🌿 Zen Gardening in My Vegetable Patch

A quiet practice after the rain

After the rain, the weeds in my vegetable patch always seem to grow overnight. On a day with a gentle breeze and no harsh sun, I went out to do some weeding.

It’s a simple task, but I treat it as a kind of Zen gardening—a quiet practice of paying attention to the earth in front of me.

My Zen Gardening Tool: A Stainless Weeding Fork from Daiso

The tool I use is a stainless steel weeding fork I bought at Daiso. I prefer it far more than the sickle type. You slip the fork into the soil at the base of the weed, give it a small twist, and the whole root comes out cleanly. That little moment of release is incredibly satisfying.

My husband insists the sickle is faster, so this is simply a matter of preference.

But there is one exception: purslane. If you slice it roughly with a sickle, it will come back twice as strong after the next rain.

It’s a tough weed—said to grow even from a single petal. Let it grow a bit, then lift it gently with the fork. That works best.

The Neighbor’s Triangle Hoe Technique

My neighbor uses a triangle hoe. He lightly scrapes the soil surface while the weeds are still tiny, loosening them, then gathers them with the tip of the hoe and buries them in a small hole nearby.

He does everything standing up, so there’s no strain on the back, and his garden stays beautifully clean. I found myself admiring the method as I watched.

Clearing the Ground, Clearing the Mind

While I weed, all kinds of thoughts drift through my mind. But as the soil becomes clean and open again, my mind also begins to settle.

Maybe I had more thoughts than usual that day— when I finally looked up, three hours had passed.

Tomato and Cucumber Care

I removed the lower leaves from the tomatoes to improve airflow.

Cucumbers need the same care, or they quickly fall prey to powdery mildew. This year’s cucumber plants are especially vigorous, with large, healthy leaves. Wanting to let the wind pass through, I worked a bit too enthusiastically.

I worried I had overdone it, but when I checked the next day, the growing tips were stretching upward with energy. I felt relieved.

Other Vegetables Are Doing Well

So far, there are fewer pests than last year. It feels like a peaceful season in the garden.