auf der Erde

Last week we planted wheat and soba, I don’t know the English word… It is Fagopyrum esculentum It is to experiment. Because they are interested in those plant. Then yesterday I visited the site. They are already germinated. I hope they will grow well.

I visited a farmer. Then I was invited by him to visit a Canyao. It's is a ceremony. In this place, there are various canyao. On this time, it's for sick person. He has a sick, he is in hospital but doctor cannot find the problem. That's why they had a canyao to heal him with praying to ancestors. In this area they are believing that if someone has sick, or some problem, they pray to ancestors. They put ancestor's bones out. Then they pray. Then put in again, or transfer other place. They are believing that if there are problem, there are caused by ancestors. Sometimes it is by attention, sometimes it is on dream. If someone has those experiments, they make canyao, it's like taking care of ancestors. Here, they don't cremate. They have grave in their back yard. In canyao, they butcher pig. Then they sacrifice the pig or chicken, sometimes carabaw to ancestors and splits. And sometimes they dance. especially here, it is called Iglot dance using gong and drum. In ...

I visited also ex trainee who was training in Japan last year. He is planting broccoli, cabbage and chrysanthemum now. He has also wide area and green house. The chrysanthemum is for holy week ( in this year, second week of April) and also valentine's day. on this time, flowers become very expensive even roses. Then, he does crop rotation with vegetable and flowers. His vegetable, broccoli and cabbage is planted far garden from road. It is 20 minutes to walk. He will be harvesting soon, but he said next time he will plant strawberry and lettuce. Because broccoli and cabbage are very heavy to carry up to road. In this area maybe they would better to plant light and high value productions. They don't have wide area and the garden is far from road. ... I want to see his future. Because I want to know how he changed in Nagano Training in 7 month in his life.

I visited to trainee's farm. In this place, he is planting zuccini, lettuce, sayote and pechay. And Another trainee is planting romeaine lettuce, basil, dill, and chrysamtymum. This area is called shilan. I know some farmers in shilan. This area is better place to farm. Because there are road until near farm. And they have wide area even it is on mountain. They have 2,000 square meter or more. It's already wide area in highland. Because of mountain region. Those trainees are using chicken dung, mushroom compost and carbonated rice hull to their garden. They don't use commercial fertilizer. But they are producing good vegetable. And they have a market in baguio. They don't hire labors. Their family is taking care of their farm. They are not using commercial fertilizer, so their vegetable is not so big. Even though, they are selling to the market. Their vegetable is safe. Because they told me they spray once a month. I think the soil is very good. They don't need to a...

It was raining this afternoon. It was only shower, but the rain was more than 1 hour. This rain is the first time on this year. But it's unusual to rain in this season. Anyway it's good for plants.

He is a one of ex-trainee in japan last year. He just rented this area. He is planting Chinese cabbage and lettuce. He had produced rose near his house. But now his brothers are taking care of it. Then He started to plant vegetable. He is using compost and also is interested in Mokusaku. But those materials are not provide the good effect immediately. But I hope he will try to improve his soil for long time with his patience.

I visited to Trainee's farm. The both farmers are rose farmer. They will be harvesting for valentine's day. This area will have full of rose flower in February. I think it's very nice view on that season. the rose farmer need a lot of expenses to buy fertilizer and pesticide, insecticide. They are spraying once or twice a week. And fertilizer is applied once a month. So some farmer move out from rose farming. Because of the expenses. But the income is higher than vegetable. So most of farmer in this balangay are planting rose, or cut flower. One farmer is planting watercress. It is not too much expenses. Only some spraying. But they need fresh water. it should be cool. and of course clean. So some farmers in this area who has garden near river are producing watercress.