"M9.0" - The Most massive one in the history

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/japan.quake/index.html?hpt=T1

The whole part of Kesennuma City was swept by massive tsunamis.

The most massive earthquake, which was the magnitude of  9.0 and terrible tsunamis affected the most northeastern parts of Japan. I can not accept the fact that more than 400 people were killed and more people have been missing. I have no words to express how sad the event is. Very shocking and heart-breaking.

According to the news, about the bodies of 300 people have been found on a beach in Iwate pref, who were swept by tsunamis.

I, and my family are not affected but some friends live in the affected areas.

We have experienced many earthquakes through years and got prepared and trained for earthquakes  but this one is diffinetely the worst one.

Removing one of my vinyl tunnels

As the temperature goes up, the air inside my vinyl tunnels can become too hot in sunny days, which can be harmful for the growth of my spinaches so today I decided to remove the tunnel and replaced with a insect screen which the air can pass through.


And I make some holes for ventilation and cool-down on my vinyl tunnels.



-- from iPad

My onions

Growing onions might take longer than other vegetables.
We have had less harvest in a few month in winter but growth of over-winter vegetables like onions is so hopeful that we can expect to have a good harvest in a few months.
Most of the onion bulbs are getting bigger but it's still too early to harvest them. The temperature of this month have been stable and moderate and I have to pay attention to appropriate fertilizer. I make a point of adding a grab of fertilizer mixed with nitrogen and other nutritions every two weeks.



-- from iPad

Walking on a river bank in early spring

Today my family visited my wife's father's home in Nara.
After having lunch we had spare time so we walked on a river bank near his home. We enjoyed walking seeing a beautiful scenery from the bank and some signs of early spring.


Many daffodils were blooming on the bank which entertained walkers.


Beside the river banks, there are many and large paddy fields and vegetable farming plots. The river runs from a big reservoir and the water is used for irrigation for them. Long mulches are found in the photo shown below, where onions are planted.


There are some movable dams in the river. They take an important role in securing and distributing water for irrigation.


Many irrigation canals stretch from the river and distribute plenty water.




-- from iPad

Faster germination than my expectation

Today I found some pak chois and komatsunas have germinated in a vinyl tunnels which was been set up last weekend.
Those komatunas germinated in 6 days, about 1 week faster than other komatunas and pak chois which had been seeded in January.

We have fine and warm days this week with appropriate precipitation, which can contribute to the faster germination but I also recognized the air inside the tunnel can be too hot up to 34deg C in sunny days so I have to come up some ideas for cool-down and ventilation.



-- from iPad

Seeding komatsunas and pak-chois

Today I seeded komatunas and pak chois in an extra space in my garden.
Originally I had a plan to seed pumpkins there but it's too early to do it.

I will seed pumpkins in the head of June when the space will have been unoccupied after the komatunas will have been harvested.


Even in warm days, I have to be cautious about changeable climate in this season since frost can be expected too suddenly for us to recognize.
I set up a vinyl tunnel for the komatunas and pak chois


Now I have 5 vinyl tunnels in my garden. It looks like " a vegetable factory ".



-- from iPod touch

How effective are my vinyl tunnels for growth of vegetables?

I found out some spinach sprouts germinated outside a vinyl tunnel and we can easily see the difference between the growth of sprouts outside and that of ones inside.

Can you guess which is the sprouts inside the tunnels?


Sprouts inside the tunnels have grown to 10cms high with wide leaves.


Sprouts outside is just 5cms high with thin leaves.



-- from iPod touch