Resumption of Yangcheon-gu Urban Agriculture School Operations

Children's Experience Class, Urban Farmer School, and Courses on Mushroom, Hydroponic, and Herb Cultivation to be Conducted Mainly as Small Outdoor Classes with Around 10 Participants

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “It’s fascinating and rewarding to see cucumber and eggplant vines climbing along the supports.”

“The sight of various plants, each with their own shapes and colors, coming together is more than just freshness?it is beauty itself.”

Urban farmers who participated in last year’s Yangcheon Urban Agriculture Education Program expressed the charm of agriculture experienced within the city in this way.

Yangcheon District Office (Mayor Kim Su-young) has decided to resume the urban agriculture education program, which was suspended due to COVID-19, starting August 18 this year.

With increasing public interest in low-carbon and sustainable growth in a society focused on production and consumption, and as COVID-19 has prolonged, many residents have been cultivating vegetable gardens in living spaces such as apartment balconies and multi-family rooftop areas to heal their minds and bodies. Accordingly, the education center will resume operations.

In the second half of the year, urban agriculture programs will be organized by class and age group: a Little Farmer Experience Class for general children (ages 6?10) and children with developmental disabilities (ages 6?13); a Young Farmer School (ages 20?30); an Urban Farmer School (adults); and specialized classes (mushroom cultivation, hydroponics, herb cultivation).

Applicants from the first half’s Urban Farmer School, which could not be held due to COVID-19, along with others recruited on a first-come, first-served basis, will make up the education participants.

Specifically, the programs include ▲experience-oriented children’s courses such as natural handkerchief dyeing, scarecrow making, and Halloween pumpkin doll making ▲Urban Farmer School courses covering understanding urban agriculture, creating vegetable gardens, and autumn crop cultivation and management ▲specialized courses such as urban agriculture and humanities, mushroom substrate production, hydroponic cultivation practice, and herb plant management ▲and advanced courses for those who have completed the Urban Farmer School.

In particular, the Young Farmer School offers various convergent and interdisciplinary classes related to urban agriculture, including the 4th industrial revolution, film, and culture. The mushroom, hydroponics, and herb cultivation courses invite experts in each field as instructors to provide specialized knowledge and skills.

To prevent the local spread of COVID-19, classes will be conducted in small groups of about 10 people, mainly outdoors. The education center will also thoroughly prepare for COVID-19 infection prevention by disinfecting the facility, requiring all staff and participants to wear masks, and measuring body temperatures.

Mayor Kim Su-young said, “Urban agriculture is at the center of future villages responding to the green climate crisis and environmental pollution. This is why urban agriculture is gaining attention these days.” He added, “Since the program was regrettably suspended due to COVID-19, we have prepared it more thoroughly, so we hope many residents will show interest and participate in the second half’s urban agriculture program.”