It’s lambing season ­at Menno Village in Hokkaido, Japan. The flock of sheep, which will soon swell to 100 head, has been rebuilding soil fertility in the degraded and compacted rice fields through an adaptive grazing system.

This year the sheep have another job: to produce wool to be used as insulation in a new retreat building called Hitsuji House.

Hitsuji, the word for sheep in Japanese, symbolizes not just an educational space about sheep but also a spiritual journey with the Good Shepherd.

Hitsuji House is the vision for the next stage of life for Raymond Epp and Akiko Aratani, who have nurtured the farm for 30 years.

Since its inception in 1995, Menno Village has been more than a farm. It is a mission driven by the desire to, as Epp put it, “witness to the liberating work of God by creating a culture of peace that seeks to liberate all humanity and all creation.”

In this context, liberation means breaking free from the grip of industrial markets, especially in food and construction materials.

The 80-acre farm, with half the land forested, was founded in 1995 when families from Aratani’s home church in Sapporo pooled resources to buy land with the vision of creating a retirement village where ministers could live communally and grow their own food.

To get the farm running, the Sapporo church invited Aratani and Epp to move to Hokkaido from Nebraska, where they were facing challenges running a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm in Epp’s hometown.

Getting started wasn’t easy. The farm was in disrepair, and the soil was depleted — challenges compounded by Epp’s lack of Japanese language skills.

“I knew no language; I knew nothing about the climate and the soils,” Epp said. Local farmers became his mentors.

Soon, Epp and Aratani pioneered Japan’s first CSA program, providing fresh vegetables, rice, flour, eggs, bread — and newsletters sharing their approach to agriculture.

Their work has expanded into advocacy, addressing issues like trade policies, seed laws and GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

“I haven’t sought out trying to be ­politically relevant or popular,” Epp said. “[But] I just can’t be silent.”

Epp believes “Christians have an important role to play in preserving the life of the world . . . and pointing to the way in which God intends human beings to live in relationship to one another and the world around them.”

In 2007, Aratani and Epp joined Mennonite Mission Network as mission associates. Epp values the broader connection because “it’s crucial to share our experiences and knowledge.”

As they contemplate their future, Aratani and Epp face personal challenges. Aratani is battling breast cancer for a second time. This has led to a shift in focus toward health and a new way of sharing their produce — inviting subscribers to pick their own while encouraging them into a deeper connection with the land and learning regenerative farming practices.

The farm’s stewardship is transitioning to two of their adult sons. The eldest, Kazu, and his wife, Mai, dream of starting a bakery that will use produce from the farm. Their second son, Yohei, has taken the lead in working with the livestock, especially the sheep.

As Aratani and Epp step back from farming, they will put more energy into teaching in the regenerative agriculture education program they started last year and spiritual teaching at Hitsuji House retreat center, envisioned as a sanctuary for hospitality, prayer and refuge.

Built with support from MMN, the retreat center, where Aratani and Epp plan to live once it’s completed, will be separate from the rest of the farm.

Straw bales made on-site and timber from local cedar and pine trees will provide the structure’s main support. A call is out for MMN SOOP (Service Opportunities with Our Partners) volunteers to help with the construction.

“We always extend invitations for people to come and stay at Menno Vil­lage,” Epp said, “so if people are curious or wanting to learn more, we welcome visitors from North America.”