Grow Hayama
This is my DIY story.
マイケル キダ
マイケル キダ
Why do I want to tell you my story? Because you should know that my story isn't special or much different from anyone else. What I have that makes my life fun and interesting is a special key that opens many doors that are closed to most people. I want to help you forge this key so you can open doors too.
This key is hard to describe but it can be felt. It is a lack of fear, an open mind, and unquenchable curiosity. Engaging in DIY is the best way to make this key. Come and join me in my DIY Life journey.
Michael Keida - Farming Artist
DIY from America to Japan.
DIY from America to Japan.
DIY from America to Japan.
DIY from America to Japan.
I was born into a home of a DIY mind. If something was needed, the first thought not where can it be bought; it was how can it be made? From clothing and food, to plumbing and decks, in our house everything was done by us for the most part. The great part is that I was able to learn so many different skills and develop a doityourself attitude. But it also gave me lots of experience with trial and error. The error part is huge. Without experience, anything can seem daunting or even scary. Growing up with lots of error that was accepted gave me confidence to challenge myself and explore the world freely.
Throughout my life I kept this DIY attitude. In university I had a garden, fixed my own car, built a bedroom in my friends basement, and built a dark room in my apartment. Whatever I needed, I made. So when I came to Japan, I carried this with me. In my first year, I soon found myself living in the Hayama area. With so much great seafood at hand, I wanted to make bouillabaisse but wasn't able to find one key ingredient, fennel. So I took it upon myself to grow it. I bought some planters and grew some on my veranda. But this wasn't enough to satisfy my needs so I found a home with a large garden. Soon enough I had a small garden with plenty of fennel. But now I wanted figs, olives, and rows of tomatoes.
After some searching and asking everyone I knew, I was able to find a small farm of nearly 200 square meters. This was a great plot and I quickly set out to cultivate the land. After three years, I had a small cabin, 50 types of plants, and was making a lot of my own food.
As fate would have it, the land was sold to local Yakuza and they built a solar field out of my land and the forest around it. I was devastated but once again, I set out to look for more land. Through the assistance and care of an elder, I was able to find a new place that was more than ten times larger and with much more potential. On this land, I have cut back brush and cultivated a few acres for growing. I have also built ovens, cabins, a tea house, an outdoor bath and more. It is me heaven, a place to experiment and a safe place to fail.
Now I have started this new project on a new plot of land that was generously provided by a dear friend and local farmer who raises cattle in Hayama. This land was used as farm land but recently has been sitting in wait for a new beginning. It has so much potential that it excites me to stand in its presence. Join me in this new project and let's build something that helps us safely take on challenges and help us find the key.
