WWOOF Volunteer
Volunteered on a small farm in Miyakonojo, Japan where I got to experience Japanese gardening/farming practices. I assisted with soil preparation, planting, and gardening maintenance to improve soil health and foster optimal growing conditions. I also learned how to create biochar and for fertilizer and got to experience “Yakihata” which translates to burnt field. Harvested lots of persimmons and sweet potatoes! As well as helped the local school harvest and dry rice they planted.
Location
Miyakonojo, Japan
Time Frame
10/2023-12/2024
Harvesting persimmons
Harvesting persimmons
Made hoshigaki
Harvested sweet potatoes
Farming practice known as yakihata, which involves clearing and burning old crops
Harvested and dried rice at Yoshinomoto Elementary School
A More Excellent Way Community Garden
Worked under my mentor, Master Gardener PJ Johnson in Altadena, CA to design a neglected grass lawn into an established community garden. We worked to amend the native soil and create natural compost with cardboard, dried leaves, coffee grounds, etc. We also built hugel mounds as a way to create nutrient rich compost and also because they are so cool to look at!
Location
Altadena, CA
Time Frame
03/2021-05/2022
