Spring in Korea’s Countryside: A Self-Sufficient Garden Life in Paju

Korean Version

Spring in Korea is more than a simple change in the weather; it is a hard-earned reward, especially here in the quiet countryside of Paju. While the morning air still carries a sharp -1°C bite even in mid-April, the grey peaks surrounding our village are finally waking up, turning a lush and hopeful green.

It’s almost surreal to look at these vibrant buds today and remember the winter we just endured. Only a few months ago, this entire landscape was blanketed in snow—a frozen stillness that made us wonder if the thaw would ever arrive. Yet, it is this dramatic transformation that makes the season so captivating.

In our household, gardening is a way of life deeply rooted in seasonal rhythms and traditional food culture. This week, we finally stepped back into the soil to prepare for another year of growth—a moment we’ve been patiently waiting for all winter.

A Transformation Worth Waiting For: Grey into Green

But as the grey peaks and snow-covered fields finally turn into a soft, lush green, the warmth settles in—and with it, our garden begins to wake.

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1. Growing Our Own Food: A Nearly Self-Sufficient Life

We aren’t professional farmers, but my parents’ passion for gardening has evolved into a nearly self-sufficient lifestyle. We produce nearly all of our own vegetables and fruit throughout the year. It’s a labor of love that keeps our table fresh, organic, and deeply rewarding.

This morning, after spending time with the kids in the yard, I joined my father to lay down plastic mulch in the red pepper field. In Korean gardening, this is a vital task to keep the soil warm and prevent weeds. It was a peaceful moment—just us and the quiet anticipation of the harvest to come.

Garlic and onions are the backbone of Korean cuisine. Seeing them survive the freezing winter and push through the soil is the first true sign that our garden is alive again.

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2. The Jewel of the Garden: Korean Pears and BBQ Culture

If you’ve never had a Korean pear (Bae, scientifically known as Pyrus pyrifolia), you’re missing out. Unlike Western pears, they are round, incredibly crisp, and massive. Korean pears are not only enjoyed fresh, but also commonly used in Korean BBQ marinades for their natural sweetness and tenderizing properties.

The white blossoms are currently at their peak. Even our cherry blossom tree, which took five long years to finally bloom, has joined the garden’s celebration this year.

Looking at this photo from last year, you can see the scale of what we grow. Even though the trees look small, they were heavy with massive, golden fruit by autumn. It’s a reminder of why we put in the work every spring.

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3. More Than Just a Garden: Spaces for Life and Memories

Our garden isn’t just for crops; it’s a living space. It’s where conversations stretch late into the night and ordinary days quietly turn into memories.

The greenhouse is our favorite winter hangout—nothing beats grilling Korean BBQ by the wood stove while the wind howls outside. Now that it’s warming up, I’m also getting ready to fire up our handmade Italian-style pizza oven for the first time this season.

And then there’s the “luxury” dog house. I spent nearly $1,500 building this custom home for Rocky, but he prefers sleeping inside the main house on the floor with us. It’s one of those “funny yet sad” moments of pet ownership that every dog lover can relate to!

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4. Meet the Furry Family Members

Our six dogs are the true owners of this yard. They keep us company through every season.

Meet Jadu, our newest family member named after the fruit. Seeing the dogs run through the fresh spring grass makes all the gardening work worth it.

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Spring is Worth the Wait

From the flat peach trees we just planted to the soybean seedlings ready for the soil, the rhythm of our life is back in sync with nature. Spring in Paju may arrive late, but when it does, it fills every corner of our garden—and our lives—with something worth waiting for.

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