Management of the fields during winter.

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This is my third year of natural farming. Little by little, the condition of the fields is improving. I’m going to make a solid ridge now.

Winter on the Farm: Harvest and Maintenance

As we begin 2025 and head into the latter half of January, we’re typically in the coldest season of the year. However, this year has brought unusually high temperatures, with daytime highs reaching as much as 13°C, which feels more like March. Normally, during this time, the cold would keep me away from the fields, but the milder weather has made farm maintenance more manageable.

During the winter months, with fewer weeds to contend with, I’ve decided this is the perfect time to work on the soil and prepare new beds.

Farm Conditions:

  1. Clay Soil
    The soil on the farm is clay-based, which presents some challenges but also offers opportunities for improvement over time.
  2. Management Before 3 Years Ago
    Until three years ago, large farming machinery was used to plow the soil and maintain a weed-free state, though no crops were being grown at the time. The soil was incredibly compacted, making it difficult to even insert a shovel.
  3. Transition to Smaller Equipment
    For the past three years, I’ve been using smaller machinery, and generally, I avoid plowing the soil unless necessary.
  4. Weed Management
    After mowing the grass, I leave it on the soil surface to protect it from drying out, which helps encourage the growth of microorganisms that improve soil quality.
  5. Weed Progression
    Initially, the soil was covered with a lot of annual grasses, like Mehishiba (Japanese millet) and other grasses. Over time, this evolved into a variety of weeds such as Seytakawadachiso (Solidago), Kosedangusa (Xanthium), and Azami (thistle). By last spring, the entire field was overtaken by Sugina (horsetail). After mowing it down, the Seytakawadachiso began to dominate.

Over the past three years, by not plowing and allowing weeds to cover the surface, the soil condition has gradually improved. The top 3 cm has developed into a crumbly structure, which helps retain moisture and provides a better environment for microbes.

Creating Raised Beds:

I had initially intended to make beds about 30 cm high. However, when trying to deepen the surrounding areas for added height, I realized that the clay-heavy soil would make it harder to form quality beds. So, I decided to adjust my approach.

The width of each bed will be 1 meter. To prepare the soil for the beds, I’ll dig about 10 cm deep on each side. While the top 10 cm is not ideal, it’s in relatively good condition. By digging around the bed and raising the height of the surrounding soil by 10 cm, I’ll create beds that are about 20 cm high.

Once the beds are formed, I’ll cover them with dried weeds to protect the soil from drying out during the next couple of months, which will also help encourage microbial activity and further improve the soil.

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