Rhubarb Gardening AcreSeason

English | 日本語  Everyone, it has been quite a while since I last posted. I have been experimenting and trying various things while making red rhubarb jam. Now, I am very happy to say that the wish of two visitors from Germany to come and visit my rhubarb garden has finally come true. Visitors from Germany at my rhubarb garden They had been planning to visit my rhubarb garden this year after reading my blog. I was truly happy that they made the trip. The weather that day was cloudy. Although it was not the fresh, clear morning I had hoped for, I was able to tell them about the red rhubarb of Fujimi Town and explain, as a beginner myself, how this rhubarb garden came to be. I also had the opportunity to hear about rhubarb in Germany. Rhubarb is still a relatively new ingredient in Japan, but in Germany, it is widely enjoyed as a popular food ingredient. In both Japan and Germany, rhubarb is available in stores from spring through early summer. Another thing we have in com...

English | 日本語 Getting Our Jam to You Safely: Testing Our Shipping Packaging Making jam is only part of the job. We carefully select our ingredients, prepare the fruit, cook the jam, and fill each jar. At that point, it may seem like the work is finished. But there is one more important step: Getting the jam safely to you. That is why we are currently testing and building prototypes for the packaging we will use to ship our jam. Jars Need Protection A glass jar may feel sturdy when you pick it up from a shelf. Shipping is a different story. Packages can be exposed to bumps, vibration, drops, and the movement that naturally occurs during transportation. They may also be placed alongside or underneath other packages. The last thing we want is for a jar to arrive damaged. We put a great deal of care into making the jam, so we want to make sure it reaches you in good condition. Packaging Isn't Just About Making It Look Nice It would be easy to simply use a large amount of...

English | 日本語 We’re excited to announce the launch of our new Japanese website for AcreSeason™ . Until now, we have primarily shared information with customers outside Japan. We created this dedicated Japanese website so that customers in Japan can learn more easily about AcreSeason™, our products, and the values that are important to us. On our Japanese website, we’ll share information in Japanese about our products, including our red rhubarb , as well as the work and activities behind what we do. We’ll continue adding more content over time and look forward to sharing more about AcreSeason™ with you. We invite you to visit our new Japanese website: AcreSeason™ Japanese Website https://ja.acreseason.com/ Thank you for your continued support of AcreSeason™. AcreSeason™ Team

English | 日本語  Good morning, everyone. It is the middle of summer, and I hope you are all doing well. Here, I have been weeding the rows in the vegetable garden. There seem to be relatively few weeds because of the large leaves of the rhubarb, but the plants appear to be wilted and not very vigorous because of the heat. And the most distinctive feature was that there were very few of the characteristic red petioles that symbolize red rhubarb, with most of them being lush green. The red color of these petioles comes from anthocyanin, a type of natural pigment produced by plants. Rhubarb petioles contain various types of polyphenols produced by the plant. Among them, anthocyanin is one of the representative pigments responsible for red and reddish-purple coloration. Simply put, polyphenols are a group of compounds found in plants, and flavonoids are one group within polyphenols, with anthocyanins existing as a group within flavonoids. Rhubarb accumulates a large amount of an...

English | 日本語  Good morning, everyone. Today, I began preparing a new raised bed for transplanting the remaining half of the CW and RL divisions (the back section of the two rows on the right side in the image " Vegetable Garden Status (July 26) ") when the next round of plant division takes place. Although the division is still some time away, I want to grow rhubarb in high-quality soil, so I'll take my time and carefully prepare the bed over the coming weeks. Vegetable Garden Status (July 26) The weeds growing between the other beds have also started getting a little larger, so I'll be doing some weeding as well. However, I'll begin by turning the soil in the area for the new raised bed, where the shade makes it a much more comfortable place to work. Normally, I could speed up the bed construction using a machine such as a tiller. However, since I've uncovered large rocks and thick roots here in the past, I'll once again use a shovel and work ca...

English | 日本語 Good morning. From yesterday evening through the night, we experienced heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms. This is the time of year when sudden downpours and lightning become more frequent. I keep a close eye on the movement of rain clouds every day as I carry out work in the garden. As a result, it looks like I will be able to resume harvesting and shipping around late September. Garden conditions this morning (July 22) This is my inspection of the garden after the heavy rain. I carefully check the growth of each rhubarb plant one by one. I also inspect the growing conditions by making sure there are no standing puddles and that none of the raised beds have been severely eroded or collapsed. Part of the rhubarb in Bed HB (July 22) Due to the heavy rain, soil has been washed away from the raised beds, making small stones much more noticeable. In addition, patches of grass left behind after mowing are beginning to stand out. It looks like these beds wil...

English | 日本語 Good morning, everyone. Today, I would like to talk about deer, one of the wild animals that cause serious damage to valuable crops. It is often said that deer can jump over fences higher than 2m. Recently, I had the opportunity to witness a deer clearing a fence with my own eyes. By reviewing the video I recorded, I was able to observe the deer's jump as a series of distinct movements. Rather than charging straight toward the fence, the deer appeared to carefully judge where to take off. Judging from the video, it seemed familiar with this particular fence, as if it had successfully jumped over it many times before. For wild animals, an injury to the legs can mean the difference between life and death. Instead of attempting risky jumps with a low chance of success, this deer appeared to take off only after determining that it could safely clear the fence from a familiar location. If it had been in unfamiliar surroundings, I believe it would have run alo...

English | 日本語  Good morning, everyone. The heat has not let up since last night, and the electric fan has been running at full speed indoors. Please be careful to avoid heatstroke. Today (July 14), I started preparing early in the morning to mow the grass in the rhubarb garden with a brush cutter. In particular, I will work carefully to avoid damaging the rhubarb plants with stones that may be thrown by the mower. Rhubarb garden before mowing From July through August is always the hottest time of the year, but this year's heat feels unusually intense. The arrival of days with extreme heat (40℃ or higher) is no longer an exaggerated concern. I will continue working while taking frequent breaks and making sure to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes. Rhubarb garden after mowing I was able to mow the grass nicely. It also looks like the heat won't let up tonight. That's all for today!

