Hello, this is Haruka Baba.
I work as a coder at Monosus.
I used to work at a flower shop, so when I have time I help look after the plants in the office.
Gradually, my desire to learn more about plants grew stronger, and through a fortunate opportunity, I had the opportunity to participate in something called the "Garden Curator Ready Training Camp."
This time, we will introduce the "Garden Curator Ready-to-Work Camp" and what we learned about making bio nests there.
What is the "Garden Curator Ready-to-Work Camp"?
The "Garden Curator Ready-to-Work Camp" is a course held by Q-GARDEN Co., Ltd. to train "garden curators."
Garden Curator Ready-to-Work Camp Winter 2022
It seems that the course has just started, and this was the second time I participated. It seems that the exact definition of a "garden curator" is still being explored, but the literal translation is "garden curator."
In my interpretation, in the landscaping business, there are always three relationships: the customer (the client), the contractor who is actually in charge of the landscaping, and the plants.
I believe that a "garden curator" is someone who always looks at these three things from above, and strikes a balance so that everyone is happy.
The camp lasts for two days and one night and is attended by around 20 people.
All of the participants are professionals working in their respective fields, such as gardeners and seedling producers, and the lecturer is Norihis Yamamoto, author of the book "Landscaping Planting Techniques."
I attended the event feeling nervous, thinking that I would probably struggle to keep up with my knowledge and experience, but everyone welcomed me warmly and we had many in-depth conversations about the current problems facing the landscaping industry and future prospects.
On the first day of the camp, we shared information about pesticides and reported on projects we were involved in as garden curators. On the second day, we made bio nests and had an opinion exchange session.
I'd like to share some of the memorable stories about pesticides that were told on the first day.
When I think of pesticides, I think of artificially made chemicals such as insecticides and herbicides used to eliminate insects and weeds that harm crops, but the Agricultural Chemicals Control Act also considers natural enemies of pests that harm crops to be pesticides. Therefore, it seems that things like the seven-spotted ladybird, which eats aphids, and the mallard duck, which eats weeds and pests in rice fields, can also be considered pesticides. I was very surprised by this.
There are also pesticides that are effective only against certain insects and pesticides made from natural ingredients, but as long as plants are healthy and vigorous, they will not be attracted to pests or get sick.
Once again, I realized the importance of daily care and creating an environment that is suitable for plants.
What is Bio Nest?
Bio Nest looks like a big bird's nest. It is like a handmade compost that you can put unnecessary branches and dead leaves from garden maintenance into the frame and they will return to nature.
Generally, pruning work requires the effort and expense of transporting and disposing of the large amount of branches and leaves. However, by placing a Bio Nest, you can reduce that effort and cost, and make work easier in mountains and parks where it is difficult for cars to enter.
Also, because it is made from branches, it blends easily into nature and is easy to make.
On the second day of the camp, we made a bio nest with the help of all the other participants and Professor Yamamoto, but we wanted to make one again as a review, so we borrowed the garden of Kimi-san's house from the Monosasu site secretariat and made a bio nest with her and Saito-san from the Monosasu secretariat. We wanted to see if a bio nest made by a beginner could withstand the elements, and also observe how it would turn out over time.
How to make a Bio Nest
Kimi-san's house is very spacious. She said that she hadn't been able to take care of the grove, so we did a little pruning.
Then gather the pruned branches in one place.
Cut this into pieces about 60cm long so that it is easier to stack in a circle.
This was the most difficult part. It may be easier later if you cut it short when pruning.
Thick and thin branches will be used separately, so place them a little apart.
Once all the wood has been cut, we arrange it into a bio nest.
First, line up some thick pieces of wood that will serve as the base.
Once you have assembled the pieces in two or three layers like building blocks, you then insert the thinner branches into the gaps between the branches at the base.
When doing this, always insert the branches in the same direction, facing the same way, and as horizontally as possible. This will allow the branches to intertwine tightly, making the tree sturdy and resulting in a neat finish.
Since it is dangerous for the branches to stick out, we move forward by wrapping them around other branches and tucking them in, or by cutting them with scissors.
If you keep doing it in the same place, it will end up uneven, so if you check it from a distance every now and then to make it round, it will come out nicely.
Finally, put any remaining branches and dead leaves inside and it's complete.
This time, we had a lot of space to use, so we were able to make a bio-nest about 1m in diameter.
All of those pruning branches fit into this bio nest.
A few days later, I asked Kimi about how it had progressed, and she told me that it had remained perfectly still since the day it was made, even on windy or rainy days.
I'm looking forward to seeing how much the volume has decreased the next time I prune it.
Because I live in an apartment, I grow plants in pots, but the soil loses nutrients, so I give them fertilizer every now and then, and when the pot gets too tight, I put in new soil and replant them in a slightly larger pot.
However, through making the Bio Nest, I realized the importance of returning fallen leaves and branches to the soil rather than throwing them away: "So, everything in nature is something that naturally circulates around," and "so the soil becomes living soil because of fallen leaves and weeds, which allows the microorganisms to increase."
Since then, I can't help but see fallen leaves on the road and food waste from cooking as materials that improve the soil. I wondered if there was anything I could do even though I live in an apartment, so I started composting on my balcony. I've only just started, but I'm looking forward to observing it every day, and I wonder if I'll produce a lot of food waste.
If you have the opportunity, please try making a bio nest!
BABA Haruka