Agricultural experience
Kagoshima has rich volcanic soil that regularly gets a natural re-charge from the nearby volcano, Sakurajima. It’s practically an unfair advantage compared to places where the minerals in the soil get depleted, but non-residents don’t have to worry about ash ruining the shine of their new cars. Seeing how tasty the produce was answered my question as to why Kagoshima residents can tolerate a volcano exploding 1000 times per year. There had to be some real benefit, otherwise, who’d build a city here?
How does one dress for an outing picking veggies in the garden with a full-day of traveling ahead? You simply wear whatever you think can withstand the occasional brush with rich volcanic soil and brush it off. As it was December, the ripe veggies I got to pick were ready and waiting.
As a city boy, I was pleased to learn how quickly radishes and cabbages grow, just a few months for some, and just six weeks for other veggies. From this experience, I did confirm one very important thing, and that is: locally-grown, pesticide-free organic veggies are fantastic, and their taste bears no resemblance to the shiny but empty vegetables sold in grocery stores back in my old hometown outside of Washington, DC. I would rather have a few blemishes and get to enjoy Kagoshima’s deep, rich natural flavors anytime.
