Niseko Pumpkins

Niseko Town is getting ready for the planting stage of the Pumpkin Project.

The pumpkins that are grown as a result of local volunteers time and effort add an invaluable colour to our community during the Harvest season and spread joy to the many tourists that visit our region. If you have not seen the smiles on the visitors faces yet, please visit JR Niseko station this year when the pumpkins are on display, the smiles are genuine and the atmosphere is magical – and it is all from something as simple as pumpkins.

The “Koroboshi and Kobacha Project” was originally devised to bring members of the farming community and other sectors of Niseko’s community closer, so that people had knowledge of what skills existed in the community, creating valuable “Skillbanks” at the same time, educating local children the different stages and joys of growing produce. The “Skillbanks” can be called upon during the course of normal business, while the educational aspects last a lifetime, all of these positive outcomes whilst growing pumpkins (a mutual goal) to display and enhance the streets of the town.

2014 marks a important stage of the project and it is time to regroup and make sure that this Autumn is one of the best Autumns we can possibly create. This year we need more volunteers to help plant and help harvest the pumpkins and it would be great to see a larger sector of the International community taking part as well. This event gives back a lot of energy to our community and is starting to also provide a reason for visitors to use the accommodation and dining facilities that many of you are involved with. HELP us make a difference.

This year there are 500 pumpkins that are available for sale for displays and events operated by individual business houses in the area. The cost of each pumpkin is 500 yen and depending on weather conditions these will last quite along time. This year we would also like to pre sell these pumpkins so that we can reclaim the costs of this years growing project and ensure we have the funds for next year. We also need your help with this.

Please register you attendance with Paul Haggart from Niseko Town Council by the 10th of June 2014. Click here to download the registration form.

Event Information

Planting of the Pumpkin Seedlings (JUNE)

Location: Iwasaki Farm

Date: 14th June 2014 (Sat) Planting will go ahead in light rain. (Please bring wet weather gear)

When: 8:30am (Registration at Iwasaki Farm)

9:00 am to 15:00 pm (Planting of seedlings)

Task: Planting of Halloween Seedlings

Harvesting of Asparagus for lunch

Lunch – BBQ with freshly picked Asparagus

Cost: (Towards lunch) Adults:1,000 yen Children 500 yen

Bring: Working clothes, Rainwear, Gumboots, Hats, Working Gloves, Rubber Gloves,

Towels, Sun Block, Water bottle.

NOTE* Register your attendance by the 10th June 2014 to Paul Haggart from the Niseko Town Council to allow time to prepare lunch for attendants. Also if you are interested in displaying pumpkins around your businesses this year we have

500 pumpkins to sell on a first in first served basis (You do not have to have volunteered to be able to purchase these pumpkins)

Contact: [email protected]

Tel: 0136-44-2121 (ext 211) Paul Haggart, Niseko Town Council – Tourism and Industry Divsion