Recently, I’ve been seeing the Kin-chan Farming Method everywhere on social media in Japan.
So what exactly is this popular natural farming technique?
I actually tried building garden soil using this method, and in this article I’ll share:
- What you need to prepare
- Step-by-step instructions
- What was challenging
- Practical advice from my experience
If you’re interested in organic gardening, natural farming, or chemical-free soil preparation, this method is worth learning about.
What Is the Kin-chan Farming Method?
The Kin-chan Farming Method focuses on improving soil health by utilizing the power of beneficial microorganisms and fungi, especially filamentous fungi.
There are three main types of Kin-chan farming:
- Raised beds with organic matter that encourage filamentous fungi
- A compost-style method using kitchen waste
- A method that utilizes weeds
👉 In this article, I will focus on the raised-bed method using filamentous fungi.
Core Concept of the Kin-chan Farming Method
The goal of this farming technique is to grow healthy vegetables by relying on natural soil ecosystems, without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
Utilizing Beneficial Microorganisms
“Kin-chan” refers to beneficial soil microorganisms and fungi. These microbes help:
- Break down organic matter into nutrients
- Improve soil structure
- Protect plants from pests and diseases
By intentionally creating a balanced microbial environment, plant growth is naturally enhanced.
Prioritizing Soil Health
Because no chemicals are used, soil microorganisms are preserved and encouraged.
This leads to a self-sustaining soil cycle, making this method ideal for long-term, sustainable gardening.
Using Organic Materials
Common organic materials include:
- Weeds
- Fallen leaves
- Rice husks
Despite being eco-friendly, this method often produces high-quality vegetables with surprisingly good yields.
👉 I’ll explain the kitchen waste version and weed-based version in separate articles.
Benefits of the Kin-chan Farming Method (My Personal Experience)
After reading the book and trying it myself, here’s what impressed me most:
- No pesticides or chemical fertilizers — healthier for the body
- Fewer insect problems
- Healthy, nutritious vegetables are said to attract fewer pests
- This surprised me, because organic vegetables are often believed to have more insect damage
- Almost no watering or additional fertilizing required
- More cost-effective than conventional soil preparation
- No need for repeated tilling as long as organic matter is supplied
If you’re interested, I highly recommend reading the original book — it completely changed my perspective on soil and farming. (But there are only Japanese books)
What You Need to Prepare
Organic Materials (Food for Fungi)
Examples include:
- Fallen leaves
- Small branches
- Logs
- Bamboo
- Rice husks
- Charcoal
- Organic lime
For my garden, I used items that are easy for anyone to obtain:
- Fallen leaves
- Small branches
- Organic lime
Why I Chose These:
- Logs may cause issues in rental gardens
- Bamboo is hard to source
- Rice husks are seasonal and require drying time
- Charcoal costs money, and I wanted to keep expenses low
Where I Collected Fallen Leaves
I collected fallen leaves from a large nearby public park.
Before doing so, I contacted the city’s park management office to confirm it was allowed for personal use.
They told me it was fine — and even helpful, since it contributes to park cleaning.
💡 Tip: If you’re unsure, call your local municipality first.
I collected about six 45-liter bags, and working together with my family made it a fun experience.
Black Plastic Mulch
- Recommended width: 180 cm
This width is officially recommended because the method requires wide and tall raised beds.
However, since wide mulch wasn’t available locally and I wanted to reduce costs, I used the widest mulch I could find at a home center and adjusted the bed width accordingly.
👉 I’ll report on whether this adjustment affects results in future updates.
Mulch Pins
You’ll need quite a lot.
Official guidelines recommend securing the mulch every 50 cm.
I used affordable pins from a dollar store, and surprisingly, they’ve held up well even on windy days.
Large Bags for Transporting Organic Matter
I used 45-liter garbage bags provided annually by my city.
Paper shopping bags also work well — especially when collecting leaves in public places where plastic bags might feel awkward.
How to Build the Raised Bed (Soil Preparation)
Standard Bed Size (Official Recommendation)
- Top width: 1 meter
- Height: About 45 cm
My Adjusted Bed Size
- Top width: 50 cm
- Height: 45 cm
- Length: About 4 meters
Advantages:
- Lower initial cost
- Easier for women and beginners
- Suitable for small rental gardens
Disadvantages:
- Less space for organic materials
- Limited planting rows
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Till the soil
- Apply organic lime (200–500 g per square meter)
- A hoe works better than a shovel
- Build the bed
- Pile soil up to 45 cm
- Level the surface as much as possible
- Add organic matter (5–10 cm thick)
- Mainly fallen leaves with some branches
⚠️ Avoid windy days — leaves will fly everywhere (learned the hard way!)
- Mainly fallen leaves with some branches
- Cover with soil (about 5 cm)
- Lightly press to help it settle
- Water thoroughly
- Either wait for rain or water with a watering can
- Cover with black mulch
- Secure firmly with mulch pins
- Create small air gaps
- Place soil clumps or weights on top
- Make small holes near the sides
- Let it rest for 2–3 months
- Time depends on the season
Final Thoughts: Was It Hard?
The most challenging parts were:
- The physical effort required to build tall beds
- Collecting enough organic materials
It was a long, physically demanding day — but also exciting and rewarding.
Of course, I was sore the next day, but I’m hopeful that the vegetables grown from this soil will make it all worthwhile.
If you’re interested in organic gardening, sustainable farming, and chemical-free vegetables, the Kin-chan Farming Method is definitely worth trying.
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