Wild strawberries

There are several species of wild strawberries in the hills.
Picked this up on one of our weekend walks.
Tasted good and fresh...
Looked it up in the net later... in Japanese, it is called 'kusa ichigo' (literally, grass strawberry).
Also took a seedling to plant back home.

My missus bought one of these small, cute looking strawberry plants from the store some time ago.
The label said 'wild strawberries'...
We imagine them to be the 'original' strawberry specie, as the fruits are really quite tiny.
The flesh is rather soft and the taste is mild, I'd say.
Still, quite delicious, in its own way...

Lot 57, when purchased...

When we purchased Lot 57 (as it is officially called), it was simply loaded with various types of grasses and trees... some of which, unsurprisingly, were taller than me.

View of Lot 57... house is on top left, and Japan Inland Sea is on the right...


Just beyond the grasses lies the slope where we are planting fruits trees now (more later)... the hill on the right side is a protected forest, so, no neighbors... woohooo...

Peas so sweet...

Didn't have much success with peas for the last two years.
Used to buy them in little pots, from the DIY shop.
Finally bought seeds last October.
Green peas, snap peas, and 'silk field' peas...
Wooh, had been harvesting them since late March this year.
The peas are very sweet and taste best if harvested just before cooking.
As many a gardener would say, once you get to taste how fresh the garden produce is, you probably would not want to eat those from the supermarket anymore.
Of the three types, I think we like the snap peas the most.
My missus just boil them lightly and toss them in olive oil with a sprinkle of ground black pepper...

The beginnings...

Been living in Japan since 1987, first as a foreign student, and subsequently as an academician.
Due to the unstable situation and of course for a lack of funds, have always been staying in apartments.
In the process, we had the 'privilege' of putting up in a rather old (40 over years) government apartment.
(Good thing was the low rent, which enabled us to save up a bit of funds.)
It was quite an experience to inadvertently hear families arguing and throwing things out the window... and of seeing kids using the apartment walls to practice tennis during the weekends (drove us nuts)...
My missus used to periodically, albeit softly, mumble into my ear, hey, life is too short my dear... we should be staying in our own house, you know...