A Healing Trip for Urban-Rural Mutual Growth: Zucchini Harvesting Experience at Goesan Seoul Farm

The zucchini harvesting experience at Goesan Seoul Farm is a valuable urban-rural mutual growth program that allows urban residents to truly feel the charm of rural life. Stepping away from the busy city for a moment to harvest crops directly in the green fields and connect with nature was enough to soothe weary hearts. These spaces, operated jointly by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and local farms, serve as an excellent model of urban-rural understanding and mutual prosperity. I strongly recommend that our blog readers take a trip to nature with their families using weekends or holidays. You can enjoy the joy of recovering your lost appetite and vitality by tasting the fresh produce you harvested with your own sweat. In this post, I will share in detail the fulfilling day spent at Goesan Seoul Farm and the vivid details of the zucchini harvest.

=

A Healing Trip for Urban-Rural Mutual Growth: Zucchini Harvesting Experience at Goesan Seoul Farm

1. First Encounter with Goesan Seoul Farm and the Meaning of Urban-Rural Mutual Growth

For modern people accustomed to urban life, the countryside is often an object of vague longing, but actual opportunities to experience it are rare. Goesan Seoul Farm was established to satisfy this thirst, serving as the perfect place for Seoul citizens to easily visit and experience rural culture. Here, visitors do not just look around and leave; they communicate directly with local residents and learn the precious value of agriculture firsthand. The farm programs operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in partnership with various local governments open the path to mutual growth between cities and local areas. The open scenery and fresh air that greeted us upon our first arrival at the farm were enough to instantly blow away the stress accumulated over time.

Visitors begin their preparation for the full experience by listening to the guide’s kind explanations about the farm’s history and operational purpose. The process of reflecting on the value of rural life and considering coexistence with nature offers deep nostalgia for adults and a living educational field for children. One of the biggest charms of this space is that anyone can easily embrace the countryside without having to travel far. By participating in weekend farmer programs and various planned events, you can also gain the warm experience of sharing affection with neighbors. I hope that such places of urban-rural mutual growth will expand further, allowing more people to fall deeply in love with the charm of the countryside.

2. An Invitation to the Zucchini Field Filled with Fresh Green

Following the farm tour, we arrived at a place where zucchinis hung dangling among fresh leaves, welcoming visitors warmly. After seeing only vegetables neatly arranged on supermarket shelves, facing the lively sight of them growing on vines elicited spontaneous exclamations of admiration. The field, carefully tended by the farmer’s hands, exuded freshness with the scent of fertile soil and grass tickling our noses. The children, looking curious, lifted the vines and observed with sparkling eyes how the zucchinis grow. A farm official explained that for zucchinis to grow strong, not only adequate sunlight and moisture but also careful, devoted hands are essential.

Examining each well-grown zucchini to find the right time for harvest was a fun task that required more concentration than expected. We lost track of time enjoying the fun of finding the zucchinis hanging like hidden treasures, carefully parting the leaves so as not to prick ourselves. It was a meaningful moment where we could vaguely grasp the hard work of farmers dealing with crops, and we felt a sense of awe at the mystery of nature. We could fully enjoy the soft touch of the soil and the energy of green vitality, which cannot be felt on the asphalt of the city. It was an opportunity to realize once again how precious and valuable the produce harvested directly from the field is.

3. The Clumsy but Joyful Scene of the Zucchini Harvesting Experience

To begin the serious zucchini harvest, we received scissors and gloves and started moving between the furrows. After receiving meticulous instruction from the farm staff on how to cut the stems cleanly without damaging the vines, we began our practice. At first, we were cautious about potentially injuring the crops, but after a few tries, we quickly got the hang of it and started cutting with speed. The children, with their parents’ help, cut off large zucchinis themselves and beamed with pride. Even in the gloomy weather where sweat beads formed, the atmosphere was very lively as we encouraged each other and shared the joy of harvesting.

