Grandma Kiku-yo, name meaning “Chrysanthemum“

This original seed saver totally inspired us. She collects every kind of seed imaginable, including the most delicate pulses such as mung and aduki beans and sesame seeds. Her garden is so complex and varied, including of course chrysanthemums.

Kukiyo-san in her garden, with Michel, digging taro and ginger and with her drying aduki beans - see full version of these by clicking on "Read more".

Mandarins and persimmon, or kaki as they are called here, hang from trees. Shiitake mushrooms grow on logs that her husband harvests from the forest. Very mixed and bountiful garden with successions of crops, such as spinaches in three stages. Most beautiful setting in between forests and with ancient farm houses.

Kiku-yo walks with bamboo sticks but is still very energetic. She digs up taro with her hands and showing us how she stores ginger roots and sweet potato tubers underground in rice husks, under straw.

Kiku-yo was drying aduki seeds in her courtyard. She had a whole room dedicated to her seed collection in tins and jars. Masses of them that she shares with others.

Kiku is generous to a T, we left with fruits, flowers (chrysanthemums of course), ginger and shiitake mushrooms.