Sado - Cleaning water and Tub Boats
Veröffentlicht: 07.06.2023
The day starts with another lecture by Connor. This time, it's about insects and their great benefits to nature. Besides pollinating plants, which is probably the most well-known, insects have many other important tasks. They loosen the soil and create air pockets; some carry plant seeds to their nests and distribute them, while others prevent CO2 from escaping the soil into the atmosphere. Sometimes, their structures even serve as inspiration for architects. Insect diversity is a good indicator of the health of an ecosystem. Currently, we have about 75% fewer insects than in pre-industrial times. Urgent action is needed, and the most sensible approach would be to start by not using pesticides in agriculture. Connor explains that pesticides also kill all beneficial insects, and by avoiding or replacing them with ecological methods, the soil would gain better quality, which would also benefit agriculture.
After the lecture, we drive to a viewpoint and meet Ike-San there. He is an expert on the waters in and around Sado. The problem of insufficient iron in the sea exists not only in Sado but in many other places as well. Many organisms require iron to survive, so it needs to be artificially added. We use old, disposable hand warmers for that purpose, reducing waste at the same time. The "hot pockets" contain oxidized iron, which we mix with citric acid and water to convert it into a form accessible to marine life. First, we have to individually open all the hot pockets and collect their contents in one place. We fill the bottles halfway and then add the remaining ingredients. The result is a brown broth that reminds me a bit of the "soup" I used to cook in the garden with six other kids. It feels a bit strange when we simply pour it into a pond. The pond is designed to collect water for the rice fields. We add the iron directly here because the water used in rice cultivation is contaminated with pesticides and fertilizers. When it reaches the sea together with the iron, the algae can clean it better. On the way back, we stop at a bay where you can ride the famous Tarai (a boat that looks like a huge barrel). You steer the boat with only a single paddle, which you hold upright. I have no idea how it works, but the old women there are professionals. And, of course, we can't miss the Tayaki shop at the end, this time with purple sweet potato. c:
After the lecture, we drive to a viewpoint and meet Ike-San there. He is an expert on the waters in and around Sado. The problem of insufficient iron in the sea exists not only in Sado but in many other places as well. Many organisms require iron to survive, so it needs to be artificially added. We use old, disposable hand warmers for that purpose, reducing waste at the same time. The "hot pockets" contain oxidized iron, which we mix with citric acid and water to convert it into a form accessible to marine life. First, we have to individually open all the hot pockets and collect their contents in one place. We fill the bottles halfway and then add the remaining ingredients. The result is a brown broth that reminds me a bit of the "soup" I used to cook in the garden with six other kids. It feels a bit strange when we simply pour it into a pond. The pond is designed to collect water for the rice fields. We add the iron directly here because the water used in rice cultivation is contaminated with pesticides and fertilizers. When it reaches the sea together with the iron, the algae can clean it better. On the way back, we stop at a bay where you can ride the famous Tarai (a boat that looks like a huge barrel). You steer the boat with only a single paddle, which you hold upright. I have no idea how it works, but the old women there are professionals. And, of course, we can't miss the Tayaki shop at the end, this time with purple sweet potato. c:
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