Most Japanese manga are serialized and published in weekly or monthly anthologies, usually thick paper magazines that are often discarded by subscribers after reading as few have the space at home to store them.

While most manga end up in second hand bookstores or the paper recycling bin, Japanese artist Koshi Kawachi has thought of a way to literally fill the faded pages of these comic books with new life by turning them into colorful seedbeds, a process which he had dubbed MANGA Farming.

Kawachi describes MANGA Farming as an installation art piece where vegetable seedlings are planted in the pages of old manga books, placed on a dish and given water.

Seedlings are planted like a bookmark on the pages that left an impression on the reader and grown as a visual representation of the scenes that stuck with them the most.

Last June, Kawachi held a MANGA Farming workshop in Yokohama where he invited guests to bring their own manga and plant seedlings on their favorite pages. The workshop was held over a weekend and the pieces were displayed at an open exhibition the following week.

Be sure to check out the gallery on Koshi Kawachi’s homepage for more pictures.

Kawachi has not stated whether he will do the workshop again this year or not, but we’ll be sure to let you know if anything sprouts up!

Source: Koshi Kawachi Official Blog