Hyakusho Tales vol.2 -Mariquita Farm-

Welcome back to Agri Step!

This time it’s Hyakusho Tales vol. 2!

Hyakusho Tale

Here is a link which I explain what the Hyakusho Tale is in case you like to know.

I recently had the opportunity to visit my neighbor Andy’s farm and had a farm tour.

Andy’s farm, Mariquita Farm, is an organic farm with a very diverse mix of crops, including various herbs, fruit trees, edible flowers, ornamental flowers, cacti, and native vegetables that have been grown in the area for centuries.

Today, we will be looking at Andy’s background and his passion for farming.

Mariquita farm

Andy’s farm has been passed down to him from his ancestors, and he currently works with Mexican workers to manage the crops.

Water, which is essential for farming, is always supplied from a well on the farm, which he says was dug by Andy’s great-grandfather in the 1890s.

The well has been in use for over a century. I was able to see how well it is managed and that is why it is still in use.

Andy’s farm, which has such a long history, mainly grows vegetables that Mexican Indians like to eat.

Mexican Indians are the local inhabitants who lived before Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492, and their culture still remains strong in the region of Oaxaca in southern Mexico.

The language, in particular, is Mexican Spanish in urban areas, but different languages are spoken in some areas.

Oaxaca Language

The website here introduces the languages and says that there are as many as 16 local languages.

I actually work with people from Oaxaca and they often speak Mixteca that is one of them.

There are many vegetables that originated in South America, such as tomatoes, cacao, corn, peanuts, strawberries, potatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers, avocados, vanilla, and many others.

Many of these vegetables are now well-rooted in our daily lives in Japan.

I had no idea at all about them, so when Andy told me about them, I personally looked them up and found out a lot of things.

The farm grows not only vegetables, but also persimmons, various varieties of lemons, shaddock and other fruits, edible cacti, herbs of all kinds, flowers, and more.

How does Andy decide what crops to grow and how to tackle growing them?” This question came naturally to me as he showed me some of his crops, so I asked him.

Then, he told me three things he considers when selecting crops.

1. crops that harmonize with the environment

2. crops that the restaurant is in demand

3. a combination that enables some kind of harvest all year round

Based on these criteria, he is considering crops.

It may sound simple, but in the course of our conversation, I learned that Andy’s farming is actually based on “efforts” that are the result of study and practice.

In order to find crops that are suited to the environment, it is necessary not only to be familiar with the history of the region, the weather, and characteristics of the fields, but also to keep a close eye on the practices of other farmers in the surrounding area.

As for the varieties, he selects and plants the ones that suit the features of the land, and this is why I could see that the various varieties are growing well.

I also got to walk through a lavender field in Labyrinth, which they started working on last year!

I asked him about it, and he told me that he had come up with his own way of doing it, which no other farmer had done before.

He also told me that the Corona disaster had almost wiped-out visitors to his farm, but he came up with the idea so that when the number of visitors recovers in the future, they will be able to enjoy the farm in more entertaining ways.

With marigolds and various flowers planted and decorated around the labyrinth, he hopes to make the farm a place where people can ” See, Walk, and Enjoy”.

The labyrinth also functions as a metaphor for life:

when you think you are close to the center (goal), you move away, and when you think you are far away, you move closer again, and in walking along such a path, you will finally reach your goal.

This is another way to enjoy labyrinths.

The current situation may be difficult, but it is a learning experience to be able to imagine what lies ahead and challenge yourself to think creatively, as Andy does.
 

Andy’s passion to farming

Lastly, I asked Andy about his passion for organic farming.

Andy says, “When I was a kid, I grew up in a field station at the University of California, and from that time on, I lived in an environment that was free from pesticides. I grew up watching pesticide-free agriculture, and my life is no different today. I just want to make sure that whatever I decide to do, when people say I can’t do it, I’m going to do it.”

Andy observed his grandfather’s life as a farmer and his father’s research as a plant ecologist, which focused not only on plants but also on the environment.

Combining these two ways of life, he decided to “live as an environmentally conscious farmer.

He showed me how he is dedicated to pursuing his own path.
 

Afterword

I was able to see, taste, smell, and enjoy a truly rich variety of crops at Andy’s farm.

Although each crop had a different use, only the most valuable ones were planted, and I learned many interesting things about growing as well as selling them.

I also learned a lot about Andy’s creative approach to farming, especially with the Labyrinth, and how he enjoys farming itself, and what he believes farming should be like.

It was a very gratifying day as I was given a tour that lasted several hours, and I was also able to strongly feel Andy’s personality.

I would be happy if readers, could get some idea of the situation of farmers in the U.S. today and what they are thinking about in their farming activities.

Thank you for your continued support!