A green revolution in urban living

At an old villa in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, a vine trails from the balcony, bearing a heavy watermelon. To keep it from falling, the garden's owner, Cara (pseudonym), crafted a small hanging basket that cradles the fruit.

In her "edible garden", Cara grows a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, pumpkins, and eggplants, as well as numerous herbs. It has attracted more than 70,000 followers on the Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu (RedNote), particularly young people in their 20s and 30s who share her values on sustainable living.

"I used to buy rosemary in large bundles for cooking but often only needed one sprig," Cara said. "It would end up going to waste. Now, I rarely need to buy spices."

She has observed that many young city dwellers are growing everyday ingredients on their balconies. By adopting simple gardening techniques, they not only enjoy fresh produce but also help reduce waste.

This garden has also deepened Cara's understanding of environmental protection. At first, she aimed for zero-pesticide organic farming but soon realized this was impractical when pests and diseases appeared.

Instead of giving up on pesticide use entirely, she researched safer options that aligned with her values. She learned that China's strict agricultural regulations ensure that pesticides sold through official channels degrade quickly.

"Sustainability isn't about making life harder," Cara said. "It's about integrating eco-friendly choices into daily routines and finding practical solutions that benefit both people and the environment."