Urbanites get green fingers
Print Edition
A small piece of farmland hiding on a rooftop, at a residential quarter or surrounded by tall buildings, is not only for urbanites to retain their nostalgia but also an organic way to open and comfort people’s minds.
It varies from time to time whether rice paddy, vegetables, fragrant herbs are the best choice to be planted in the soil of downtown. A mini farm featuring a pond, blue iris and a variety of aquatic plants was displayed in Yangpu, during a recent urban farm exhibition. A small herbal garden with chamomile, mint and basil was also exhibited during the event at the Knowledge & Innovation Community Garden.
Previously there was nothing there but an empty ground. Up to now, it has become Shanghai’s first urban farm at an open community. Apart from the rice paddy and fresh vegetables, gardening classroom, graffiti wall, farmers market and organic food are also available here.
Urbanites practice cultivating, processing, and distributing food here and the mode is being promoted all over the city.
Farms at communities also provide a nice place to carry out social activities where people can enjoy local flavors.
‘Transition town’
Urban farmers may receive formal institutional support. Their hardworking can be integrated into local town planning as a “transition town” campaign for sustainable urban development. Moreover, more access to fresh materials through urban agriculture can improve food security, which is always big cities’ top agenda.
Community farms first appeared in the United States before World War II. At the time, they were established to increase the output of agricultural products and help urban inhabitants to acquire food.
After World War II, the riches in the states started moving to suburbs and there were some dilapidated private land in American cities. Government bought the land and let people cultivate them.
Volunteer farmers took the job as a good way to communicate with each other and even entertain themselves.
“Many families in Europe and the United States have their own backyards, but most urban residents in China live in apartment buildings. That’s why community farms are more in line with the living characteristics of us,” said Liu Yuelai, a professor with Tongji University. “The first of its kind in Shanghai was on the rooftop of shopping malls along with cafes and restaurants. People may adopt, pick or cultivate the plants themselves.”
Liu and his teammates have taken part in 16 urban farm projects at communities, schools or industrial parks in Shanghai’s downtown.
Mutual communication
“The maintenance of community farming needs continuous participation of the residents. It also promotes mutual communication among them when they take care of the plants. Children see the constant change of the fruits and vegetables everyday which is not available elsewhere,” Liu added.
A community farm at Anshan No.4 Village, previously a processing plant, was later dilapidated due to poor maintenance. At present, growing vegetables is not permitted in most Shanghai communities.
It requires support from community management. Liu and his teammates kicked off their project on the former site of the plant and do their jobs with expertise. The farm is open and for share. Local residents took part in almost each step from design to daily management.
At the same time, Liu’s team is also in charge of the management of the Knowledge & Innovation Community Garden. Shui On Group authorized his group to turn the former public green land into a community farm.
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