What we learned in our first year of gardening in the Japanese countryside: failures & okonomiyaki

[@maigomika]

Hi all! Thank you all for your wonderful comments so far! Just as a reminder, while I read all your comments, unfortunately, I’m unable to respond to them. To assist you better, I have created an FAQ page that contains the answers to some common questions here: www.maigomika.com/about-me/faq/ Thank you! -Mika

[@robertgulfshores4463]

As a gardener, I really enjoyed your humble acceptance. That's how it is. Sometimes, our crops just don't work out, but that's ok. And now your new garden location is so much more social and fun, the neighbors are eager to help. Even the monkeys are there to help! :-)

[@erukei_]

This is almost exactly the gardening subplot in the movie Wolf Children, minus the grumpy old neighbor! I remember they also had difficulty finishing their produce, and their solution is to barter some of it with their neighbors' produce 😊 Hope that could also work for you!

[@aissabellesorilla3400]

Yes, since they choose to live in the countryside after her husband died. I also remember ponyo and my neighbor totoro anime movies coz they lived in the remote countryside and above the hill, those spiders in the abandoned house, other animals also welcomed them. Living in the countryside was one of the healing and inner peace of us. Simple and calm.❤

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

I thought the same... it's so cute

[@johnnysmythe7767]

Im so glad your channel was in my suggestion feed and I subscribed immediately :) My wife and I also moved to rural Japan 2 years ago, planted a successful garden the first year (with the help of our neighbours) which was shockingly devastated in about 10 minutes by a community/horde of about 50 monkeys. All the people in our small village came out of their houses and started shooting off bottle rockets and firecrackers. Being new here I thought this must be a celebration of the arrival of the monkeys! Haha. They were in fact trying to scare the monkeys away from eating their gardens as well. We however thoroughly love this new lifestyle, even with all the bugs, humidity, earthquakes, typhoons and yes..monkeys. We are also from Vancouver (North Vancouver specifically). I made a batch of sauerkraut with some of our cabbage harvest and gave some jars to our neighbours. They really loved it and had never had it before. This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but for those that can live a little less luxurious, and adapt to a new culture, and are not afraid of “hard work” It is very enjoyable and extremely rewarding. Im looking forward to watching more of your videos 😊

[@brigidm6279]

Loving this series so far. Lovely to watch. Japanese country people seem so neighbourly. I watch another couple who seem to always have neighbours sharing things, giving them things, or helping them with labour. So kind. Passing generational knowledge about land-and not just within families-is so important.

[@filipefealves]

The other couple you say is Rachel and Jun?

[@brigidm6279]

@@thayer750 Rachel and Jun. They built a house in the countryside a while back and do lots of projects.

[@MrNajibrazak]

Rule no.1 when living in the country side, do not be strangers, participate in all activities in the field with your neighbors. Otherwise ppl will think of you negatively considering our collective cultured society.

[@azoreaneve4777]

you didn't talk about this so I'll mention it: another great way to get "rid" of all your vegetables when they go in season is to just give them to neighbours. Can be as a plain gift, can be as thanks for the help, can be for trading with whatever they might have. Also, investing in a big freezer is a great option in addition to drying or pickling what you have.

[@KARIS1961]

This is the 2nd video I’ve seen. Very enjoyable watching you two tackle this jungle environment.

[@michaeldwyer9656]

My second as well. I look forward to more.

[@lanehacker5833]

@@michaeldwyer9656 Agreed !!

[@TheWickerShireProject]

One of the best Organic channels. Very relaxing and satisfying to watch while I cry over our new garden off grid. I now understand the struggle to get it going better.

[@cnelson400]

My 2nd video as well. Love your quiet way of showing your content. Humble and patient. The okonomiyaki dish looks amazing. Would love to walk Shikoku 88 pilgrimage?

[@Mormoran]

It would make sense that this is your second video of them you've watched, after all, they've only uploaded 2 videos so far haha It's great stuff, I kinda want to follow what they're doing. A bit of escapism of the mind, as I kinda wish I could just pick up everything and just move somewhere remote where it's cheap and slower

[@芋瀬童子]

【gardeningは近所の人々との絆を深める最もいい方法】・・その通りです、まず失敗しない、貰ったら自分で作ったものを何か返す、余ったら上げる。大抵は程よい距離を保ってくれます。そしてこれが日本古来の safety net なんです。

[@redroseibarahime8755]

Sharing is caring! That's what your lovely neighbours are doing. They are really kind to engage with you guys. Please be sure to show your appreciation in sharing the crops and harvest. Ideally, when you are more experienced, look what your neighbours do not have in their own garden and plant it so you have something exiting to share with them. Maybe you can plant green aspargus? It is much easier than the white aspargus (one field can be harvested for about 10 years once it is planted - but you can harvest earliest in the second year with good climate or 3rd year but this is really worth the wait!) and I prefer it to be honest - aspargus is usually an expensive vegetable so they will be happy to receive it. Small local communities support each other and that is so great.

