Gwanak District Establishes Youth Healing Farm at Gang Gamchan (3 plots) and Nakseongdae (1 plot) Urban Farms
Sixty Young People to Experience Cultivation and Harvest of Crops
Gwanak District (District Mayor Park Junhee) is operating the eco-friendly urban farm "Gwanak Youth Healing Farm" to comfort young people who are feeling exhausted and lonely.
According to the "2024 Survey on the Living Conditions of Youth" released last month by the Office for Government Policy Coordination, there has been an increase in young people experiencing depression and suicidal impulses due to difficulties with career decisions, employment, and interpersonal relationships, as well as an increase in youth who are isolated or withdrawn. As a result, youth mental health has emerged as an issue requiring policy solutions rather than being viewed as an individual problem.
To support the mental well-being of young people, the district has introduced "healing agriculture," establishing the "Youth Healing Farm" in three plots at the Gang Gamchan urban farm and one plot at the Nakseongdae urban farm, and has begun full-scale operations.
On the first day of operation, about 40 young people selected as participants in the Healing Farm attended events including education on urban farming, checking their farm plots, and planting seedlings.
In particular, for novice growers who are unfamiliar with urban farming, the district invited an expert instructor in urban agriculture to provide training on seasonal crop cultivation methods, land preparation, and seedling planting. Field practice was also conducted together with an urban agriculture manager.
Previously, the district recruited participants for the Youth Healing Farm last month, targeting young people aged 19 to 39 residing in Gwanak District. The district comprehensively evaluated applicants based on their motivation for participation, sincerity, and potential for continued involvement, ultimately selecting a total of 60 young people to cultivate the Healing Farm.
The selected participants are divided into four teams, with each team cultivating and harvesting a variety of seasonal vegetables and fruits on a 3-square-meter plot.
Afterward, the harvested organic produce will be used for "healthy home-cooked meal workshops," and a social dining event called the "SLOW Farm Party" will be held, where participants can share the completed dishes and communicate with one another.
The Youth Healing Farm will be operated until October. During this period, the young participants will have opportunities to recover their exhausted bodies and minds through urban farming activities and mentoring by healing agriculture experts from the Seoul Urban Agriculture Center.
Park Junhee, the district mayor, stated, "I hope that young people can sweat together at the Healing Farm, connect with nature, comfort their weary hearts, and reflect on the preciousness of life," adding, "Gwanak District, which was designated this year as the nation's first youth-friendly city, will continue to listen to the voices of young people and promote diverse policies that support their lives as the leading youth capital of Korea."
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