First, we gather around Farmer Takada as he creates his plot and explains each step.

Then, we each move to our 30-square-meter plot and begin to work.

First, we measure off the plot, marking with a stake where each row will go. 40cm, 60cm, 60cm, 30cm... each row the appropriate width for the vegetable which will be planted there later.

Next, we go to the 3rd row on the east end and dig it out - 60cm wide, 40cm deep. (This is Evangeline's garden, but she let me come along on the first day!)

In the bottom of the whole, we spread exactly 3 cups of fertilizer and 8/10 a bucket of ash.

Next, we fill in the whole and level it carefully with a long pole . (It felt like we were finishing off cement rather than planting a garden.)  Then, very carefully, did a trench around the rectangular plot.

When the trench is complete, we cover the perfectly sculpted rectangular plot with black plastic to warm the earth and retain the moisture, using the trench to bury the edges of the plastic.

And, our first row is complete. Here we will plant sweet potatoes!

In my home town of Meadville, PA, February is still the dead of winter. In Tokyo, it is already the beginning of spring. Most nights still drop below freezing, but the days are mostly sunny and often climb into the 50s or even lower 60s, on occasion. The plum trees blossom and the daffodils bloom. It's perfect weather for an afternoon walk.

The Japanese love nature, and so even in the midst of this huge metropolitan area of roughly 37 million people, there are little parks and pieces of undisturbed nature tucked here and there. Shakujii park (石神井公園）is just about an hour walk from our place and my favorite place in the neighborhood to get away from city.