[@jordanw8382]

Fellow former Vancouverite in rural Hokkaido here. We did our first garden this year and what a learning experience it's been. The soil and climate conditions are so different than what we experienced in the west coast. The soil where we are is so incredibly fertile that one would pay big money to buy such soil for gardening back in Canada, so fertile that it's little wonder why farmers use huge amounts of Roundup and other poisons banned in western countries to keep the weeds at bay. We learned Japan is one the top users of glyphosate in the world. Despite this, there are so many varieties of bees and insects, above ground, underground, and on the ground to pollinate and aerate the soil. We installed a solar powered electric fence last month to keep the deer, foxes, and raccoons out.

[@elizabethmara737]

Cant believe how much the creek grew after the tyfon.

[@davidprado8732]

Thank you for making this content. I haven't subscribed to a KZbin channel in ages. This is so exciting to watch and your editing is clean and enjoyable! Keep up the great work

[@Larien009]

I bet it means a lot to your neighbors that they were able to pass on their gardening knowledge. It was my grandmas favorite pass time as well. Thank you for sharing your journey. ♥

[@chocapic2373]

Your neighbors really showcase the community oriented spirit of the Japanese people. Amazing video, subscribed, and wishing you many bountiful harvests 🙏

[@honeypielauralie]

Those big cabbages are so beautiful :,) I farmed in Maryland and struggled similarly with keeping weeds at bay, but my #1 tool was the scuffle hoe! There are small ones to weed in between tight rows and larger ones for larger areas, and they’re easy to use and effective at pulling and cutting from the roots :) we tried mulching some our beds with straw and it was okay, maybe slowed weed growth a little bit, but still did a ton of hand weeding lol. I hope you guys continue to have wonderful success with your garden in the seasons ahead!

[@kathykay6602]

I love your videos. I came from humble beginnings gardening with my father in a small town in Brasil and unfortunately I am living in a big city in USA and I envy your simple life in Japan. BTW I will be back in Japan in the next Spring (2024). I can not wait. Best wishes.

[@Ma0xMa0]

The river is so blue what the heck 🤩✨ That flood though 😱 I did several fieldworks on raft spiders at rice field waterways in Tochigi, (not Shikoku but) you may found some too near your garden! Yup, Obaa-san and ojii-san in the countryside are the best ! I was also greeted many times because they were curious to check what I was doing standing and hunching in the waterways 😅 and then proceeded to give me ice creams, vegetables and there was a time when I received a bag of rice 😂I guess they harvested so many they didn't know what to do with them.

[@korikoran]

shikokus peoples kindness never fails to amaze me

[@keikurooka5105]

Being a gardener it's physically draining but the joy of seeing your garden bloomingvand bearing fruits and flowers is just heaven. I planted all kinds of herbs from lavender, rosemary, orange tree persimmon, etc. Even buternelons,peppers, soring onions etc..Seeing my garden ihealthy and very much alive unstress ne from my hotel job

[@madokag]

I'm from a farm community in Shikoku. Your videos bring back my childhood memories to me. Thank you ❤❤❤

[@KatHarpy]

you talking about your garden and how your neighbors helped really reminded me of wolf children! how sweet

[@veget_asian]

Wow , thank you for showing us the reality of living in rural+having garden. Other people instagram or youtube made it looked so simple and easy. Now I learn from you that nothing is that easy. Its a hardwork. But its process of learning and exploring. And neighbor is great resource❤

[@TheWickerShireProject]

Again these video's are great! Open back scratch, the frogs, the monkey's, heavy rain, weeds, cooking and eating what you grow and the best part GOOD Neighbors feeling bad and showing you the " How to and Don't worry about it..." Keeping sharing your bits of life even if its to the local market for seed, spices, a little fishing or anything being composted.

