Organic Bakery and Green Building Construction

The highlight of our day was lunch at the Nordessen Organic Bakery owned by Tetuo Hayakawa; www.nordessen.jp. Email: nordessen@yahoo.co.jp . He treated us to fine food, a gentle and restful atmosphere and harmonica music! He first explained to us how he made his bread using organic yeast. He said that most yeast used in bread today is genetically the same and produced using chemicals. He collects his yeast from the apple trees, hop plants, grape leaves and clover on his property. He told us that each variety of yeast produces a different taste in the bread. He provided us with the variety of the bagels and breads he and his wife make, accompanied by a salad made of baby lettuces, radish, small beans and nuts, and a cold leek and corn soup. To drink he offered us fresh pressed raspberry juice. Oishi! While we ate he soothed our tired souls with “Take Me Home Country Roads” on his harmonica. I ate my lunch outside in his garden graced by flowers, butterflies and a small pond.

After lunch, we toured some eco-houses that a green builder had designed and built. The green features of the homes included high efficiency stoves to burn wood, insulation and passive solar windows. The cost for the homes ranged 250 to 450 thousand. Most of his houses were purchased by people moving into the area from Sapporo – not local people.