In major urban city centres like Beijing and Hong Kong, space is scarce and land expensive. A garden is out of the question for the vast majority of residents. So what do you do? Exactly, you go to the roof! In a city like Beijing, about 90 million square feet of empty roof is exploited by eager gardeners. So you can still create a small green oasis in metropolitan areas.
The Perennial Plate collective brings the stories of Osbert Lam on the City Farm in Quarry Bay district in Hong Kong and Guichun Zhang in Beijing. Both men enjoy the daily care of their urban produce.
Chinese want organic and are cagey about existing farming methods
The urban farming trend in China and Hong Kong is partly due to a desire for organic products. In addition, there is growing suspicion of agricultural practices in mainland China. But above all, gardening is just a delight. Guichun takes obvious pleasure in his vegetable garden and Osbert says: "It is a relaxing hobby that acts as a kind of tranquillizer for city dwellers."
After only two years, the City Farm in Hong Kong can boast over a hundred active growers. Last summer, the South China Morning Post reported that urban farming initiatives are mushrooming like never before.
Source: NRC