Miracle Apples

Chapter 21

There are hints of spring, even in the depths of winter.

Change in nature happens little by little, and in places we cannot see. Like the tide coming in and lapping against things all around you. Something was clearly changing now. People may sense these things subconsciously. Changes he was not aware of were changing Kimura. They also had an effect on the relationship between Kimura and the people around him.

Kimura told me the following story. The owner of a neighbouring orchard, no longer able to tolerate them, came over to complain about Kimura’s which now looked more like a jungle.

‘At least cut the weeds.’

He was clearly exasperated. What he said was short and to the point, but Kimura knew only too well the huge significance of his neighbour’s message. He was not about to put up with any further nonsense about being pesticide-free. The man was mad, but he hadn’t said anything because, at least up until then, he’d always told himself that at least the orchards had been tended. Kimura had then given up cutting the grass. The weeds grew out of control; the soybeans he sowed everywhere grew waist high; you had to wade waist deep through the orchards. There were all sorts of insects humming around the wilds of the orchards. You could hardly call them orchards any more. Getting crazy dreams into your head, failing to grow apples for years, getting poorer; these were all Kimura’s problems. He urged him not to cause any more trouble for other farmers in the area. What was he going to do when the insects flew their way? There’s no way they were going to put up with any more.

A year ago he would probably have argued with his neighbour. Now, however, he listened to him in silence. Then, quietly, he said this.

‘Could you come over again tomorrow evening?’

The following evening, the man stood with Kimura on the boundary between their orchards. Moths fluttered around. Moths produce the insects that devour apple leaves. The man had an expression of incredulity. He couldn’t see any insects at all emerging from Kimura’s orchards. The moths were flying in ones and twos, as if escaping from something, from the neighbouring orchards into Kimura’s. Far from being the source of the pests, Kimura’s orchards seemed to be where they congregated. This was clear, once they transformed into insects. The orchards where pesticides had not been sprayed felt decidedly more comfortable. If you were an insect you’d understand. It seems the fact that there were so many moths in his orchards, where pesticides were used, came as a shock to the owner of the neighbouring orchards. He couldn’t eradicate the insects. That’s why he had to spray pesticides every year, but he was shocked to see the reality. Not only did he never come and complain again, he also told all the local farmers the story.

This was not because Kimura was an eccentric; it was because his neighbour had noticed that he was on to something. Looking around the orchards he noticed deep holes had been dug here and there. Kimura said he was measuring temperatures under the ground. He started by saying that the temperatures of the soil on the mountain and the soil in the orchards were different, and then went on to explain why he allowed the weeds to grow. He explained it all with great passion.

‘Not that you’re an academic.’

The sarcasm was unintentional; inside they seemed to be genuinely interested. They’d hitherto given no thought to how well the apple roots were growing in the soil. At least they were forced to concede that he’d not just let the weeds grow rampant for no reason at all. It may have been their imagination, but compared to what they used to look like the apple leaves did indeed seem healthier. The apples aside, the vegetables Kimura was growing in the orchards looked amazing. The stems of some tomato plants grew to nearly three meters, and were laden with fruit. They’d never seen tomatoes growing taller than apple trees. Kimura may have been considered eccentric in some respects, but he could justly be regarded as a gifted farmer. Of course they didn’t acknowledge Kimura without some reservation. For one thing, the orchards were still full of insects. But if the insects didn’t damage their orchards, they’d be prepared to follow Kimura’s efforts more closely. The attitudes of the people around Kimura slowly started to change.