more about what I can do as a resident of Tokyo to live a more ecological lifestyle.  I don't think buying beautiful stain glass earrings or camel wool socks will do that.  I find, once again, that I'm simply going to have to rope my husband or one of my friends into helping me figure things out.  Such is the life of a immigrant.