Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kiwiduncan]

Spring is here. Is anyone else keen on gardening? I started a small rooftop garden recently and I think others here have rented "weekend farms" from their local government office.

When I was in Seoul a few weeks ago I saw, for the first time, adverts on the subway promoting weekend gardens.


"Daddy, let's go to 'our farm' next weekend! I'm curious about how much my lettuces will have grown"
I'm not too sure how much it costs to rent a bit of garden land for one season, but I've heard it might be about 100,000 a year. I think all you need to to is ask at your local neighbourhood office. The usual Korean term for an allotment is "주말동장" (weekend farm).


You can also find a wide range of vege seeds if you go to the right shops (standard flower and house plant shops don't seem to stock them however). Does anyone know a good place in Seoul to buy seeds?

[spliff]

I am. I mostly garden at night.

[ricky_lamour]

I've been preparing the soil in my vegetable patch for the last two weeks. I think it'll be warm enough to plant next week. Can't wait to get get my first crop of beetroot.

[Toju]

Full time herb grower. Wonderful in the summer adding lots of different herbs to varying foods.

[kiwiduncan]

[wings]

I would really like to grow some herbs on my patio, but I have never done it before.

What would be the easiest things to grow? I love fresh dill, basil and cilantro, so if I could find seeds for those somewhere it would be great.

Any advice on where to find seeds or some growing tips?

[kiwiduncan]

Cilantro in Korean is 고수 or 팍치, dill is 나도고수 and basil is 나륵풀. In case you can't find a shop selling them, you can also buy seeds online in Korea. Get a Korean friend's help if necessary and try searching on www.auction.co.kr

Good luck with your search.

By the way, I'm trying to get a network going for greenie type expats across Korea. If you are a facebook member check out the following group.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7153561274

The more members the better. I'm sure that we all have information and advice that others might find useful.

[Fairy Queen]

For the last two years I have planted basil, rosemary, mint, lemonbalm, thyme, tomatoes and chilli plants in planter boxes outside in my courtyard.

A good place to get herbs that can then be transplanted to the planter boxes is near Yangjae. Behind the emart next to Costco towards Yangjae IC station is a flower market with all sorts of herbs. One stall even had dill and chamomile which I have never found anywhere else. You can also get planter boxes, soil and anything else you need there.

I found the herbs grew really well but I had to try 3 different basil plants before one took. I think it was still too cold for it so this year I still have the little plant inside. I will put it outside in a couple of weeks I think.

Next to Seoul National University is another pretty good flower market with some herbs although not as greater range as Yangjae.

[moosehead]

[Captain Corea]

I've been thinking of setting something up on my veranda... this is a cool thread man.

[kiwiduncan]

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

I don't but my landlord has a veggie patch he's just started on our rooftop and said that I'm welcome to help him out by adding my food scraps to his compost. He's a nice guy and I'm sure he'd let me have a small section to plant if I was interested.

I like the idea that if I end up living in Korea medium- to long-term that I buy a piece of land just outside Suncheon, build or renovate a hanok-style house and have a fully functioning Korean-style garden. I also wouldn't mind a small section with some Australian fauna to remind me of home but I wonder how difficult that would be to bring over. It would cost heaps of money but would be cool.

[kiwiduncan]

I posted this picture in another thread recently but I'll put it here to as it's pretty inspirational. It's a high school geography teacher's lovingly restored 70 year old house on the outskirts of Yeosu.








Kimchi Cha Cha, if Suncheon is anything like nearby Yeosu you'll probably see loads of cool old places in the countryside nearby.

I like the idea of planting a small forest of NZ trees somewhere in Korea too. And one day when I am back in NZ my future garden will certainly have some Korean influences (a few persimmon trees at the very least).

[matthews_world]

Nice, um, but what do those pics have to do with the thread?


Anyway, in Seoul, the best place to find seeds and soil and any equipment would be Dongdaemoon market, more specifically the Jeongno5-ga. Get out of Jeongno5-ga station and walk down to Dongdaemoon. They have a nice variety of what you might be looking for.

[kiwiduncan]