Gyeonggi Province to Provide Urban Gardens Spanning 64,000㎡ to Over 10,000 Residents
Suwon NewsPublished 2020.01.04 16:35
Five locations in Hwaseong Dongtan, Gimpo Hangang, Goyang Samson, Suwon Gwanggyo, and Yongin Heungdeok covering 64,339㎡Urban farming support including garden plots, agricultural technology guidance, and food-sharing events
[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province is providing idle provincial and unused public land as 'Resident Gardens' to meet residents' growing interest and demand for urban farming.
The province announced on the 4th that it plans to collaborate with Gyeonggi Urban Development Corporation and Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) this year to newly develop large-scale resident gardens on 45,563㎡ of farmland-viable sites in three locations: Hwaseong's Dongtan, Gimpo's Hangang District, and Goyang's Samson District.
Accordingly, 'Gyeonggi Resident Gardens' will expand to a total of five locations covering 64,339㎡, including the existing Suwon Gwanggyo garden and Yongin Heungdeok, along with sites in Hwaseong, Gimpo, and Goyang. This represents approximately 3.6 times the area from last year and will provide urban gardens to approximately 10,000 residents.
Previously, the province opened a resident garden in Yongin's Heungdeok District with an area of 14,976㎡ in April last year, and has been operating an urban garden in Suwon's Gwanggyo since August 2016.
The resident gardens are provided at approximately 16.5㎡ per household for individuals and 33.1㎡ for groups, and are open to individuals or organizations with addresses in Gyeonggi Province. The province plans to prioritize selection of senior citizens aged 65 and older, vulnerable groups (elderly living alone, grandparent-grandchild households, single-mother households), multicultural families, individuals with disabilities, and households with three or more children.
Residents selected as cultivators will be provided with various benefits including agricultural technology education necessary for garden management and support for 'food-sharing events' linked to Gyeonggi Province's 'Civil Organization Food Security Support Project.'
Additionally, to facilitate communication among neighboring residents and promote agricultural values, the province plans to expand the 'Gyeonggi Province Public Rental Housing Rooftop Garden Project' currently in progress, providing box gardens in apartment passages and residential alleys, and will pursue an urban farming community support policy targeting civic organizations with relevant capabilities to promote urban farming expansion.
The province will announce recruitment of resident garden cultivators this month and begin accepting applications from early February. Residents or organizations wishing to cultivate gardens can apply through Gyeonggi Province Facility Sharing Portal (https://share.gg.go.kr) or contact Gyeonggi Agricultural Products Distribution Promotion Agency (031-250-2735).
A provincial official stated, "We hope that the resident gardens supported by Gyeonggi Province will provide opportunities for urban residents to experience farming and serve as a venue for local residents to communicate and promote community solidarity," adding, "We plan to continue expanding this project by discovering idle provincial land to benefit residents."
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