The resilience of weeds
When I first acquired a farmyard in Yangdae-ri, nestled in Ipjang-myeon of Cheonan, decades ago, I had grand visions of cultivation. After much deliberation, I decided to plant mugunghwa — the rose of Sharon, Korea’s national flower — persimmons and chestnuts, along with various garden and ornamental trees. I imagined the property transforming into a vibrant rural canvas in spring, painted with…
Years after inheriting a farm in Yangdae-ri, nestled within Ipjang-myeon of Cheonan, the dream of cultivating mugunghwa, persimmons, chestnuts, and other ornamental trees proved ephemeral. The initial vivid visions of a springtime countryside, alive with wildflowers and fruiting trees, transformed into a relentless struggle against invasive weeds.
Despite diligent efforts to eradicate them, each visit to the farm became an endless battle with the soil. The laborious task of weeding under the oppressive summer sun, accompanied by sweat and frustration, led to an increasing disregard for the understated beauty of these wild plants. The only focus was on their removal from the land. A question lingered: what purpose could these troublesome weeds possibly serve?
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- The resilience of weeds koreatimes.co.kr