English | 日本語 Good morning, everyone. It's already hot enough to work up a sweat early in the morning. The rhubarb seems to be feeling the heat as well, so today marks the final shipment of the season. To everyone who has been looking forward to our rhubarb, thank you. With today's (July 14) delivery to Tateshina Jiyu Noen Hara Village Store, I will conclude this season's rhubarb shipments. People sometimes ask, "Has the rhubarb season already ended?" The answer is no. My rhubarb is looking a little tired from the heat, but it is still growing well out in the field. Even so, I'm ending shipments today not because I can no longer harvest it, but because I want to deliver rhubarb at what I believe is its very best. Condition of the final rhubarb harvest of the season As the season moves into midsummer, rhubarb gradually changes from the fresh tartness and tender texture it has in spring and early summer. What I want everyone to experience is ...

English | 日本語  Good morning! The coolness of the early morning didn’t last long today, and it quickly started to feel hot. It seems the rhubarb has noticed the change as well. Although the stalks are still fresh and juicy, they have lost some of their crisp texture. The rhubarb in the lower section of my garden (toward the back in the photo) begins to receive shade around midday. In contrast, the rhubarb in the upper section (toward the front in the photo) is exposed to direct sunlight from sunrise until sunset, so it loses its crispness much more quickly (it has already been harvested). Conditions in the garden (July 13) Today’s harvest will be delivered to Tateshina Jiyu Noen Haramura Store. To preserve this excellent quality, I'll work quickly to get everything ready. Freshly harvested rhubarb (July 13) I hope you'll have a chance to pick up and enjoy our carefully selected rhubarb. That's all for today. See you next time!

English | 日本語  Good morning, everyone. Today (July 11), I'll be harvesting rhubarb after finishing the transplanting of the divided plants. It's currently around 5:00 a.m., and I can already feel the heat. If it's this warm at this hour, it's likely to be an extremely hot day. Please take care and stay safe by protecting yourself from heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. After transplanting the rhubarb (July 11) Now then, today (July 11), I'll be delivering today's harvest to Tateshina Jiyu Noen Haramura Store. I'll work as quickly as possible so the freshly harvested rhubarb doesn't wilt in the heat. Freshly harvested rhubarb (July 11) If this hot weather continues, it seems to be a sign that the rhubarb harvest season will soon be coming to an end. From today on, I'll be watching the morning and evening skies to judge how much longer the harvest season will last, hoping to make my limited supply of rhubarb ava...

English | 日本語 Good morning, everyone. Today, I have been out in the vegetable garden since 4:00 a.m. I can already feel a bit of the heat. This is because today I have two major and important tasks to complete. The day before yesterday (July 8), I created new raised beds and prepared the soil. Today, I will be carrying out two jobs there: (1) transplanting the divided rhubarb crowns into their permanent locations, and (2) harvesting rhubarb for shipment. Sunrise is around 4:30 a.m., but that won't give me enough time, so I'll continue working with a headlamp. It's completely dark, and I can hear birds and insects all around me as I work (what a wonderful environment to be in!). Condition of the area before it became the new raised bed First, I'll begin with task (1), transplanting the rhubarb. Since the soil has turned out loose and in excellent condition, I'll pull it up to form the new raised beds. Next, I'll mark the transplanting locations at int...

English | 日本語  Good morning. Today, with sunny weather for the first time in a while, I’ll be building raised beds for rhubarb division. The forecast calls for temperatures rising from 19 to 25℃, so it’s important to stay hydrated and take frequent breaks. Lately, I’ve mostly been harvesting, so I’m curious to see how my stamina holds up for this kind of work. Vegetable garden before adding the raised beds This time, I’ll be building raised beds in the upper sections of CW and RL. This area previously contained broccoli that was never harvested and mustard greens that had grown far too large. Building the raised beds Even in the pleasant early morning, this is physically demanding work, and it has been a while since I’ve done this much manual labor. This process is called soil turning. By turning the upper and lower layers of soil and removing weeds, I’m preparing the ideal growing environment for rhubarb. Pulling out the weed roots is more challenging than I expected...

English | 日本語  Good morning. Early this morning, we harvested in the mist. The cool conditions made for the ideal environment to harvest rhubarb. We hope you can see just how fresh and vibrant the harvested rhubarb is. Today, we will be shipping to the Fujimi Town Rhubarb Producers Association and Tateshina Jiyu Noen Haramura Store. Freshly harvested rhubarb (July 7) To preserve this excellent quality, we will move quickly with the rest of the process. Freshly harvested rhubarb (July 7) We would be delighted if you picked up some of our carefully selected rhubarb. That's all for today!

English | 日本語 Good morning, everyone. Today, we will be delivering fresh rhubarb to Tateshina Jiyu Noen Haramura Store. Today's harvest is taking place in the rain. The rain-soaked rhubarb looks especially vibrant and full of freshness. Rhubarb field in the rain (July 6) Harvesting in the rain is more challenging, but the cooler temperatures help preserve the freshness of the freshly harvested rhubarb. To maintain this freshness, we want to finish harvesting as quickly as possible and move on to the next task. After harvesting, the rhubarb is immediately washed, sorted, and packaged so it can be delivered to the store in the freshest possible condition. Freshly harvested rhubarb (July 6) This rhubarb was harvested starting at 5:00 a.m., so it is crisp and exceptionally fresh. We hope you enjoy the delicious flavor and crisp texture that only freshly harvested morning rhubarb can offer.