Neo (right) and another resident Ong Kien Chu tending to the kangkung at the Taman Sri Tebrau community centre in Johor Baru.
SOME senior citizens in Johor Baru are staying active by taking part in community farming.
Taman Sri Tebrau resident Low Kway Ying, 69, said time passes faster when she keeps her days full.
“In the morning, my husband and I head to a Buddhist temple near our house to take care of a vegetable patch there.
“We tend to crops like long beans, ladies’ fingers, white radish, yams and sweet potato leaves.
“We enjoy this activity as we can keep moving which is good for our health,” she said.
The mother of four also tends to the vegetable crops at the Taman Sri Tebrau community centre in Jalan Kerambit 3.
Low packing some kangkung that she helped to plant at the community centre.
“The vegetables at the community centre are grown using the hydroponic system, without the use of pesticides.
“I find it rewarding to see the crops growing well and when we harvest the fruits of our labour with the other residents, it fosters a stronger sense of community.”
Another senior citizen Neo Ho Soon, 72, said he visited the community centre once a week for Malay language classes and would also tend to the vegetable crops before the lessons began.
“Aside from spending some time in the sun, I get to mingle with other people.
“The residents plant vegetables like kangkung, sawi and Chinese spinach at the community centre.
“Sometimes, harvest time coincides with the language class and we will divide the vegetables among ourselves.
“I find that the veggies are tastier than store-bought ones.”
Neo added that kangkung was easy to grow and could be harvested in about three weeks.
Meanwhile, Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng said the hydroponic project started two years ago as an activity for residents there.
“Starting next month, my team will work with more non-governmental organisations to expand the project to other residential areas.
“We want more people from different walks of life to stay active and discover the joys of growing their own food.”
