About Midori Farm Kyoto
Chuck Kayser is a self-taught organic farmer with more than 10 years of hands-on experience. His passion for cultivating flavorful, healthy vegetables led him to establish Midori Farm Kyoto in 2017. Today, the farm offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy chemical-free produce and discover the joy of growing food in harmony with nature.
The Power of Organic Farming
I moved from the U.S. to Japan in 1998, and in 2017 founded Midori Farm Kyoto to grow and share organic vegetables, welcome volunteers, and host tours and events that bring people closer to the land.
I’m passionate about cultivating healthy, chemical-free produce and teaching others the joy of farming. Through our YouTube channel, we’ve shared more than 80 videos demonstrating organic techniques and everyday farm life.
Organic farming has transformed my perspective on what truly matters. I hope you’ll experience for yourself how the vegetables we eat can be grown in ways that enrich our quality of life, strengthen communities, foster harmony with nature, and bring hope to future generations.
🌱 The Origin Story of Midori Farm
People often ask how I first began farming. Most are surprised to hear that I never studied agriculture, never volunteered on a farm, and never imagined myself growing vegetables—until I planted my first garden in 2009. At the time, I had been searching for land in the mountains north of Kyoto City to build a log cabin. Finding property was difficult; many families felt it would be disrespectful to their ancestors to sell land that had been passed down for generations.
With the help of friends, I finally found a small plot in a tiny village where the owner was willing to sell. We agreed on a price and went to the government office to transfer ownership. Unfortunately, the lot needed rezoning to allow house construction, which doubled the cost and made it impossible for me to buy. The kindly owner then suggested, “Why don’t you use the land for a garden?” At first, I had no interest in gardening, but my friends encouraged me to try.
So, reluctantly, I began cultivating the land in Kutsuki with no knowledge and no plan—only the hope that by becoming part of village life, I might one day find a small piece of land to call my own. My first seedlings looked promising until the deer ate every last one. The next year, with a fence in place, I harvested carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more—and I was hooked.
Completely by accident, I had discovered my passion. That small mountain garden became the first step on a long journey of trial, error, and learning that eventually grew into Midori Farm Kyoto. It took years of perseverance, mistakes, and small victories to reach the point where I could grow enough vegetables to launch a proper farm business. Looking back, every challenge was worth it.
