(Asami Araki’s Life in Paris) supports children in Madagascar. A Japanese Couple Practices Natural Farming in the Paris Suburbs – Travel Watch

I have introduced my own vegetable garden that does not use pesticides and fertilizers before, but now I am very interested in natural farming methods. Unlike organic farming, which does not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers, natural farming does not use fertilizers even though it is organic. Strictly speaking, there are natural farming methods, natural farming methods, and natural farming methods.

Among these natural farmers in Japan, I think Masanobu Fukuoka is famous in France. Several French translations of his book have been published, and French people have asked me many times, “Have you read any good books by Fukuoka Masanobu?” No one in the suburbs seems to practice it.

But recently I learned that there is a Japanese couple in the suburbs of Paris who are doing natural farming, although it is not Mr. Fukuoka’s.

The location is in the northwest suburbs of Paris, but about 30 minutes by train from my home in central Paris. Hiroyuki Saratani Asami and his wife till their fields.

In 2006, the two of them decided to live in Paris. Both of them are clerical jobs related to natural farming, so although they have the knowledge of natural farming, they have almost no practical experience! Even so, we decided to cultivate our own fields because we want people to actually see the natural farmland and eat what we grow.

It seems so hard to find, in 2020 I found a French garden on the Internet and rented it. There is currently 1000m2 of land used as arable land.2It seems that there are only so many, but the landlord has a contract to share the harvested crops, so he does not pay rent. I travel from Paris, where I live, to tend the fields almost every day, except for the low season, which is winter.

This is what the live coverage of my visit in March looked like

Seeds just sown in the greenhouse

Green Onions, Kale, and Swiss Chard Are Healthy Even in Winter

Fields change in summer! This is what it looked like last year © SARATANI

Someone came to help in the field © SARATANI

Shungu nature and respect for nature are important contents of Genggu couple’s natural farming methods. Learn from nature and live in harmony with nature. especially,

Pure soil: no chemical fertilizers, no pesticides
Pure Seed: Seed harvested in-house using natural farming methods
Producer’s Heart: Gratitude, Producer’s Love

is the pillar. Animals such as snails, slugs, and various other insects that bother producers are not considered “pests” or “pests”, but their existence is considered to have meaning, and our goal is to create Back the crops they..

There are various natural farming methods. However, rather than fertilizing crops, compost is used to keep the soil warm rather than dry out or harden it.

Natural compost made in a corner of the field

At the beginning of the cultivation, the land was full of roots and stones, but except for the upper pillars, it has been four years since I started the cultivation by trial and error and temporary support. .

Currently, about 15 crops are grown here. The crops grown in season are sold as omakase packages to restaurants and individuals. Looking at the photos from last year, the crops are so cute! Japanese vegetables are everywhere. Some of them can even collect the seeds themselves, so when I said, “It’s amazing how little time has passed,” Hiroyuki said with a calm expression, “Trust in the power of the soil and the plants.”

The crops are growing beautifully © SARATANI

Ms. Asami also runs a studio that makes miso and rice bran floors, using precious ingredients made using natural farming methods. In addition to field-grown crops, we mainly sell European products using natural farming methods, such as rice, vinegar, roasted green tea (made in Japan), olive oil, and wine.

Asami homemade rice miso, Spanish rice, English apple balsamic vinegar, Italian balsamic vinegar

When I visited the farm, there were no crops to buy, but I bought some processed products to eat. Compared with the organic products I usually eat, I can feel its power. Or a special delicacy! Especially the natural farming method rice that I want to eat the most, it is probably the only place in Europe that uses natural farming method to make Riz Rod (meaning round rice, the closest to the rice eaten in Japan), so it is very valuable. . I definitely want to try the vegetable omakase pack which will be discounted in summer. The prices of the crops and produce are not too different from what I usually buy in an organic supermarket. If you’re going to buy it anyway, this is the best I can do!

Mr. Hiroyuki has also had the honor of visiting Madagascar regularly to support local natural farming activities. Gradually, we saw results. Teachers and children grow vegetables for school lunches in the fields we grow on campus. We are carrying out activities such as providing rice with the association.

Traditional farming methods, organic farming methods, and natural farming methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. It is difficult to say which is the best fertilizer. It is very attractive not to buy fertilizers and seeds by collecting them yourself.

I plan to start a small vegetable garden at home from now on. Referring to Mr. and Mrs. Saraya’s natural farming method and other natural farming methods, I am really looking forward to trying my own natural farming method, which I can do with flower pots!

Condominiums under construction with significant delays compared to scheduled completion dates. I am planning to start a vegetable garden on the patio here.