Today I spread chicken manure across the field to prepare for the summer vegetables, especially the okra.
The moment I opened the bag, that unmistakable smell drifted into the air. To most people, it would probably rank among the nastiest farm chores imaginable. But strangely enough, I don’t really dislike it.
In fact, the smell feels oddly familiar.
It brings back memories of childhood fields, humid summer afternoons, and dirt-stained hands from long ago. Unlike the scent of detergent or city exhaust, this is the smell of something alive in the process of growing.
The field is still rough in places, with weeds standing here and there and remnants of the previous crop scattered across the ground. But as I spread the manure over the soil, it felt as though the next season had quietly begun. It was not a glamorous job by any means, yet it was an important first step toward summer.
Okra thrives in the heat.
Soon the nutrients will settle into the soil, and by the time the rainy season passes, the plants will likely be showing off their vigorous leaves and pale yellow flowers.
Standing there surrounded by sweat, dirt, and the pungent smell of chicken manure, I found myself thinking that another summer was beginning once again.
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日本語版はこちら
https://blog.kuma-farm-japan.jp/article/520633539.html?1778224689
