My progress in turning an unworked patch of the garden it into an organic mini-farm. Encounters with bugs, typhoons etc.
Being somewhat constrained in the middle of a city, the garden offers a decent start on the road to being self-sufficient. Whilst I’m no expert on gardening, I’m keen as mustard. Over the past two years, a variety of vegetables has grown without the use of chemical feeds, sprays, and potions.
Some of the harvest, kintoki at the back
In an effort to beat the bugs, the sweet potato harvest has been brought forward. Three fifths have been lifted. Working from the outside rows inward, the third row didn’t bear much. In addition to timing and lack of feed, it could be the rows were spaced too closely together or that I’ve been a bit too heavy handed on earlier pickings. However, those that were harvested were of good size. (continue reading…)
Elephant garlic ready for splitting
Garlic is an undemanding herb to grow. Sticking a few cloves in the ground and waiting should suffice. In spite of this, the title of this entry is perhaps equally a question. I wanted to jot down a few thoughts for reference; to clarify or simplify. My objective is to be self sufficient in garlic. Japanese grown garlic sells for ¥400 a head, it makes a valuable commodity. (continue reading…)
Masanobu Fukuoka passed away last month aged 95. He was the developer of the Fukuoka Method, known also as Do Nothing Farming.
Trained as a microbiologist in his native Japan, he began his career as a soil scientist specializing in plant pathology. At age 25, he began to doubt the wisdom of modern agricultural science. He eventually quit his job as a research scientist, and returned to his family’s farm on the island of Shikoku in Southern Japan to grow organic mikans. From that point on he devoted his life to developing a unique small scale organic farming system that does not require weeding, pesticide or fertilizer applications, or tilling.
Source: Wikipedia There’s a link at the bottom of the article where you can download two of his books.
For me his vision and approach is fascinating. I am also grateful to those over at Permaculture Reflections for their obituary.
Some of the garlic to be planted; Aomori, Elephant, and Shanghai.
Just as the mosquitoes had a productive time, I too can be pleased. Dodging the rain, I got the garlic out of the way. Increasing the width of the rows by a third to eight, the following was planted:
The bulk of what went in was from the earlier harvest. All of the Aomori lifted had not split into cloves, which was a disappointment. Overall much better than the dozen heads I bought to increase the flock. The latest garlic was labelled as Shanghai from Nagasaki.
Goodbye tomatoes
Towards the end of the weekend I thought I’d follow the crow’s lead and take advantage of the damp ground. A heap of weeds were brought together, rather like one of those Eastern European hay stacks fondly remembered. Elsewhere, more potatoes were planted; about half the amount of the previous lot. Once the tomatoes and cucumbers were removed, everywhere was dug over before a scattering of red clover seeds. There’s still a few pepper and chilli pepper plants that are good and the aubergines should last a bit longer.
Bum shaped tomato
On Friday we had a heavy downpour which is worth noting for my own benefit. With the ground being damp the crows returned to dig up more peanuts. Not much going on elsewhere in the garden. The unruly sweet potato vines should be clipped; there’s a chance they will turn out all vine and no tuber. I did spot a tomato (maybe it’s two) that looks arse shaped. Holding it in my hand it really looks like two tomatoes stuck together.
Some sort of netting has got to be a sound investment. The crows, having finished off the corn have recently returned from a spell further afield. They have begun digging up the groundnuts. Although harvest time a lot further off than a week, the nuts must still be appealing. As before, the evidence is strewn across the ground. I have to be a little intrigued seeing the thick but pliable shells split open.
WF: wow! YUM!!! Yakimo - is it?
Something/someone ate ALL my peanuts from the ground. :( 
Laura (France): what did you start with to grow these - slips, bits of potato , whole potato? I'd like to try ...
Nicole: Mmm, I love sweet potatoes, especially these varieties. Roasted with herbs and garlic, or boiled and mashed with goat cheese ...
nyantaro: I'm nyantaro who posted comment on "Brit in Hokkaido".
First I want to add some comments.
For many of the Japanese the ...
James: Talk about power elite, look up Taro Aso on Wikipedia. Many connections to both former prime ministers and the royal ...