Neighborhood gardens help build community spirit

It all started with 14 containers on the rooftop to grow vegetables and flowers. Each miniature garden is taken care of by two families, of which one has at least one elderly person at home and the other has one or more children.

Harvested vegetables are sent to the neighborhood's senior residents, cooked for the nutritious community lunch or sold during charity bazaars, Wang said.

The miniature gardens were upgraded in 2017 to include a broader variety of vegetables and expanded to more rooftops in Caojiadu, which also helps children learn about cultivating crops and vegetables.

"We hope to attract different age groups of residents to come out of their own homes and meet neighbors through the rooftop garden projects, not only the elderly but also the children, the parents and white-collar workers," Wang said. "Moreover, the gardens also help the children recognize crops, since most of them grew up in cities with little knowledge of crops."

The project wasn't always smooth sailing, though, with Wang saying some vegetables had been stolen and gardens destroyed.

The neighborhood committee has since focused more on popularizing the miniature gardens among residents and calling on them to become volunteers for the maintenance of the rooftop farms, Wang said.

There are now more than 10 rooftop gardens in the neighborhood, and some office buildings will soon build more.

Tang Lingfeng, secretary of the Caojiadu neighborhood working committee, said traditional public welfare activities organized by the committee have targeted students, the elderly and the needy, but how to engage local residents has been a challenge.

"When people get to know each other, most of the work can be easily done and promoted, which will in turn enhance community governance," Tang said.