Born from the Earth:
A Workshop on Plant Distillation and Macrobiotic Cooking
"Born from the Earth"
All life on Earth, including humans, originates from the soil. Quite literally, the energy and matter that make up our bodies are born from the soil and return to it in an endless cycle. In this workshop, we will delve deep into the very source of life: the Earth.
"What is the 'soil' that nurtures us?" With this question as our guide, we will explore the functions of soil, its life-giving power, and the essence of soil itself.
As a researcher of plant distillation, I, Maiko Saito, will lead a workshop where we will extract the essence from rich humus, a kind of "baby soil" filled with nutrients, through distillation. Together, we will experience the source of life firsthand.
In collaboration with culinary researcher Ai Asada, we will also create macrobiotic dishes aligned with the workshop's theme, allowing you to savor the power of life with all your senses.
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Introducing the "Born from the Earth" workshop: Plant Distillation and Macrobiotic Cooking
~A writer experienced the workshop.~
2024.11.9 sut
Photo:Junichiro Morinaga
Text:Kayo Arita
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Maiko Saito, the owner of the aroma body salon "nikohako," is also a renowned plant distillation researcher. I recently had the opportunity to participate in one of her popular workshops that focused on "compost distillation" and featured a collaboration with culinary researcher Ai Asada on "earth-inspired macrobiotic cuisine." The workshop took place on Saturday, November 9th, at Saito's salon, "nikohako Aroma Bodywork Salon" in Nishi-Kamakura.
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"Now, let's consider: what is soil?"
After everyone had introduced themselves, Maiko posed a thought-provoking question that went to the heart of our workshop.
We all paused for a moment, our gazes drifting upwards as we pondered the question. Surprisingly, none of us could immediately come up with an answer.
Noticing our hesitation, Maiko explained, "Soil is a mixture of sand, clay, and decomposed plant matter. While the moon and Mars have sand and clay, they don't have soil. Soil is the cradle of life, unique to Earth where plant life exists. Soil, composed of decomposed plant matter, is organic and serves as a nursery for new life. It took 4.6 billion years for the Earth to form, and then another 4.1 billion years for soil to first appear. That's right, 500 million years ago, when the first life forms—mosses and lichens—emerged from the sea and died, they became the Earth's first soil."
Her words were a revelation.
We don't often think about soil in our daily lives, especially those of us who live in urban areas. As a child, I was always told to wash my hands thoroughly after playing in the dirt, so I had subconsciously associated soil with dirtiness. Hearing that soil is actually the cradle of life was a startling realization.
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After our perspectives on soil had completely shifted, we moved on to the compost distillation workshop.
To give everyone a hands-on experience, we spread a large amount of compost across the table. This compost was like a "baby soil," the result of leaves decomposing over at least 100 years. As I looked at the spread of compost, I couldn't help but think of the concrete that covers our cities. I wondered how much life and history had been buried beneath it.
No longer associating soil with dirt, participants buried their faces in the compost or lay down beside it, renewing their connection with the earth on both physical and emotional levels.
After playing with the compost, we finally began the distillation process.
The essence of the compost, which had been created over time as leaves were decomposed by microorganisms, was extracted as steam. The transparent liquid slowly distilled down the test tube, and we watched the process unfold at our own pace.
The resulting compost distillate had a unique fragrance that was difficult to describe, enhanced by the new knowledge and emotions we had experienced. I truly hope everyone has a chance to experience this scent for themselves.
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With our appetites whetted, we moved on to Ai Asada's macrobiotic cooking workshop.
Completely captivated by the soil at this point, we were able to grasp Asada's explanations of macrobiotic cooking on a much deeper level.
As we slowly savored the dishes we had all helped to prepare, it felt as if the food was nourishing us on a profound level. I felt a deep sense of fulfillment.
I was truly amazed at how much our senses, especially our taste, were heightened simply by shifting our perspective.
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This workshop, themed "Born from the Earth," provided a precious opportunity for us to experience the source of life with all our senses.
Maiko Saito, a plant distillation researcher, carefully extracted the essence of life from nutrient-rich compost. The fragrant aroma that rose from the still was both soothing and awe-inspiring, allowing us to feel the mysteries of life.
Ai Asada, a culinary researcher, created visually stunning macrobiotic dishes that stimulated all our senses. It's easy to forget that all the food we eat comes from the earth, but as we savored these dishes, we were reminded of this fundamental truth. It felt as if our bodies were filled with vitality, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. Perhaps it was because we were able to sense, even if just a little, the cycle of life that we have been repeating since time immemorial.
One of the participants, A, shared, "By paying closer attention to the soil in the vegetables I eat every day, I've realized once again that we humans are born from the earth. I want to live a life in harmony with nature, expressing gratitude for the earth's bounty. I believe that this is the same as taking care of myself."
I want to treasure the memories of this workshop and prevent them from fading as I return to my daily life. If I ever feel like I'm losing sight of these experiences, I know I'll come back and participate again.