Urbanites starting to delight in growing food

Health scandals in China in recent years that have made millions of people wary about the food they buy have created at least one other breed: city dwellers who rent plots of land to grow their own food and who can boast of having their own little piece of the good life.

But many of these city farmers have realized that the attraction of getting back to basics also has its unattractive sides, such as the hard, usually thankless work needed to successfully grow crops. The result is that many plots have fallen into disuse and many of the formerly enthusiastic farmers have moved on to other interests.

However, there are cases of these farms being turned into thriving ventures. One is Yifendi Farm, a cooperative set up in 2009 and run by Nanyuan Village in the Fengtai district of Beijing.

The allotment, one of the first in Beijing and one of the biggest, covers more than 90,000 square meters and includes 500 allotments of 66 sq m for rent.

In 2011 it established another area of more than 100,000 sq m that was given the name Little Town Farm, not far from Nanyuan Village, including 400 allotments of 36 square meters each.

Apart from a restaurant, the farm has also built dozens of wooden houses for people to stay over, and game centers where children can get to know farm animals, including peacocks, chickens and horses.

"People love farming, and there will always be a need for these things," says Shang Jincheng, an executive with the farm. "For a farm to retain customers the main thing is that it treats them well."

The two farms are very close to the city, which is a big advantage, he says, adding that tap water, farming tools, organic fertilizers and technical advice is available to customers free of charge.

Most of those in the two farms are loyal customers who have rented plots since it opened, Shang says.

Li Zhanming, 67, started renting a plot from the farm, a few subway stops from his home, three years ago. He had previously rented a plot on another farm, an hour's drive from his home, for nearly four years after he had retired as a physician.

Li says he visits his plot every afternoon to take care of the crops, watering them, removing weeds and pruning, and taking a stroll afterward.

The rewards are many, he says. He can supply his family with seasonal, fresh and healthy vegetables, including eggplants, cucumbers, beans, ginger and shallots, and his health is much better than it used to be.

About eight years ago, he was obese and had heart problems, high blood pressure and diabetes, and he tired easily, he says.

Now, about seven years after he started farming, he says, the only one of those ailments he still has is diabetes, which is under control.

Li attributes the improvement in his health to his willingness to put in a lot of hard work on his plot and to the happiness he derives from that.

Farming has given him a new perspective, he says, one in which crass materialism has given way to a much more peaceful and tolerant disposition.

He is so wrapped up in farming that even when he is not at his plot he is busying searching for tips on farming and new technologies online.

"Farming is not just about harvesting crops but is a lifestyle that has taught me to enjoy a slow and relaxing life," Li says.

A woman surnamed Xie, the mother of a 5-year-old boy, agrees.

Her family started farming this year in pursuit of healthy eating, fearing pesticide-tainted vegetables at the market.

They soon realized that farming provides far more than healthy vegetables, and farming on weekends has become a regular family activity.

"My parents came to Beijing to help look after my son, and they were unhappy because they don't have friends here and don't quite fit in, especially as my son grows older," Xie says.

"But since renting the farm plot, they have been busy and very happy. They feel as though they have achieved something and have made friends with other farmers here."

Her parents visit the farm every other day and are involved in everything, applying organic fertilizers, turning the soil, sowing, watering, weeding and harvesting.

Her son also loves the farm, enjoying leisure time that is unlike that of his city friends. He delights in playing in the mud, observing insects, seeing plants grow, chasing butterflies and watching the farm animals, Xie says.

However, Li and Xie say it is difficult for young people to work on the farm regularly if they are busy and are not that keen on farming.

(China Daily European Weekly 07/22/2016 page16)