From the beginning of May, the rice farmers in Nagano start to flood their fields in order to prepare for rice planting.
Rice requires lots of moisture and has no problem growing below three or four inches of water.
There is a rice paddy just next to my apartment.
I have never seen how rice is grown and it was indeed a great opportunity for me to observe the changes in the paddy field.
In big farms, the planting process could take weeks and families would usually come together to help each other.
Most farmers have a machine that loads up trays of rice sprouts and as he drives the vehicle in a straight line,it plunges the rice into the ground.
This machine makes rice planting such an easy task.
My neighbour had this convienient machine too.
He drove it while his family members fill in the spots that the machine can’t reach.
It was really interesting to watch our neighbours plant their rice in the day.
However, on the same night, new neighbours moved in.
Hundreds of frogs partied in the rice field. We couldn`t find them because its too dark but we can hear them croaking even through closed windows.
Luckily I do not dislike frogs. They usually croak through wee hours but amazingly I find peace in their croaking.
Next, are the wheat fields.
Wheat grows really fast, so in only a few days time the fields turn from green to golden wheat fields.
The wheat field looks magnificient, especially under the sun.
Its really GOLDEN.
If you listen carefully, you can hear a rattling sound when the wind blows through.
