Residents bear only 20% of the cost... Composed of 'box, organic potting soil, lettuce seedlings, support stakes'... Urban farming experience utilizing small spaces like balconies and rooftops
A rooftop box garden installed on a building in Seodaemun-gu
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) is distributing box gardens to allow anyone to experience urban agriculture by utilizing small leftover spaces in daily life.
The box garden is designed to grow crops by planting seedlings or seeds in a small box filled with soil and compost.
Through this, people can enjoy leisure activities and obtain well-being ingredients, while children have opportunities for eco-friendly experiential learning.
The district has prepared 600 sets of box gardens measuring 50ℓ (width 65cm × depth 45cm × height 45cm). Each set consists of a box, organic potting soil, lettuce seedlings, and supports.
450 sets will be distributed to Seodaemun-gu residents, and 150 sets to public institutions, educational institutions, and registered professional organizations at community service centers.
Individuals can apply for up to 3 sets per household, and organizations can apply for up to 10 sets. Applicants must pay 8,000 KRW per set, which is 20% of the original cost of 40,000 KRW.
Those who have received box gardens from Seodaemun-gu between 2016 and last year are excluded from eligibility.
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested parties can apply from April 6 to 9 via the Seodaemun-gu website (Login → Citizen Participation → Open Plaza → Box Garden Application) or by visiting the Environment Division at the district office (4th floor of Hong Eun 2-dong Community Service Center). Applications may close early if there are many applicants.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, online applications are recommended. If visiting in person is unavoidable, wearing a mask is mandatory. The box gardens are expected to be delivered to the requested addresses around April 27.
Mayor Moon Seok-jin of Seodaemun-gu stated, “We hope that cultivating box gardens will serve as an opportunity to practice a more eco-friendly lifestyle in daily life and strengthen bonds among family and neighbors by sharing the crops grown.”
For more details, please contact the Environment Division of Seodaemun-gu Office.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