[@YuehAndFriends]

That makes me so happy to see your community accepted you guys into there neighborhood

[@twood7759]

Those cabbages were beautiful! I think someone else mentioned succesive planting every couple of weeks will make supply of produce more manageable. Also try planting things like climbing or dwarf beans which will produce reasonable quantities over a long period. If you have too many, beans can be frozen or dried for winter use. Carrots and other root vegetables can be harvested in autumn and stored in boxes of sand to keep them fresh 🙂

[@SamFournier]

Fully invested in your story 😍 so glad you showed up on my recommended videos. When I visited Japan in December I fell in love with how kind and helpful the people are.

[@atmosphere82]

I don't know how I found your channel, but I am in love. I am living vicariously through you, and it is satisfying my love Japan and my daydream of a simpler life. Mika your voice and narration is just so calming. THANK- YOU!

[@skyhawk5156]

3:50 Awww... the monkeys left a cucumber for your welcome-home gift.... such a courteous animals 😅 😊😁

[@j1stars]

Thank you for sharing this slice of Japan country life! So happy to see you make KZbin videos! 🎉😊

[@V4rya]

Literally the plot of the second act in Wolf children 🥺

[@joannetang4877]

Thanks for being so honest about the failed garden attempt. Love the video, raw but simple and with good vibes. Ganbatte!!!

[@SavannahRose]

My partner and I are currently in the process of trying to move to the Japanese countryside from Canada and I can't tell you how excited I was to find your channel. Going to binge all your videos in the next couple of days

[@HariOmRadhaKrishna]

We've been working on converting our large back yard into an epic garden for the last 3 years. We're in the Midwest united states, & no neighbour has ever commented on our garden, nor helped when it was especially pathetic.

[@cjyoung7372]

Organic herbicides are my go to for getting on top of the ever growing jungle

[@ptrainingbytim]

Cardboard, woodchips/mulch are your best friends in fighting the weeds! God bless you two - keep up the great work.

[@jefferyjarvis9803]

You guys are so inspiring. I admire your hard work and dedication to breathing new life into an older traditional house and to tackle a more humble way of living. I was so glad when I seen you bought a weed cutter; way better than using that manual chopper. (ugh back breaking).

[@mattsanchez4893]

Can't tell you how much I envy the lifestyle you you've chosen and where you've chosen to engage in it...thanks for sharing your grand adventure!

[@ryanfoster9863]

We had great fun gardening in Western Tokyo. I’d lay down the black plastic mesh sheets you see in rolls at the hardware store and plant 39 seed potatoes in February for a 100+ kilo potato harvest in June. The plastic keeps the weeds down and warmed the soil. The same area could be planted in 100¥ tomato plants later that year. We would also early plant twenty 350¥ tomato plants using mesh plastic and metal tomato cages. Yields were high ¥¥¥ and tomato plants seemed to stay mold-free through fall. The plastic mesh sheets last many seasons if cared for. Good luck!

[@maigomika]

Thank you for the notes! We'd love to try our hand at planting tomatoes again this year. Hopefully we have a better harvest like yours so we can share it with everyone in the neighbourhood!

[@davidallen2058]

Try snow peas and cherry tomatoes. The peas are quick to grow and tastier than regular peas. Excess cherry tomatoes can be dried and frozen for out of season use.

[@Word509]

I would really enjoy. Getting to know your neighbors. Hearing stories from old people is the best.

[@harrydsgn]

Ugh, I love okonomiyaki. Can't even imagine how good it must be with fresh, homegrown cabbage!

[@princessskylar00]

One thing I always notice about videos I watch about the Japanese country side is that neighbors are always so supportive 💕 I love the dance of community. Though the prehistoric bugs and the monkeys might deter me from coming countryside 😭

[@mariosagastume5883]

❤ BRAVO I Dream about Living in Japan - just like this! (Minus the spiders ) How wonderful it is to see neighbors helping! What a Wonderful Life You both have BRAVO 🎉

[@spaceman77777]

As a gardener and a homebody (hobbit) I love this adventure. cheers from the west coast of Canada.

[@genos3467]

Farmers are backbone of our society, If u are doing this type of work, please know u are much appreciated for all hard work u do.

[@valdius85]

If you can afford it, buy a big freezer. This is the fasters way to prerve veggies that are in season. Fermenting works well as well, although a cooler storage place will be needed.

[@gaijinpete]

Hi also a 🇨🇦 replanted here. Currently in Nagano prefecture but I started my life here on Shikoku (Tokushima) …you guys are living my goal! It’s great watching the progress and what’s required!! Outstanding

[@tabseeker]

when you live a very busy and stressful Urban life, your videos are like an oasis. 😊

[@cushyco]

You are lucky to have good neighbours to help you and give good advice. Looking forward to more videos.

