I had no interest in plants. Yet, before I knew it, my terrace had turned into a jungle.

Chapter 1 | The "Gateway" of Succulents

Originally, I had zero interest in plants.

I didn't know the names of flowers. When I saw houseplants, the only thought that came to mind was, "That's green."

That was the kind of person I was.

The turning point was a succulent arrangement I received from a friend.

In a small pot, mysterious, squishy plants were lined up.

"Huh... they're cuter than I thought."

That was the beginning.

Of course, at first, I didn't know how to take care of them.

Some weakened from too much water. Others were strangely energetic even when neglected.

Some grew rapidly, while others quietly withered away.

Even though they are plants, they have personalities.

I was a little surprised by that obvious fact.

Chapter 2 | A Natural-Style Home and a 2-Tatami Terrace

My wife has always liked keeping small trees inside the house.

I suppose you would call it a natural style. Wood-grain furniture. White walls. Indirect lighting. The occasional houseplant.

That is the direction of our home.

When we moved into a detached house, it came with a small terrace.

It was about 2 tatami mats in size.

"Doesn't it look like we could put some plants here?"

It started with that kind of casual attitude, a sort of home gardening project.

Chapter 3 | Tomatoes, Defeat

Speaking of home gardening.

The first things that come to mind are tomatoes, cucumbers, and the like.

They have a certain "summer vacation" vibe to them.

So naturally, I gave it a try.

The result.

It didn't go well at all.

A few cherry tomatoes.

That was it.

As for the cucumbers, they ended up looking like, "Is this some kind of stick?"

I learned later.

In the first place, it doesn't get that much sunlight.

My terrace only gets a few hours of sunlight a day.

Apparently, that's a pretty harsh environment in the plant world.

"So, the sun is important..."

I had a realization like an elementary school student.

Chapter 4 | Water Spinach, Awakening

The second year.

While I was idly watching YouTube, a video about water spinach came up.

Water spinach.

That delicious vegetable you often get at Chinese restaurants, stir-fried with garlic.

I checked the price at the supermarket.

"So expensive."

That was how it all began.

"Wouldn't it be faster to grow this myself?"

With that thought, I took on the challenge.

The result.

It grew like crazy.

It grew so much it was unsettling.

I cut it, and it grew back. I cut it again, and it grew back.

From summer through autumn, it appeared on my dinner table quite often.

Stir-fried water spinach. Water spinach miso soup. I ate it enough that people occasionally asked, "Again?"

But, it's delicious.

And above all, it comes with a mysterious buff of "I grew this myself."

Chapter 5 | A lazy person, saved by leaves

I learned from that.

Beginners should grow leafy greens.

Fruit-bearing plants are difficult.

Temperature. Sunlight. Pollination. Disease.

There are so many things to worry about.

In that sense, leafy plants are resilient.

Plus, many of them can be grown for years.

That's a blessing for someone lazy like me.

I was never a particularly diligent person to begin with.

I'm not the type to take care of things perfectly every single day.

That's why I got along so well with the 'grow-on-their-own' crowd, like shiso leaves and chives.

They are practically residents of the house now.

They'll probably keep growing on the terrace for the rest of my life.

Chapter 6 | Before I knew it, a small farm

I'm growing all sorts of things now.

Bell peppers.
Edamame.
Mizuna.
Spring cabbage.

I even have mulberry trees and olive trees now.

How did it come to this?

I'm even trying my hand at molokhia this year.

My interest in plants has completely surpassed that 'one millimeter' mark.

And recently, I've started getting some complaints from my family.

'We can't put the pool out.'

Exactly.

The space for the kids' pool has been encroached upon by plants.

The terrace has completely surrendered its control to the greenery.

Chapter 7 | Someday, a small garden

I used to not understand why adults made gardening their hobby.

But lately, I understand it a little bit.

Plants do not rush.

Even if you water them, there is no change the next day.

But before you know it, they have grown.

It is like life.

If you only chase things that yield immediate results, you gradually get tired.

Perhaps that is why.

Like when leaves increase.
Or when a new sprout appears.

Such small changes make me strangely happy.

I hope to have a small garden someday.

It does not have to be a vast farm.

A little bit of space is fine.

Planting something each season,
harvesting it,
and occasionally failing.

Perhaps such a life is unexpectedly luxurious.