Signing up to be a part-time farmer or fruit-picker is becoming a popular way for people to enjoy themselves in the outdoors while learning firsthand about agriculture and the environment.

But if getting down in the dirt isn't your idea of a good time, you can also sign up instead for regular deliveries of farm products.

Here are some farms in Nara, Tottori, Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures that offer the chance to experience the fun of working the land or simply enjoying domestically grown produce.

---Farming and sake-making in Nara---

Asuka village in Nara Prefecture has a unique system for preserving its beautiful stretches of green terraced rice paddies, called tanada.

For 10,000 yen a year, ordinary people can become part-owners in a rice paddy, and help out with the planting and harvesting.

The village offers five other ``owner systems,'' all carried out in cooperation with locals to preserve traditional farming techniques.

For 20,000 yen a year, one program allows people not only to participate in the planting and harvesting of yamadanishiki rice but also in the production of sake. Yamadanishiki rice is considered the best sake rice in Japan. The program has two courses, one focusing on sake and the other on the rice. Those in the sake course will receive seven 900-milliliter bottles of super premium sake, called junmai-daiginjoshu. Members of the rice course will receive six bottles and five kilograms of new rice.

There are also handicraft courses available, including classes in indigo-dying techniques and charcoal-making. The basic enrollment fee is 2,000 yen per class. There may be some additional costs for class materials.

For more info, call 0744-54-9200. Visit http://www.akindo.ne.jp/asuka/index2.htm.

---Pear-picking in Tottori---

JA Tohaku in Tottori Prefecture is offering people the chance to come out and pick pears at harvest time. The pears cost 130 yen each, including tax, and grow on trees nearly 100 years old that bear from 500 to 1,100 of the delicious fruits. Contracts are only made for the pears themselves and not the trees. Those who sign up for the program are requested to help pick the fruit during the harvest season on days chosen by JA Tohaku. All other work will be taken care of by employees. Members can get more involved in orchard work by wrapping the pears still on the branch in protective bags. Call 0858-53-1620.

---Own an apple tree in Nagano---

Apple Hills in Matsukawa, two kilometers from the Matsukawa Interchange on the Chuo Expressway, offers annual contracts for people who want fresh Sun Fuji apples at harvest time. The apples are grown without any chemical fertilizers and very few agricultural chemicals.

With a 30,000-yen annual contract, you become the proud owner of 14-year-old tree that yields approximately 70 kilograms of fruit, or about 180 apples. Those who sign up can choose any tree they want when the blossoms begin to appear, from late April to early May. Owner can visit the orchard as often as they like and use the facilities at the orchard's cottage (pictured).

Members of the Miyazawa family, who manage the orchard, will take care of the trees and apples if requested to do so. A harvest festival is scheduled for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weekends of November. Call the Miyazawa family at 0265-36-3213.

For more information, visit http://www.clio.ne.jp/haruyoshi.

---Rent a cherry tree in Yamagata---

Nakano Farm in Dai, Kahokucho, Yamagata Prefecture, is leasing Satonishiki cherry trees from 50,000 yen (for trees bearing 10-15 kilograms of cherries) to 200,000 yen (for trees bearing about 70 kilograms) a year. Harvested from trees grown and cultivated with JBB's Stevia powder and extract liquid, which activates microbes in the soil and dissolves harmful chemicals, the cherries are full of vitamins and minerals. People signing up for the program are requested to help pick the cherries at harvest time, from mid-June to early July. There is no charge for using the equipment at the farm. Members who want to be more involved can participate in special farming sessions. Visit http://www.jan.ne.jp/kieko/. Fax questions to 0237-73-3199.

---Rent a rice paddy in Nagano---

The Municipal Bureau of Koshoku (026-273-1111) in Nagano Prefecture started a program six years ago to help preserve its stretches of green terraced rice paddies. One of the program's two plans is a so-called training course for people who can help at least once with the planting, weeding and harvesting of the rice. Five people, or one family, are in charge of 100 square meters of land. The cost is 30,000 yen per 100 square meters, although the actual price depends on the contour and condition of the land. Contract-holders are entitled to the entire harvest.

For those not taking part in the farm work, there is another plan to help preserve sustainable farming techniques survive in the Nagano area. The fee for this plan is also 30,000 yen per 100 square meters.

Those who sign up will receive 20 kilograms of white rice at the end of the harvest. Participants are welcome to help with the farming on a limited number of days. Visit http://www.city.koshoku.nagano.jp/.