After the information about the toxic substance residues in vegetables was spread out, urban dwellers have become amateur farmers when they try to grow vegetables right at their apartments.

The tiny vegetable gardens

Nguyen Minh Hien, an office worker, who lives in My Dinh residential quarter in Hanoi said that though she is busy all the day, she still tries to arrange time to take care for her tiny vegetable garden.

“The pieces of news about environment pollution have frightened us. No one can say about the quality and safety of the vegetables sold at the markets. Therefore, it would be better to grow clean vegetables ourselves,” Hien said.

There are many different vegetables in Hien’s garden, which only takes an area of 8 square meters, from rau muong (spinach), herbs, to fiber melon. The vegetables are being grown in small boxes, which proves to be a very reasonable decision in the context of the limited area.

Like Hien, Le Duc Hung at Cienco 13 residential quarter in Hanoi, also has a small vegetable garden. He said that the garden is a wonderful place for him and other family members to relax and refresh, while it is also a source of clean vegetables, which “feeds all the members of my family.”

“We have two small children, and I feel worried if feeding them with the vegetables bought at the traditional markets. Therefore, I decided to grow vegetables myself,” Hung said.

“At first, I was not interested in growing vegetables, because I was very busy. However, later, when I saw many other people growing on their balcony, I decided to follow them,” he continued.

Cheap, easy to grow and economical

Cung Thi Kim Dung, a housewife in My Dinh residential quarter, said that because of the limited areas, it would be better to grow vegetables on foam boxes. The earth for growing vegetables is the one in bags sold at ornamental shops, priced at 30,000 dong per pack. After tilling the earth, seeds should be put on the watered earth.

After sowing, she put the foam box at a cool place for 2-3 days and waits for the seeds to sprout before relocating the box at the place which can get the sun.

Mai Van Phu, an agricultural expert, said that it is necessary to buy seeds from prestigious suppliers and buy the products with clear origin and labels. He said that in many cases, seeds contain preservatives which cannot be discovered with naked eyes.

Vegetable seeds are cheap and diversified. Peas and spinach seeds are sold at 15,000 dong per bag, while others are priced at tens of thousands of dong.

An old retired man in My Dinh residential quarter said that he grows vegetables not only to have clean vegetables for the family, but also to help protect the environment.

“We have more fresh air with the vegetable garden. We do not use fertilizer, thus keeping the environment clean,” he explained.

Mai Van Phu, the admin of rausach.com.vn (clean vegetable), said that more and more people have contacted him to ask about growing vegetables, His forum has admitted 200,000 members.

Source: Dan Viet/ VNN