In stark contrast to the warm weather that continued in January, the temperature dropped significantly in February. It seems that winter has finally arrived.
Continuing from January, during this time when vegetables are not growing, we are not only making progress on the things we were unable to do during the busy season, but also gradually starting to prepare for spring.
My main job this month is gathering materials for a step-in greenhouse. For the past seven years or so, I've been making these every year, using the heat generated by the fermentation of fallen leaves and rice straw so that I can start growing seedlings during the cold season in early spring. The greenhouse measures 90cm wide, about 5m long, and 90cm deep.
Since the stepping greenhouse method does not rely on fossil fuels but on the power of microorganisms, it places almost no burden on the environment, and the fermented material eventually turns into leaf mold, making it the perfect soil for growing seedlings.
This method, which involves adding the right amount of moisture to fallen leaves or rice straw to ferment them and then stabilizing the fermentation heat by stepping on them, has been used for growing seedlings for a long time, but over time it has been replaced by electric heating mats and is now a technique that has almost disappeared.
It takes about two full months to prepare the seedlings, from sowing in March to planting in May, and a large amount of fallen leaves and straw is required to maintain the fermentation heat for two months.
Takekawa and Hakushu area are mountain villages where, if you go a little way into the traditional satoyama, you will find a deep grove of trees, mainly broad-leaved trees, where you can collect large amounts of fallen leaves.
Collecting fallen leaves is a fun activity that even children can enjoy.
If you gather leaves together with your friends, you can easily collect enough leaves to fill two light trucks in just two hours.
There is a reason why we spare no effort or manpower and do not rely on electric heating mats that you just lay down and turn on.
By simply being conscious of harnessing the power of nature, people can begin to connect with each other.
This leads to new forms of cooperation, ideas, and possibilities.
I think this is the joy of living in nature and with nature.
So, while we prepare the greenhouse, we will soon begin sowing cabbage, lettuce, and pea seeds, which can grow at low temperatures without a greenhouse.
Spring is slowly approaching.
