The second cut of indigo

Today we did the second cut of indigo.

The indigo fields are first harvested in early August , and then they grow again.
When we notice that the flowers are about to bloom, we check the timing and decide the date for the second cut.

Recently, the leaves of indigo have become thinner and thinner.
It felt like it was starting to take on a shape that would allow flower buds to form.
(Probably a sign for a second cut.)

When flower buds appear and flowers bloom,
The color of the leaves goes towards the flowers, so the indigo becomes paler.
My master taught me this.

So I've been checking the condition of the leaves every day, and it's almost time!
That's what I decided this morning.

In addition, indigo leaves are dried after harvesting,
In reality, the best time is when the weather remains clear for about three days.

Otherwise, it will get moldy before it can dry and will become unusable.

I've spent the past few days keeping an eye on the condition of the leaves and the weather.

Autumn comes early in Itoshiro, and after Obon, red dragonflies can be seen flying all over the place.

Inspired by the autumn wind, I wonder if it's time to start making seeds.
We are now entering the season when Ai also begins to focus her efforts on this.

This morning, four of us started harvesting and drying the rice.

Although I say I work in the fields, I don't go into the fields every day because I use mulch (weed-proof sheet) to grow crops, and after holding a sickle for several hours for the first time in a while, I got blisters on my fingers. (Pathetic...)

But it feels really good to sweat while harvesting in the fields.
We worked hard, saying that we would go to the river once we finished!
(Actually, thunder started roaring, so we couldn't go to the river.)

Today, we finished harvesting in the middle of the morning.
In the afternoon, we cut it into small pieces and blew it away with a fan.

The drying process has yet to begin, but in this season,
It is a great joy to grow the leaves that produce the indigo color.

These leaves will be used for dyeing the fabric the year after next.
Once it has reached the "tsuyu" stage, it is left to rest for a year.

It takes about two full years to dye the hair, so it's a long-term job.
I'd like to have fun while doing it.

Maybe one day I'll be able to expand my farm even further.
I would like to continue making clothes from clay.