[@justaleafinthewind8858]

Be sure to give something to the neighbors! 🥰

[@mikewatts1533]

I nearly laughed my ass off when you said that you were from Vancouver, BC. Because I live about 50 miles south of there. You are correct when saying that Gardening is a way to start a conversation. It is a shared experience that everyone there can relate to. Should have left a "Monkey Do List" for your furry neighbors for when you were away. Did you think to trade with your other neighbors for different vegetables? Can't wait to watch another one of your videos on your continuing journey. PS. Yada on the mayonnaise Thanks

[@LauraMalfoy2011]

The neighbours helping you with gardening is so sweet and heartwarming 😭♥

[@yesitsyas4713]

I wish for 1. a garden to tend to 2. neighbors like you 3. be actually living in the countryside.

[@sonja619purrsnpoms4]

I absolutely love your videos reminds me when I visited Japan , So relaxing, wonderful people, beautiful country and the absence of the hustle and Bustle of San Diego, So peaceful.

[@petrinacooper]

Love that the garden was a gateway to meeting your neighbors!!

[@TheThomasites]

Share. Community gardens with unicrops (or large amount of one or two types) are always a great way to share and be a greater part of that already amazing community.

[@karmakauffman7445]

If you still have cabbage to use, you could try making a small batch of kimchi. Or a batch of sauerkraut … maybe with Japanese spices instead of German. Adding onion and chilis as well as the Japanese spices might be tasty as well. Or you could try fermented cabbage with garlic and yuzu peel? I used to garden and I’d use excess produce for pickles or preserving via drying or canning. I saw a comment about trading with neighbors, which sounds like a great idea too. Your neighbors were so sweet to bring you plants and to help with the gardening! ❤

[@Phoenixx713]

this is my new favorite channel

[@ajadrew]

The river you shot showed just how much rain you get! Love having the monkees around & great that the local people intergrate with you!

[@TinMan445]

I laughed so hard at your neighbor! “This soil is just rocks” haha I think you guys should use the grass and weeds from the weed whacker and throw it all on your garden to provide it with some organic matter and free weed suppression! Good luck

[@JFebrillet]

I truly enjoy these videos . Slow living is just so relaxing and beautiful . Thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us .

[@ankiking]

Suggesting giving overflow veggies to helpful neighbors :) I also just learned about stagger planting so you have constant fresh veggies for a longer time instead of all at once.

[@Olives-nb8mv]

I felt like I was watching an old PBS documentary~ What a nice video!

[@inotcatlady]

The way you’re caring for your home is beautiful!

[@Omni0404]

Thank you for not squishing the bugs!

[@squankelissimo]

Loving this series, Mika! Thanks for making something that’s informative with honesty and good storytelling. Enjoying that you record your own voiceovers (so nice compared to all the automated caption to voice vids on Insta and TikTok) and the chill music at just the right level! ❤

[@maigomika]

Thank you for the kind comment 😚 and I’m glad you’re enjoying the storytelling-mode and music!

[@Aiken47]

My heart is warmed by this, this is my dream. A friend from Nagoya said my wife and I should move to Japan and open a small coffee shop that provided options for people that need gluten free needs - regular foods too. I’d love to expose Japanese people to real coffee flavours not the strange American style they’ve adopted.

[@yungbusta]

Gardening/farming at its origin and its best, is the combination of culture and native living earth science. I believe that the further we stray from its origin, the less fun, less healthy and more difficult it becomes.

[@DanBowles]

Came across your channel randomly and I am hooked. Thanks for taking the time to record/edit your experience with us!

[@woodsdavid2887]

Cheers from Mie Prefecture. Your local home centre should sell black sheets that you can pin to the ground to inhibit weed growth. They're good for around the house and walking paths. Also, monkeys love onions, so be careful if you plant them. An electric fence can be affective as a deterent. Keep up the good work!

[@koraXro]

If you have a lot of cabbage pickle it. Add salt, herbs, corn and fruits like sour pears or quinces. I love sauerkraut or fresh cabbage stir fried with tomatoes and smoked sausage or pork ribs. You can also make cabbage soups with no meat... very yummy

[@patlilburn5251]

What a fun thing! I live in North Vancouver and have only seen movies about rural life in Japan, not the real thing. I’ve often wondered how one stays warm in winter without any apparent insulation, or where the wood for the heat comes from, how far to the nearest city for supplies, how many people are nearby or or or …so this is great fun to watch. I’ll read the FAQs.

