June 13th (Tuesday) Seniors from Hokuryu Town enthusiastically dig up Jerusalem artichokes and plant sweet corn! (NPO Akarui Farming Field)

Thursday, June 15, 2023

On Tuesday, June 13th, under cloudy skies with a light rain, weeding, plowing (digging up Jerusalem artichokes), and sweet corn transplanting were carried out in the fields of the NPO Akarui Noho (Representative Director: Takebayashi Yumiko).

The event was led by Isao Hoshiba (84 years old), a director of the organization, and was attended and supported by about 10 people, including Norihiko Izumi, who provided guidance on seedling management and planting, senior farmers Ryoji Kikura and Moriaki Tanaka, who live in Kitaryū Town, and five experienced farming housewives.

Today's work

Following the pumpkin planting on Tuesday, May 30th, the sweet corn field was weeded. The Jerusalem artichokes were dug up from the soil, the ground was leveled, and the sweet corn seedlings were planted.

In the field where sweet corn was sown in May, the Jerusalem artichoke roots spread with their powerful vitality, inhibiting the growth of the sweet corn and preventing it from germinating, so the soil had to be dug up and re-plowed. With the power of reliable motherhood, one by one, the soil was dug up, the weeds were removed, and the Jerusalem artichoke roots were removed.

Next, they planted sweet corn seedlings in paper pots in the leveled fields. Everyone's efficiency, determination, and skill were truly impressive!

The work continued silently for four hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with breaks in between.

First half

Weeding the sweet corn field

スイートコーン畑の草取り
Weeding the sweet corn field

Hard work with Jerusalem artichoke roots!

菊芋の根との奮闘作業!
Hard work with Jerusalem artichoke roots!

Even after digging them up, the Jerusalem artichoke roots keep coming back...

掘り出しても次々に出てくる菊芋の根っこ。。。
Even after digging them up, the Jerusalem artichoke roots keep coming back...

The plucked leaves

抜き取られた葉
The plucked leaves

Mr. and Mrs. Izumi, who are in charge of seedling management and planting guidance

苗管理担当の和泉さんご夫妻
Mr. and Mrs. Izumi, who are in charge of seedling management

"Sweet Bantam" seedlings

「あまいバンタム」の苗
"Sweet Bantam" seedlings

Sweet corn seedling planting

スイートコーン苗定植
Sweet corn seedling planting

The work continues efficiently!

手際良く作業が続く!
The work continues efficiently!

Each person calmly carried out their assigned task...

各自分担作業を淡々とこなして。。。
Each person calmly carried out their assigned task...

Weeding the sunflower field

ひまわり畑の草取り作業
Weeding the sunflower field

Sincerely and carefully...

真心こめて丁寧に。。。
Sincerely and carefully...

Pulling out a lot of grass and carrying it away...

大量の草を抜き取り運んで。。。
Pulling out a lot of grass and carrying it away...

break

We took a break two hours later, enjoying some drinks and snacks...

2時間後の途中休憩
Break after 2 hours

Second half

The second half of the work involves plowing the field after weeding and planting.

Plowing and leveling the ground thoroughly with a cultivator

耕運機による、草取り後の圃場の耕起と作付け作業。
Using a cultivator to plow the field after weeding and planting.

Harvesting the leaves of vigorously growing Jerusalem artichokes

勢いよく生育した菊芋の葉の刈り取り作業
Harvesting the leaves of vigorously growing Jerusalem artichokes

Field leveling work

圃場整地作業
Field leveling work

Planting seedlings after leveling the ground

整地後の苗植え
Planting seedlings after leveling the ground

Efficient and beautiful handiwork by a veteran farming housewife!

農業ベテラン主婦による効率良い見事な手仕事!
Efficient and beautiful handiwork by a veteran farming housewife!

Work is also progressing to remove the cut grass.

伐採した草の取り除き作業。。。
Removing cut grass...

Everyone split up and did the final work of removing the Jerusalem artichoke roots...

皆さんで手分けして菊芋の根を取り除く最終作業。。。
Everyone split up and did the final work of removing the Jerusalem artichoke roots...

thank you for your hard work!

The field where weeding and planting work was completed after 4 hours! Thank you for your hard work!!!

4時間かけて草取りと定植作業が終了した圃場!
The field where weeding and planting work was completed after four hours!

Crop growth status

Potato seedling growth

じゃがいも苗の成長
Potato seedling growth

Yacon seedling growth (planted on May 30th)

ヤーコン苗の成長(5/30定植)
Yacon seedling growth (planted on 5/30)

Pumpkin seedling growth (planted on May 30th)

かぼちゃ苗の成長(5/30定植)
Pumpkin seedling growth (planted on 5/30)

With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers for the reliable growth of the crops that grow in the full power of the sun's rays while responding well to the blessed rain and wind...

農作物の健やかなる成長に感謝をこめて。。。
With gratitude for the healthy growth of crops...

YouTube videos

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◇ Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editing assistance: Noboru Terauchi)