A thick layer of straw can make a big difference during the hot summer months. In this video, we mulch all of our newly planted fruit trees to help keep the soil moist after irrigation. By reducing evaporation, we can use as little water as possible while giving the trees the best chance to grow in a natural and healthy way. #naturalfarming #fukuoka #inlinewithnature #mulch #fruittrees #mulching

This summer, our biggest challenge is helping our newly planted fruit trees survive the long, hot, and dry season. Without some extra water, they simply won't make it. We considered letting nature take its course, but after losing more than 40 newly planted trees last year—even with a 60 cm (elbow-high) layer of mulch around each one—we decided to take a different approach. Natural Farming constantly invites us to ask the question: Should we intervene, or should we do nothing