Dialogue - Tsumugi / Wildflower Sora -

Wildflowers know about the Earth

Hina Sawamura runs a flower atelier called "Tsumugi" on the quiet Teramachi Street in Hakata, Fukuoka.

Hina first realized the power of wild plants when she began growing flowers using natural farming methods.

He says he gained this realization while growing the flowers in as natural a condition as possible.

"By leaving the grass to grow without cutting it, the soil became fertile over time, and the ecosystem became richer. The cut grass also became a habitat for insects, and as it decayed, small creatures decomposed the dead grass and other debris and returned it to the soil. At the same time that the ecosystem above ground became rich, the ecosystem in the soil also became richer, providing nutrients for the leaves and flowers, creating a small cycle."

Looking back, he says that learning natural farming in Itoshima was an event that significantly changed the horticultural knowledge he had cultivated up to that point.

The basis of natural farming is to embrace and follow all life in its natural state, including the soil, water, plants, vegetables, insects, and humans.

We do not view insects or plants as enemies, but as living things that coexist with us.

In order to avoid disrupting the natural cycle of the land as much as possible, we use only a few tools and human hands. After that, we just leave it to nature.

He told us that he finds it very comfortable to live a life where he can appreciate plants while listening to the sounds and smells produced by small creatures.

"Medicine" written with the word "enjoy" in grass

The main reason I started to deal with wild plants was when I developed full-body atopic dermatitis in 2012.

While I was going to the hospital, I started taking Chinese herbal medicine, but it didn't agree with me.

"If it's not delicious to drink, I won't keep drinking it"

With this in mind, Gendo spent his days researching wild herbs that were effective against atopic dermatitis, changing the mixture and experimenting to make wild herb tea.

In order to create a delicious wild herb tea, they continued to experiment with the boiling time, roasting method, and ingredients, and had Hina taste the tea every day.

Since incorporating wild plants into her daily life, she has noticed a big change in her body.

"Not only did I suffer from atopic dermatitis, but my hay fever and eye problems also gradually improved. Wild plants don't have the immediate effect of Western medicines. Being in contact with nature, picking them, and using their vitality in your daily life can bring about changes in your body. Grasses are considered a nuisance in agriculture and in gardens, and it is considered better not to let them grow, but if you trace them back to their origins, you will find that they are the ancestors of crops, and each and every plant has its own name, medicinal properties, and culture and history."

Based on his own experiences, he began working with Hina as "Nogusou Sora."

There is no such thing as a weed

The "Ceramic Artist Takashi Ichikawa Exhibition" has been running since May 2nd.

The two-day event featured Noguso Sora's wild grass tea party and Tsumugi's flower gathering, which also included photography, and was attended only by close friends.

We went to the mountains near Utsushiki to collect wild plants while taking a walk there.

While hiking in the mountains with Sawamura and his friends, I learned that even the wild plants that seem to just be growing everywhere actually have a role to play and are growing there for a reason.

For example, horsetail is known to be rich in minerals such as calcium and potassium. This is because it has the role of replenishing these minerals in the soil. You can determine that the field where horsetail is growing needs these minerals, and by returning the cut horsetail to the soil, the fertility of the soil will increase.

Living with wild herbs, such as the Nanakusa-gayu rice porridge, must have been an essential part of people's lives since ancient times. In modern times, the way people live and work has changed, as have the structure of families, and perhaps things that should have been passed down from parent to child are being lost somewhere, without being known.

"Sophora altissima is known as a troublesome herb, but in fact its roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is said that if you boil the leaves and add them to your bath, it is also effective against atopic dermatitis," says Gendo.

Their life incorporating wild plants appears somehow very light and airy, and the bright smiles on their faces as they talk about it speak of a greater sense of fulfillment than anything else.

Bringing wild plants closer to you

"The great thing about wild herb tea is that you can never make it taste the same twice," says Gendo.

The tea, brewed with wild herbs collected from nearby mountains, tastes as if the power of sunlight and the nutrients of the earth have permeated your entire body.

Hina uses Ichikawa's vessels to arrange wild plants freely.

By arranging flowers with love and paying close attention to the feelings of each flower, each with their own unique personality, the expression of the flowers will shine even more.

The couple say that they feel like they've been reborn, both physically and mentally, compared to before they started incorporating wild plants.

"Wild plants are living things, so they have their own personalities. Each one has a name and medicinal properties, and by incorporating seasonal plants into your life, you will develop an appreciation for nature. I think being sensitive to seasonal things and feeling joy in them has a positive effect on the mind. Also, by incorporating seasonal things into your body, you can feel the cycle going around within yourself."

Wild plants teach us about the small, quiet cycle that goes on around us. Vibrant wild plants have the immeasurable power to bring about many good things.