Sky terraces are offering a welcome retreat for the China's southern cities' green-fingered residents.
Hong Kong is one of the world's most densely populated cities, making verdant back gardens a rare luxury for most of its seven million inhabitants. However, avid HK horticulturalists have found that things are looking up, as they have discovered new spaces to grow their own fruit and vegetable produce: rooftop gardens.
Melanie Lam, a 28 year old nurse, goes to the City Farm in Quarry Bay about twice a week and tends to her vegetable patch, which she shares with other green-fingered enthusiasts. “Compared to vegetables from the supermarket, vegetables that I plant are sweeter and fresher”, claims Lam.
Currently, only 3% of the vegetables consumed in the city are produced locally, as plots are scarce and space expensive. For those interested in sky gardening, planter boxes are available to rent for around HK$150-200 (US$20-25) per month. Currently springing up all over the city, the sky gardens are the perfect antidote to the dense, urban hubbub of the Island. “People who come to the farm are so happy”, adds Lam, “it's like a tranquilizer.”