Every time a freshly picked zucchini filled our large baskets, we felt a sense of heaviness and reassurance in our hearts. The pride of harvesting food for ourselves with our own hands is a special emotion that cannot be felt in any supermarket shopping. As we exchanged jokes with other participants, picking out good-looking zucchinis for each other, the awkward air disappeared, and smiles bloomed. It was a festival-like time that broke the prejudice that farming is hard, allowing everyone to participate joyfully and laughingly. Lifting the basket after finishing the harvest, the sweat we shed felt less like hardship and more like a refreshing and comfortable healing experience.

4. The Value of Healthy Food Crafted with the Farmer’s Devotion

After finishing the harvest, we gathered at the rest area prepared by the farm to examine the freshly picked zucchinis. Touching the bumpy but firm surface of the zucchinis, we deeply empathized with the value of nature as it is, which is different from factory-style mass production. The more we listened to how much time and devotion farmers pour into overcoming seasonal changes, the more gratitude naturally arose in our hearts. It was a moment when we naturally reflected on the importance of the basic life habit of eating food gratefully without wasting it. Perhaps because the crops were grown according to the natural order rather than chemical fertilizers, their freshness and healthiness felt particularly distinct.

We continued with happy imaginations about what delicious dishes we would make with these zucchinis when we returned to the city. Thinking of chopping them into doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) or frying them into savory jeon (pancakes) made our mouths water in anticipation. It was a precious opportunity to realize how much effort from many people and the grace of nature go into completing the meal we face every day at the table. Just facing real food from nature, temporarily setting aside our taste buds accustomed to instant food, made us feel healthier. I am confident that this experience will have a positive impact on children’s eating habits, greatly helping to reduce picky eating.

5. Another Joy and Time for Rest Encountered in Goesan

Even after the zucchini harvesting experience ended, a fulfilling schedule continued as we looked around the surroundings of Goesan Seoul Farm and enjoyed leisurely rest. The clear streams and quiet rural scenery near the farm provided true rest for urban residents escaping their busy daily lives. Just smelling the earth, walking along the paddy dikes, and listening to the sounds of insects cleared our complex minds. We also enjoyed the pleasure of discovering additional charms of Goesan while looking at the local specialty exhibition space prepared by the farm. We also made precious connections by sitting side by side with participants from other regions, chatting and sharing warmth.

The lunch we enjoyed in a space filled with rural charm was truly delicious, to the point where we were reluctant to put down our spoons. The side dishes, which could not be compared to the food in fancy restaurants but contained simple yet deep hand-made flavors, gifted us unforgettable culinary memories. As the sun began to set, our steps were reluctant to leave as we boarded the bus heading back to Seoul, leaving our regrets behind. Although it was a short day, it was a journey that filled us with solid energy to fully recharge our bodies and minds and return to daily life. There was a charm that made us eagerly anticipate our next visit, wondering what crops would be waiting in the next season.

6. The Future of Urban-Rural Mutual Growth and Suggestions for Healing in Daily Life

I hope that spaces like Goesan Seoul Farm will become more active in the future, consistently playing the role of a strong bridge connecting cities and rural areas. For modern people who easily feel spiritual emptiness amidst material abundance, such rural experiences serve as the most certain remedy. It is the best alternative to tell children, who only stare at smartphone screens on weekends, about the preciousness of nature and to build memories together as a family. If traveling far feels like a burden, I recommend knocking on the door of various farm programs operated jointly by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and local governments. Small practices and concerns can gather to become the cornerstone of saving our farms and preserving a healthy food culture.

This fall, I hope you will also temporarily set aside your daily routine and step into a farm overflowing with green vitality. You will receive the precious gift of recovering the leisure and happiness in life that you had forgotten, within the simple actions of treading on soil and picking zucchinis. In the future, I will continue to share more useful information with you through various experience reports of breathing together with nature. I support you in becoming a wise urban farmer who gains the strength to live tomorrow within the warm comfort provided by nature. I sincerely hope that, along with the memory of fresh zucchinis, you will spend vibrant days where both body and mind become strong.

Frequently Asked Questions