Interesting Green: Gardening plots to increase twofold by 2030; NParks to give away seed packets to spur growing vegetables at home

Source Website: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nparks-distributes-packets-of-seeds-to-encourage-public-to-grow-vegetables-at-home
By Shabana Begum, The Straits Times, 19 June 2020 at 09:55 am

PHOTO: Instructions on how to grow the vegetables will come with the packs of seeds.
PHOTO: NPARKS
Picture posted by Shabana Begum, The Straits Times on 19 June 2020 at 09:55 am
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nparks-distributes-packets-of-seeds-to-encourage-public-to-grow-vegetables-at-home

SINGAPORE - The number of community plots for gardening enthusiasts will more than double by 2030.

The National Parks Board (NParks) aims to have 3,000 community gardens - up from 1,500 - and 3,000 allotment gardens, a threefold increase from the current level.

Building the new plots will start once the Covid-19 situation improves.

PHOTO: Rows of seedlings grown in an egg tray.
PHOTO: NPARKS
Picture posted by Shabana Begum, The Straits Times on 19 June 2020 at 09:55 am
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nparks-distributes-packets-of-seeds-to-encourage-public-to-grow-vegetables-at-home

NParks also launched an initiative on Thursday (June 18) that includes distributing free packets of leafy and fruit vegetable seeds to encourage people to grow produce at home.

You can register for the seed packets on this website or call NParks at 6499 1099 from June 18 to June 30. The packets will be sent by Aug 1.

The initiative, called "Gardening with Edibles", supports Singapore's "30 by 30" goal to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs by 2030. The country now imports more than 90 per cent of its food supply.

The initiative is supported by DBS Bank and the Tote Board.

Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said: "The potential risk of disruption to our food supply during the Covid-19 situation underscores the importance of our local food farms and growing more food locally, as part of our strategy to strengthen food security and build greater social resilience."

The packets contain seeds for one type of leafy vegetable, one kind of fruit vegetable and instructions in four languages on how to plant them. You can't choose your seeds; the selection will be random.

PHOTO: Rows of seedlings grown in an egg tray.
PHOTO: NPARKS
Picture posted by Shabana Begum, The Straits Times on 19 June 2020 at 09:55 am
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nparks-distributes-packets-of-seeds-to-encourage-public-to-grow-vegetables-at-home

They include seeds for veggies such as Chinese cabbage, chye sim, kang kong, tomato, brinjal and lady's finger. They take between four and eight weeks to grow.

Seeds can be planted in egg trays to be developed into seedlings before being transplanted into pots.

Posted by Desmond Lee on 18 June 2020 at 11:00 AM - Gardening with Edibles
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&v=2998283896876228

Mr Ang Wee Foong, deputy director of nursery management at NParks, noted: "There are sufficient seeds for each household to grow a number of plants for consumption. A family can share extra seeds with friends and relatives who have other types of seeds."

Ms Jennifer Yong, who is in her 40s, started growing herbs and edibles such as Thai basil, bok choy and pea shoots on her patio last year after being inspired by a colleague who is an avid gardener.

Ms Yong, the vice-president of payments and platforms at DBS, buys soil and fertiliser online.

Her children say her Thai basil and pea shoots taste sweeter than store-bought ones.

"Growing edibles at home is fulfilling because it is your own fruit of labour, and you know what you put in the soil. There are no chemicals," said Ms Yong.

PHOTO: Edible plants grown in pots.
PHOTO: NPARKS
Picture posted by Shabana Begum, The Straits Times on 19 June 2020 at 09:55 am
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The expansion of community plots and the Gardening with Edibles programme are part of the country's efforts to transition into a city in nature.

But it is not always rosy.

A 2017 Straits Times article reported that there were turf wars in some community gardens, with fruit being stolen and plants trampled. This led to some gardens being locked and prompted some residents to look for other plots.

PHOTO: It is not always rosy. A 2017 Straits Times article reported that there were turf wars in some community gardens, with fruit being stolen and plants trampled. This led to some gardens being locked and prompted some residents to look for other plots.
Picture posted by depositphotos
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Ms Teh Mooi Yan, 52, a gardener of over 40 years, said the increase in community plots may not reduce conflict between residents as tension is usually caused by miscommunication.

"A number of the gardeners are people in their 60s and 70s, and they don't speak English or use WhatsApp to communicate, and so there is a communication barrier," said Ms Teh, a lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic.

"The only way to solve conflicts is to have face-to-face talk with our neighbours and understand their needs and issues."

PHOTO: Our hearts were created by God to bring forth fruit when His Word is planted in them. Just as a seed has to remain in the ground over time to germinate, so the Word of God has to abide in us.

Jesus said in John 15:7: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

This law of seedtime and harvest operates in every area of our lives. If we will plant God’s Word in our hearts, then allow the seed to germinate and the plant to grow to maturity, we will reap the fruit of a harvest. But it is not immediate. We need to plant the seed of His Word in our heart long before we have the fruit of the harvest. Planting the seed of His Word in our heart is the foundation to receiving the promises of God. [2]
Picture posted by Passion CuongDC on 13 December 2017
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https://passion.cuongdc.co/2017/12/nhu-ca.html?zx=d95d10a2f52be08

By Shabana Begum, The Straits Times, 19 June 2020 at 09:55 am

Other stories

Reference

[1] Shabana Begum, The Straits Times, Gardening plots to increase twofold by 2030; NParks to give away seed packets to spur growing vegetables at home, posted on 19 June 2020 at 09:55 am, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nparks-distributes-packets-of-seeds-to-encourage-public-to-grow-vegetables-at-home

[2] Andrew Wommack Ministries, God’s Word – the Seed of His Blessing, https://www.awmi.net/reading/teaching-articles/gods_word/

Links

community plots for gardening enthusiasts - https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/place-of-discovery-and-fun-for-budding-community-gardeners

the Covid-19 situation - https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2020/02/virus101/index.html?shell

on this websit e - http://www.go.gov.sg/gardening-with-edibles

Singapore's "30 by 30" goal - https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/grow-local

Other stories - https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/other-stories.html

John 15:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A7&version=NIV