Farm Struggle Record

"Oh, there's a little egg on a leaf," said the moon, looking down from above.

My 2- year-old daughter is humming along, making gestures and movements.

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle

A fun picture book world collaged in vibrant colors

As if living in that world

When the children go out to the fields, they are fascinated by pillbugs, grasshoppers, and butterflies and fly around without regard for the rows.

Oh my , there are so many of them on Solanaceae leaves!

The tiny sesame-sized eggs are from the ground cherry bug

Green and purple and this brown and gold

The colors in picture books and the real world are the same

Have fun like a child, even if just for a moment

However, despite the excitement of the children,

This is the season when we feel chilly about tiny clusters of brightly colored insects and struggle to exterminate them.

I try to be curious every day.

Since the beginning of this year, I have been participating in the natural gardening seminar run by Mr. Okunaga of Okunagaya at Nokusa Wildflower Space.

"Because I'm busy right now,"

For the past four years, I have just been watching the garden without cultivating it myself.

I was looking at the field wondering if I would end my life without ever growing any vegetables.

"No, isn't it something you have to do to survive?"

This was the trigger for me to change my mindset.

I have tried farming many times, using fixed varieties, native varieties, natural farming, organic farming, etc.

In my head, I try my best to imagine the ideal, but in reality, the fields are barren, overrun with weeds and insects,

"I want to try farming."

But when I get busy with work and raising children, my dream is put on the back burner.

And now at this point, things are out of hand ... I lose motivation, and it becomes lawless ...

I'd like to eat only a few pieces, and only those that have grown naturally without any intervention.

You can't do it anyway, so you don't have to start from scratch.

I had been thinking like that for several years.

With renewed enthusiasm, I worked steadily for about 10 minutes every day, starting with weeding the small area, making furrows, and planting seedlings.

Usually, I would be chased by weeds and would give up, but

This year, the grass has been cut and the fields are well ventilated ( or so it seems).

"It feels so good!" I felt like I was experiencing Tabata's emotions for the first time.

I'm finally going to be able to eat some peppers, and they look the best and healthiest I've ever grown.

Mr. Okunaga casually said, "Since I started farming, I've felt more energetic than before."

I think I understand a little bit of what that word means.

Whether it will bear fruit, whether it will taste good

Only natural things are suitable for this land.

When I say things like that, I'm usually just looking out at the fields from the wooden deck in my garden.

I push aside the grass and feel the plants I just planted to see what their current condition is, even as I scratch my cheek after being bitten by insects.

All I do is believe in the power of microorganisms and create an environment where the vegetables can bring out their natural power.

Stay conscious and have conversations every day, and do the best you can, even when you're busy.

Struggling gives me a reason to live and gives me a source of energy so I can do my best

It's no different to raising children!

I may not be able to make anything spectacular this year,

If you keep thinking about doing your best every single day of your life,

That may change in three years.

Joys to be had in this place of refuge

When I feel that way, I feel a surge of gratitude for everything.

Let's start with a tiny vegetable garden.

Well, this weekend, Kentaro Goto and Masaru Goto ,

At the end of the month, we will invite Nao Fujiwara, the owner of Fujiwara, a new everyday cooking restaurant, to hold a learning event.