Sowing the seeds of shared farming
As more urbanites demand healthier, organic produce, renting a garden plot outside the city gains momentum for its peacefulness and sense of community
Launched in 2009, the project was designed to use fragmented farmland divided into "Yifen" plots measuring about 67 square meters, and leased to urban residents seeking hands-on farming experience.
For an annual rent averaging 3,300 yuan, tenants are responsible for every step of the farming process, from planting to harvest, with guidance from local farmers.
The village employs residents — often experienced farmers — to teach agricultural skills and help manage the plots. "The project has created jobs for local farmers and increased their incomes, while also ensuring the protection of basic farmland," Hu said. He added that soil quality has improved as urban growers tend to avoid pesticides in their food and prefer organic produce.
Farming isn't easy, whether for full-time rural farmers or part-time city dwellers. At times, the rewards are immediate, with unexpectedly abundant harvests; at others, weeks of hard work can be wiped out overnight.
Dai's family learned this lesson the hard way last winter. "Because of my husband's business travel and our home renovation, we missed the critical window for harvesting Chinese cabbage," Dai said. "When a sudden cold snap hit Beijing, and temperatures plunged, 90 percent of our cabbage froze."
Other tenants have shared similar frustrations in the project's WeChat group. Some lost their crops to heavy rain, others to drought, she added, experiencing firsthand the uncertainty of relying on the weather for food.
Hu said that although he has stuck with the program for more than a decade, tenant turnover is common. "Many people give up because they move farther away, go abroad, or travel frequently for work, making it difficult to provide regular care," he said. He noted that plots jointly leased by several households tend to be more stable, as participants can take turns tending the land.
During peak growing seasons, visits are required at least twice a week, as fruits and vegetables can quickly overripen. "The time and energy involved are considerable. Farming is hard, physically demanding work, but it is also deeply rewarding," Hu said.
