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SINGAPORE – Gardening enthusiasts and more families can grow their own small gardens, as the National Park Board (NParks) is doubling the number of available plots to 2,000 over the next year.
The additional pitches, each the size of a queen-size bed, will be spread across 18 parks, including Aljunied Park, Choa Chu Kang Park, Punggol Waterway Park, and West Coast Park.
Applications are now open and will end on November 8.
Along with the additional allocations, NParks will also distribute around 60,000 seeds, such as those from Kangkong and Chinese Spinach, to the public, and will hold free online master classes on how to grow the toughest varieties like peppers and tomatoes.
These virtual classes, which were launched as part of the fourth NParks Community Garden Festival in Hort Park on Saturday (October 25), will take place this weekend.
Participants will receive free seeds of the edible plants and learn planting tips and techniques through live demonstrations.
The masterclasses will also be available for free on the NParks Youtube channel later for those who are interested.
NParks also announced on Saturday two new attractions, My Backyard Kitchen and Valley of Edibles, in Hort Park, showcasing groceries like Lady’s Fingers and Brinjal.
The Community Garden Festival is part of the edible gardening master plan, launched by NParks in 2017, to increase awareness and interest in community gardening by supporting the public through practical resources and materials.
Under this master plan, NParks will add more spaces for gardening, increase training opportunities and outreach programs.
At Saturday’s event, the winners of the Community In Bloom Awards, which recognize excellence in community groups’ gardening efforts, were also announced. All participating gardens received a bronze, silver, gold or platinum band of achievements.
Gardens that have earned platinum awards for three years in a row were elevated to the diamond band, which was awarded to 17 gardens this year.
NParks said this was the highest number of diamond awards given in a year, representing “increasing quality in community gardens.”
Award winners said the gardens have forged a spirit of community building among those who work in them.
Ms Rina Lai, 49, from the diamond award-winning Toh Yi Resident Network, said she had difficulty reintegrating into the Singapore community when she returned eight years ago after being in the UK for six years .
Through community gardening programs, she was able to meet other people and form a sense of belonging to her farm.
“We have managed to build a very strong spirit with the residents working together in the garden,” said Ms Lai, who is self-employed.
National Development Minister Desmond Lee, who spoke at the opening of the event, also highlighted the positive effect that gardening can have on social well-being, especially in the midst of a pandemic.
“This is a meaningful activity that can strengthen ties between friends, families and society. It can bring us hope and joy in difficult times,” he said.
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