It’s chilly and the sun takes its time poking above the forest. It was 8:40 in the morning when I took this photo of Niji-himi 虹姫 and Scarlet, two mothers side by side, waiting on the grass for the sun to appear. Scarlet’s chicks are staying warm underneath her. Chickens worship the sun. Morning sunlight is their coffee. Paradise for them is rain at night, sunshine all day.

The white flower bean harvest is in full swing. Every day there is another pound or two of beans ready for picking.