I was told the garden was no good for mushrooms. Armed with a Paul Stamets book, I set out to prove a point.
Although it took about half a year, I’ve finally grown a Shiitake. Got a further two and a half before the log stopped fruiting.
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FOE. These have been at my spuds and sweet potatoes. These are probably the worst pests I’ve encountered. They also eat onion bulbs, leaving the stem and roots behind.
Having done so, will then fan out. I’ve been told, that a single grub is capable of getting through takusan (a lot).
I haven’t tried to grow these for two reasons. Everybody else grows them and gives them as a gift. I really dislike the smell.
Apparently, I was told nobody likes cauliflower or broccoli. Ah well, all the more for me. Not my favourite of vegetables, it doesn’t take much to turn a gnawed cauliflower into something palatable. Again, got most the bugs off outside. Afterwards the head was left to soak in some salted water. I returned later to find my wife had already turned it into cauliflower cheese. One down five to go.
First batch put in were red onions. Bed was made about 45cm across, with a little compost and crushed eggshells (for Calcium and possibly raise the pH).
The onions were inserted every 15cm. These are quicker to mature and I hope will be ready in March.
I may find later that some of the first onions I transplanted, will grow out of the soil. Looks as though a few should have been planted a little deeper.
Mid November, I decided to fill the area where the sweet potatoes had been. Since the ground was soft, it had to be compacted.
In addition two trenches were dug as water tends to collect there. Managed to plant six across and twenty-four deep. The standard Japanese onion takes around eight months to grow.
Around the start of the month, the crab season begun. On the first day, I was watching a report on the TV. As the camera panned, the prices started to increase. ¥680 at first, then ¥2000, finishing up at ¥20000 (£100) a piece. The later, being matsue bakani (bagane). The prices begin to fall after the first day.
This cheaper, tasty trio from Canada cost ¥5000.
Rice Polisher.
Fermentation.
Pressing.
Sweet potato masher, I guess for shochu.
adekun: I'll post a recipe sometime to show what's done with them here. Perhaps you can do the same? I know ...
weekendfarmer: You can eat the sweet potato leaves & vines. They are tasty!!! Make a fish stew with them. Good for ...adekun: Before I came over to live here, one of the big UK supermarket chains started to advertise odd shaped mushrooms, ...adekun: It was great to get a picture. There was always at least one trying to wander off. 
Susy: I like crazy shaped tomatoes, very beautiful. I get so sick of all homogenized veggies in the grocery store. ...