Gwangyang-si Opens Weekend Farms for Urban Residents

Providing Healthy Leisure Activities Through Farming Experience

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do announced on the 13th that it has completed the weekend farm infrastructure covering 2,000㎡ within the Gwangyang Agricultural Technology Center test field and officially opened it.

The urban weekend farm provides Gwangyang citizens with opportunities for wholesome leisure activities and emotional well-being through farming experiences every year, and interest among citizens has been increasing steadily.

This year, unlike last year's first-come-first-served recruitment, participants were selected individually through a direct lottery, and to minimize gathering due to COVID-19, the lottery was conducted over three separate days with divided groups.

As a result of the lottery, 110 households were allocated plots, and weekend farm participants are to prepare seedlings, seeds, and small farming tools themselves and freely cultivate until December 31.

The city did not hold an opening ceremony to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and provided participants with guidelines for using the weekend farm, urging them to comply with quarantine measures such as wearing masks.

Ha Jin-ok, head of the Urban Agriculture Team, said, “We hope that urban residents, who have been experiencing a frustrating daily life due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, will operate the weekend farm with their families to stabilize their minds and bodies, maintain their health, and not lose hope despite difficulties.” She added, “We will seek ways to expand the weekend farm next year to encourage more citizens to participate.”