Kickstarting Beijing's Urban Farming Movement

This week Greenpeace announced that the air in Beijing has been better than this time last year, and the government considered congestion charges to reduce cars in the city center. However, that doesn't mean that we can't accelerate our fight to make Beijing a better and healthier place to live.

The Sanyuanli Garden Project, run by the French Youth Economic Chamber of Beijing and RISE, a student environmental association, is doing exactly that on April 26 with their first shot at spurring on an urban farming movement in Beijing. Urban farming has the ability to solve a lot of troubles that residents (especially the elderly) in Beijing face: they will have a way to keep moving, a method to relieve stress, and will help contribute to lowering PM 2.5 levels in the long run. And as a bonus, will supply the city with some much needed aesthetic improvement.

The project aims to lead Beijing's urban farming movement by helping residents set up a pilot gardening community in Sanyuanli that is sustainable as well as acting as an inspiration for future projects. Their dream is that the movement will eventually spread throughout the city – and wouldn't that be awesome.

The project's initial objective is to have 30 households participate, the first 10 of which will have their installations ready this Sunday. They'll receive regular training and a starter kit including a planting box, soil, fertilizer, seeds, and a watering can. On top of that, a local neighborhood Kindergarten will also get involved with educational programs for the younger generation.

For more information or if you have questions, do get in touch with the organizers. Email Marine at mflouq@gmail.com (or call 130 1119 6109) or France comvertejcef@gmail.com (131 6182 0767).

Photo: SCMP