Lai Hoi-lung promotes urban community gardening in Hong Kong

Urban agriculture researcher Dr. Lai Hoi-lung emphasizes that community gardening in Hong Kong serves as more than a food source, acting as a vital tool for social connection and community resilience. His research highlights how urban planting can foster neighborhood bonds and encourage sustainable eating habits, such as consuming seasonal produce to reduce carbon emissions associated with long-distance food transport.

To address the shortage of community garden plots, Lai suggests that authorities open up public housing estate planters and roadside greenery for citizen cultivation, drawing inspiration from Singapore’s use of idle grasslands. He also advocates for resource circularity, noting his own practice of collecting two tons of coffee grounds from local cafes over two years to use for farm composting.

Beyond environmental benefits, Lai views gardening as an educational tool to teach children respect for nature. He notes that during the pandemic, community gardens provided essential social spaces for residents to connect and support one another.