城市天台農夫

URBAN ROOFTOP FARMER


Brooke

14:00 - 16:00 




“I’ve loved greenery since I was a kid and always wanted to become a gardener, which is unusual for a city girl! When I came across the urban rooftop farming course, I decided to give it a go - and it eventually led me to this job. Every day, I look after the plants at our different urban sites and take care of everything from seeding to fertilising to watering. I was a bit of a “plant killer” initially, but gradually and with practice developed my green fingers. It takes about 3 months to get from seeding to harvest, and it’s so satisfying to see the plants grow healthily and happily. When you eat vegetables that you grow with your own hands they just seem to taste that much better. I learned that it’s important to be very patient and observant, and to really care about each plant. That’s why I sometimes talk to the plants - you may not believe it, but it sure helps!” 


「我細細個就好鍾意植物,一路都想成為園藝師,好少城市長大嘅女仔會想做!當我發現咗天台耕種嘅課程,我就決定去試吓,最後呢樣嘢仲變埋我嘅職業添。每一日,我會喺唔同嘅市區農場照顧農作物,由播種、施肥到淋水,樣樣都會做。我一開始都算係一個植物殺手,但係慢慢熟習咗,就識得點樣照顧植物。由播種到收成大約需要三個月,可以見到植物茁壯成長,真係好有滿足感。食到自己親手種嘅蔬菜,總係特別好食咁。我而家知道養植物係要好有耐性同埋細心觀察,真係要關心每一棵植物。所以有時我會同啲花花草草講嘢㗎,你可能唔信,但係真係有用!」

“Farming has changed my life. About seven years ago, I suffered from serious social anxiety and was so afraid to even leave my own home. I was in my late teens and had very little awareness about mental health at the time. Little by little, the condition spiralled into depression and anxiety. But then, slowly, I started to use my hands more and spent more time out in nature. Looking after plants and embracing nature has had a huge positive impact on me and really helped to regulate my moods. It’s also been a big confidence booster. There is something quite empowering about taking ownership of and looking after plants. I would encourage everyone to try it! Nature is really the best medicine.” 


“I've dabbled into different lines of work before - from kitchen work to early childhood education to working at a flower shop…through my journey I’ve realised that I’m the happiest when I’m outdoors and surrounded by greenery. A normal nine to five office job just would not suit me. I am grateful that my path has taken me here and I hope that more people can also experience the joy of urban farming in Hong Kong. I’m 26 years old and not sure what the future holds, but I’m excited to keep learning and growing in the farming and gardening world!”

.

 

「耕作改變咗我嘅生活。大概七年前,我社交恐懼得好嚴重,好怕離開屋企。我嗰陣時未夠20歲,對精神健康呢樣嘢冇咩概念。逐少逐少咁,個情況演變成抑鬱同埋焦慮。但係,慢慢,我開始多咗落手做嘢,多咗去大自然。照顧植物同埋身處喺大自然對我有好大嘅幫助,幫到我去穩定情緒,仲令我更加有自信。負責照顧一棵棵植物令我覺得自己好充實。我會建議每個人都試吓!大自然真係最好嘅良藥。」

「我之前做過唔同類型嘅工作,由廚房、到幼兒教育、到喺花店度做嘢……我發現自己喺戶外,俾一堆植物包圍住嘅時候係最開心嘅。一個正常嘅朝九晚五辦公室工作並唔適合我。好慶幸有呢啲經歷帶我行到嚟呢度,我希望多啲人有機會喺香港體驗到天台種植嘅樂趣。我今年 26歲,唔肯定將來係點,但係我好期待繼續喺耕種同埋園藝嘅世界裡面學習同埋發展!」


Story sponsored by 



 

.​

 Get in touch to sponsor an NGO story or crowdfund a storytelling campaign!