Gunsan City Encourages Enjoying Quarantine Period with Companion Plants~

Gunsan Agricultural Technology Center is providing small joys to citizens suffering from COVID-19 self-quarantine through a horticultural therapy project cultivating sprout vegetables and companion plants. Photo by Gunsan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lim Jae-woo] Gunsan Agricultural Technology Center (Director Kim Chang-hwan) is providing small joys to citizens suffering from COVID-19 self-quarantine through a horticultural therapy project involving growing sprout vegetables and companion plants.

According to Gunsan City on the 29th, with the implementation of a two-week self-quarantine measure for overseas arrivals, 3 to 5 new self-quarantine cases are being added daily.

During the quarantine period, these individuals are placed in an environment where feelings of isolation from being separated from their families can easily amplify depression and stress.

The Gunsan Agricultural Technology Center, in cooperation with the public health center, plans to assist their return to society through indoor horticultural experience activities such as sprout vegetable kits and companion plant cultivation that can also be used for consumption.

In particular, sprout vegetables can grow to an edible size within a week, and research on indoor horticulture and therapeutic agriculture has shown great effects on horticultural therapy and health promotion, making it expected to yield good results during the two-week self-quarantine period.

Moon Young-yeop, head of the Rural Support Division, said, “Through this horticultural therapy support project, we want to give courage to all those who are struggling and exhausted due to COVID-19 and deliver a message of hope that Gunsan City is with its citizens and can overcome this together.”