Urban Farming Renaissance: Huang Binling and Yuan Zhenyu's Community Garden in Shenzhen

Urban Oasis in Shenzhen: Huang Binling and Yuan Zhenyu’s Shared Farm

In the qunt village of 400-year-old Shangwei Art Village located in Longhua District - one of few remning ancient villages in Shenzhen - a tranquil courtyard garden has blossomed amidst peaceful surroundings. Designed by Huang Binling and his partner Yuan Zhenyu, this lush green space serves as their entrepreneurial hub.

Huang Binling is a community architect and co-founder of Sketch Action!, an agency that integrates public spaces with ecological and social values through collaborative efforts in urban areas. Together with Yuan, who shares the same passion for landscape architecture from Peking University, they have successfully converted once abandoned plots into over 80 shared community gardens across Shenzhen.

The duo moved their enterprise to Shangwei Art Village a year ago where it is now nestled among vibrant surroundings with over twenty young professionals turning their hands to gardening activities. Huang reflects on this period saying, Our work-life balance has never been more harmonious since the establishment of our venture; it’s a near zero-commute distance to our new location.

The renovation journey began with transforming an ordinary garden at Weiming Lake's campus two months into their project where they honed their skills in agriculture alongside their academic pursuits.

In March 2022, Huang and Yuan decided to embrace their shared vision of living within a community that embodies co-creation, governance, and sharing. They are currently cultivating over sixty plant species at the garden space serving as an 'experimental farm' to test different varieties based on mntenance needs, climate suitability, and landscape aesthetics.

The 'Old Friends Farm', inaugurated during China’s Arbor Day in March, has welcomed groups of enthusiastic children from nearby kindergartens for planting sessions. The original 'wasteland' transformed into a vibrant community garden filled with vegetables that once plagued residents during summer months due to mosquito breeding issues.

To Huang and Yuan's delight, residents now actively participate in farm activities such as land reclamation, mntenance, planting, and harvesting. A sense of community consciousness is being cultivated through these efforts.

One resident, Wen Ya, the deputy leader of the farm, shares her experience: From seed sowing to eating my own harvest, I feel that this city has truly become my home. The 'Old Friends Farm' now covers twice its original area after successful community participation in phase II development.

A new shared farm located in Zhangge Community is nearing completion. Just recently, an inaugural neighborhood council meeting was organized where 18 growers gathered to discuss a vegetable and fruit growing project post Spring Festival celebrations.

So far, Huang's team has led residents to create over ten shared farms with growing community engagement and nourishment evident across the region.

provides insights into Huang Binling and Yuan Zhenyu’s innovative approach towards creating urban agricultural spaces that foster co-creation among communities. Their journey in Shenzhen showcases a unique blend of traditional farming practices with contemporary urban living, offering residents an opportunity to connect with nature and each other through shared experiences.
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