backyard inari

turning an urban backyard in Japan into a vernal permaculture paradise

Thursday, March 30, 2006




Have a look.

This is a small plot of red, clay-full Kichijoji soil supporting a semi-successful attempt at growing grass and some other decorative foliage.

We have also grown herbs (basil, cilantro, dill, thyme) as well as tomatoes & hot peppers. All did well until late summer when hungry grasshoppers, caterpillars and other garden denizens had a proper feast and did their best to decimate or modest garden.

This year, as part of a course in sustainability, I have decided to try and bring back a balance, wholeness and wildness to this small walled plot. First we must bring back the worms! After that...What's going to happen? Wait...and read on!

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

A dream of clay,
compost, worms and foxes.
A gecko or two. Warblers & chickadees-big black crows and (rats!)
Some daffodils, stubborn agave. A willow branch sunk-in soil, sprouts leaves,
seems to like it here.

Funky evergreens, turtle surveys all in his tank, last year's peppers lay yellow
and red in an elevated bed.

Dokudami, wandering god of crevices, persistence soon, to spread everywhere
should we let her.

Our backyard Kichijoji garden. Western Tokyo uplands, just up
from i-no-kashira: kanda-gawa springs
from here we begin this turning

of dirt into soil,
soil into sprouts, something
wild, growing back, building a home among the birds, the bugs
failed lawn, last years violets return among the vinca, ferns
dream of foxes, compost worms and clay