barryShares...
I was quite excited to read about this event. As an advocate of both urban agriculture and rooftop greening this is really a step in the right direction and demonstrates a surprisingly sustainable vision from a local industrial group. Furthermore, the intended opening of the space to the wider community shows an unprecedented commitment to community use of private space, beyond that even seen overseas. We contacted Meixin Group to try to find out more about their philosophy. Was this part of a bigger drive to sustainability? How do they intend to manage the space for surrounding community residents? How is the space designated amongst different users? We came to understand that the ‘community farm' was primarily intended to enrich the free time of their employees, both physically and mentally in order that the staff might become more productive in the workplace. It has long been accepted that healthy places can improve productivity and this action goes further in highlighting Meixin as caring employers. The manufacturer's actions appear to go way beyond care for their workers however, by providing a community resource, which is a truly sustainable activity. Of course in the UK as well as a number of other European countries, the Philippines, Russia and the United States, the public are well used to the idea of community gardens or an ‘allotment’ as they are known in UK. This is a plot of land made available for individual, non-commercial gardening formed by subdividing a piece of land into a number of smaller land parcels that are assigned to individuals or families. Such parcels are cultivated individually, contrary to other community garden types where the entire area is tended collectively by a group of people. The individual size of a parcel generally ranges between 50 and 400 square metres, and often the plots include a shed for tools. Individual gardeners are usually organised into an association, which leases or is granted the land from an owner who may be a public, private or often ecclesiastic entity and who usually stipulates conditions of use, such as that it be only used for gardening but not for residential purposes. The gardeners have to pay a small membership fee to the association, and have to abide by the corresponding constitution and by-laws. The importance of healthy environments is right at the top of worldwide issues currently. The UK Landscape Institute is focusing on ‘liveable cities’ as one of its main platforms and has published five principles for the creation of healthy places as part of its work on public health. These are: 1. Healthy places improve air, water and soil quality, incorporating measures that help us adapt to, and where possible mitigate, climate change 2. Healthy places help overcome health inequalities and can promote healthy lifestyles 3. Healthy places make people feel comfortable and at ease, increasing social interaction and reducing anti-social behaviour, isolation and stress 4. Healthy places optimise opportunities for working, learning and development 5. Healthy places are restorative, uplifting and healing for both physical and mental health conditions Related Article back
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
|
services
|