Sweet Potato Dig in the Next Town By chance we had the opportunity to go to Takinoue to dig sweet potatoes! At the elementary school in Nishiokoppe this school year they have one half-day of morning classes each month. With the afternoons free, the Pomme members planned something to make the children excited. Together with elementary students and a few preschoolers, we boarded the village bus and set off for Takinoue. Riding the bus together felt like a field trip, and everyone already looked happy. When we arrived at the field and saw the sweet potatoes, both children and adults were surprised by their size! Each child could dig up two plants to take home, so after choosing their spots, the digging began. I snapped a photo of a first grader and a sixth grader straining in the same posture as they tried to pull a potato from the soil. Using tools like shovels where needed, the bags we brought filled up in no time. Some sweet potatoes were too big for one person to pull out, and there were moments when four people had to pull together. Thank you for the sweet potato digging experience and for providing the sweet potatoes! There may be a bonfire event in the village in October, so we look forward to enjoying warm, fluffy sweet potatoes. #Nishiokoppe Village #Harvest experience #Sweet potatoes #Takinoue #Bus field trip #Sweet potato digging #Pomme #Handmade candied sweet potatoes were a big hit