Becoming a Weekend Farmer in the Countryside

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. During the early May holiday, I went to the countryside with my friend V. Despite the unstable weather typical of spring’s "mother's face," we ventured out in the continuous spring rain to plant vegetables. The pastoral scenery amidst the wind and rain remained charming, especially the "May snow" (white flowers) under the courtyard trees, which was particularly alluring. The garden featured colorful blooms of various sizes competing in beauty, with one tree swaying in the spring breeze, laden with white flowers, dazzling and breathtakingly beautiful. Various herbs, rhubarb, grapes, and figs planted last year were thriving with vitality.

The labor of a farmer involves mowing grass, preparing the land, and turning the soil, followed by planting seedlings. This year, I planted eight tomato plants of different varieties and sizes along the wall vegetable bed. I also cleared another section to sow a series of beans and two basil plants. On the large lawn, I created two vegetable beds, one large and one small, joyfully playing with spatial installation games based on horticultural aesthetics. The larger bed was divided into four symmetrical triangles using geometric patterns of emerald green salad greens; the upper sections were planted with dark green salad, while the lower sections were sown with scallions covered by straw mulch. Symmetrically on the left and right sides, a chayote plant was placed in each corner, surrounded by fine bamboo poles and wire frames tied with thin grass mats to deter birds from pecking at the seedlings, creating an artistic layout.

The smaller vegetable bed was combed into three rows, sown with a series of beans, and had two melon plants planted on the diagonal corners. Near the rose border on the edge of the large lawn, there were three pumpkins of various types. A lavender plant was also grown under the kitchen window, surrounded by small stones. Cultivating the land is a form of happiness, a space where body and mind remain active. Being close to nature or embracing nature is my aspiration for life, and returning to nature is the essence of existence. Loving the mountains, forests, flowers, and grasses allows me to find my true self again.