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.
パプリカ a red pepper
The ubiquitous ピーマン (p-man) can be found in every veg growers garden over the summer. パプリカ (papurika), another species of Capsicum annuum is less common. As there are so many of the former about over harvest time, there doesn’t seem much point in growing them. It seems worthwhile tending the unusual and watching fab colours develop.
Compost Bin Mk III
Two years have passed since the last incarnation of the compost bin. As expected the sides did not hold up. However, the latest rebuild was due to a forced relocation. Held back by the sodden mass, the posts put up a bit too much protest as they were yanked free. Despite the humidity, it was the time to use some of the rescued scrap wood. Continue reading
Sweet corn
A corny title but there’s plenty to be said about just picked sweet corn. Even so, I’m not quite decided on what or rather how to express what is so pleasing about it. It is certainly very satisfying just to twist off a couple of cobs. Akin to asparagus, unlike anything you’ll ever buy from the supermarket it barely needs cooking if at all. Not being an American? Robinson Crusoe?
Anyway, no crows this year.
Thompson & Morgan - half price, plus free seeds for every two packs purchased.
It’s way past the recommended sowing date for the herbs I got cheap recently. However, I had to open some of the packets. The four that got tested, germinated two days after being sown, rather than the noted two to three weeks. Unfortunately, with exception to the borage, the shoots haven’t come on any further. Perhaps it’s just the current dullness and they will spring into action once there’s some sun.
Upon our return, the view of the garden did bewilder. It was great to see how much things had come on in the short time we were away. Kabocha had climbed up the sweet corn and over the tomatoes, many of which were ripe. It’s warmer than it was in England and horribly humid. The coming weeks weeding is unlikely to be pleasant.
No rain, no mulch. There's still the bicycle somebody dumped.
Two weeks later, overflowing with weeds and pumpkin leaves,
There’s plenty of pictures on the TV of the rain further south in the country. Up here the rainy season has already arrived, yet there is no rain. I was quite excited last night to hear the pitter-patter of rain. However, it turned out to be just a shower and the ground looked dry as a bone this morning.
We are going back to England tomorrow for two weeks. Continue reading
Not particularly swell, but more than ample.
Not wanting to take a gamble on the weather, the garlic got pulled yesterday. The end of the month would have been better, especially for the larger, apple sized Aomori. Still, rust set in at the start and can’t expect the heads to miraculously swell. The Elephant garlic didn’t come to anything. 
Denise: I can't believe how quickly a year has passed! Maya is adorable! I love her little hat. 
SaigonNezumi: Good to hear. It is always hot and sunny in Saigon. My problem is that I have to ...SaigonNezumi: Hi, how has the exercise gone. My rotator cuffs pain have disappeared. I now just do the incline ...
Xana: I used to live in Shimane, in the town formerly known as Yokota (I think it is Oku-Izumo now). ...
laras: Hi, greetings from Tokyo.
Do you know about flutterscape.com? It's a japanese shopping website intended for gaijin as the seller, and ...