Let's All Go See the Sheep 🐏🐏 [A Collaboration Between a Solar Farm and a Sheep Farm]
At the Furukawa Mega Solar Power Plant, built on the site of a former golf course in Miyagi Prefecture, we are mindful of the downstream natural environment by avoiding herbicides and pesticides, opting instead to mow the grass by hand. Mowing the grass under solar panels is quite labor-intensive. Therefore, Pacifico Energy is attempting to manage the vegetation by grazing sheep. Today, Pacifico Energy employees and their children went to meet the sheep.
The sheep grazing area is approximately 12.8 hectares, about 2.8 times the size of the Tokyo Dome. Now, will we be able to find the sheep at work? The adults who planned this event also seem worried about whether the children will be able to find the sheep in such a vast area.
First, we learned about the habits of sheep. Inside the power plant, do not run, and do not stand with your back to the sheep. It rained yesterday, so the ground is wet. Let's be careful not to slip.
We have arrived at the sheep grazing area!
W-w-wow, the sheep are greeting us with a baa-baa chorus 🎵.
It feels like this isn't a 'find the sheep' event, but rather that the humans have been found by them. It's the first time we've encountered so many sheep bleating in unison. The adults are also very excited.
Now, let's enter the 🐏's work area (the grazing area).
First, for disease prevention, both adults and children must disinfect the soles of their shoes. This is a good lesson.
Since this isn't a zoo, the children are initially watching from a distance, feeling a bit nervous.
We tried getting a little closer.
They are looking at us calmly. I wonder what they are saying with their baa-baas.
The sheep walk comfortably around the grazing area. The children follow the 🐏🐏🐏 as well.
The adults follow the children who are chasing the 🐏.
In the blink of an eye, both the 🐏🐏 and the children have gone far away.
She is overjoyed today because the 🐏🐏🐏 are welcoming her with 'mei-mei' sounds.
The children and the sheep are both quite nimble.
At the sheep farm, we also provide rock salt and feed, considering the sheep's nutritional balance.
Let's count how many 🐏🐏 there are. Are there any strays?
1, 2, 3... 22, 23, 24... I don't know which ones I've already counted. This is tough.
14, 15, 16, 17... 30, 31, 32...
An idea came up: 'Maybe it would be better to take a photo and count the 🐏 in the picture.'
Today, 34 sheep were on the job.
Finally, a commemorative photo for everyone 📷
We will continue to bring you updates on the sheep pasture.
