Harvest

When I came back from summer vacation, the rice fields had grown thick and tall. In October, the stalks bowed with rice and turned from leafy green to blazing chartreuse. The color jumped from the landscape when hit by the afternoon sun. North and south views from Osu JHS:In late October, the fields were cut and the straw was laid out to dry, then hauled away...to be made into tatami mats, among other things, I suppose.I assumed this was the beginning of a dead season. The nights and mornings have gotten cold. But immediately after the rice was cleared, the fields were tilled and replanted with cabbage, sweet potatoes, and more. And even the kids at school just planted pansies in the courtyard. I have obviously underestimated plants' tolerance to Shizuoka's fall temps.I have also learned that fall means mikan—Japanese oranges. It’s peak season for this fruit, which is a unique variety, though similar to clementines or mandarin oranges. And all over town, persimmons grow in leafless trees. Sweetness. So, I have been eating mikan every day, and enjoying cheap cabbage (good for Thai peanut salads); yesterday I even made a persimmon galette—yeah, pie plates don't fit in the microwave oven...