[@paulhenderson9991]

I enjoy watching your videos

[@jimwalsh7904]

Nice show! I especially like your mellow music selections. The music made it relaxing to watch. Yes, it's exciting that gardening was a gateway to interacting with your neighbors. I love Okinamiyaki too.

[@tahasoomro8585]

i hope you shared whatever surplus you had with the neighbors who helped

[@alextorres1038]

Living in Tokyo, but living in the country side wathing these videos with my wife, amazing content. Keep on!

[@TheIrishAmish]

Please keep making these videos, to vicariously be able see life done correctly,,,,,

[@charriealonzo8163]

Astonishing to me how much you are challenge yourself. It was very rewarding and refreshing. I love seeing people working with their hands. It's wonderful tools. Thank's soooooooo much for sharing.

[@angelang3510]

Your neighbours are so lovely!

[@liaf3iry]

from your first video, I knew your channel would quickly become a favorite of mine. love your videos, they bring a much needed peace to my day

[@findtherightbeat]

3:59 so serene

[@taigalily_lue]

Love your videos! the visuals, the vibes ahh just love it all~ subbed!

[@lanehacker5833]

What a smooth time i spent with Youre video, i drink cofé ,watch ,listen ,preparin for my own work around haus . (sorry for my pooor Australish ). Ahoj from Morava !

[@SM-fi1bx]

You should add Dashi stock to your okonomiyaki batter if you don't already! 😊

[@mintysingularity]

It will be exciting to see you expand your variety of plants. Like daikon, long bean, fuki, mitsuba, shungiku, shiso and negi. All are so good and not difficult to grow!

[@miriamvivo4279]

Takes guts to make such a move. I appluad you both. Much peace and happiness. From hamden, ct

[@LattosaurusRex]

Please keep up the hard work, first video in a long time where I was smiling the whole way through. Especially when you whipped out the weed wacker!

[@garrethfrazer]

Loving the videos so far, I feel like i get to live vicariously through you both, Good Luck!

[@JonasRosenven]

Canning would be a great way to preserve all your vegetables. Make kimchi or plain old sauerkraut from the cabbage. Especially sauerkraut is easy. It's pretty much just adding salt to shredded cabbage and leaving it in a jar for a week to ferment. Then storing it in a cool dark place. Making a little root celler would make sense considering how hot it gets where you live. Just a few suggestions. Keep having fun. Thanks for all the videos.

[@KoraRubin]

🌼For the in-between level (not your yard and not the street) garden near your house, I would plant Jerusalem Artichokes. You can ignore them most of the time, and if they are too tall, mow them short. They come year after year because you will never get them all out of the ground, and they have pretty yellow flowers. Maybe sweet potatoes for your yard? Maybe some stone circles/ hills like 'Primitive Technologie', did it? So you could still mow around them? 🍠 Best wishes and success! 😊

[@14bqdonk]

Just a tip, if you leaving for a long time. Cover you expose garden or where place desired like the walkway with silvershine(huge plastic sheet for farming) to prevent the weed from gettinf sunlight and growing. If its a tree or flower, you can cover around it. You can also use whatever materials you have to cover the weed like plywood or anything else.

[@katien3022]

This is wild and reminds me that I grew up in such a tame area in terms of climate and animals. This kind of adjustment would be extremely difficult for me, and probably impossible alone. I am loving your videos so much because they are just great and real, but it also is helping disillusion me from the fantasy of moving to some foreign countryside haha.

[@trey1531]

This is just like the movie Wolf Children!

[@cheezeballcity]

I lived in a Shikoku for 4 years. The first year was in the mountains in a village with a population of 800. Watching your Videos brings back memories. I'll be sure to watch more! Keep it up!

[@77FINNBEAR]

Kudos to you both. What lovely neighbours . ❤❤❤

[@LisasCoin]

Great job with the garden! 🥬💚

[@dorothyoga]

Love the voice over. Now I can spend all my time watching the scenery and your adventures.

[@TuckerSP2011]

Very good effort! I'm so glad that the neighbors helped you out. You can cut, shred and freeze cabbage. It stays beautifully frozen. I did that once and didn't have to blanch it first. Then whenever you need to add some vegetables to any dish open your frozen bag of cabbage and just add some in. You can freeze broccoli too but I'm not sure how to do it.

[@akiishida9296]

Man that kind of life feels so chill, I'd love to just get a remote job, a good gaming pc and a good internet and I'm done for life with that chill life, got a job from home and can buy everything in the local supermarket it sounds like paradise

[@maxschafer8945]

I love your channel and you're only two videos in! Perfect combination of cozy and informative.