Operation of 'Nanum Vegetable Bank' for Vulnerable Groups with Harvested Vegetables from Jungnang Happy Farm

Twice Weekly Delivery by Welfare Officers or Pickup at Community Centers

"The soaring price of leafy vegetables due to the hot weather was a burden, so the bag of lettuce given by the community center was truly appreciated."

This is what Lee Chun-im (alias, 69), a grandmother living in Junghwa-dong, Jungnang-gu, said to express her gratitude to the community center. She visited the community center for welfare counseling as usual and received a gift.

The leafy vegetables were grown directly in Jungnang-gu and delivered through the 'Nanum Vegetable Bank.'

The 'Nanum Vegetable Bank' is a system where vegetables harvested from the 'Jungnang Happiness Farm,' operated by Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) and the Jungnang Urban Agriculture Cooperative (Chairman Lee Byung-jun), are shared with neighbors.

The Jungnang Happiness Farm, established in five locations, is a representative farm of Jungnang-gu that has received great response from residents, with a lease competition rate of 9 to 1. It cultivates over 30 types of crops, including various leafy vegetables, tomatoes, pumpkins, carrots, and blueberries, ranging from vegetables to fruits.

Children experience harvesting the cultivated crops, and twice a week, mainly leafy vegetables from abundant harvests are delivered to low-income neighbors. About 100 residents receive these vegetables each time, and before sharing, soil tests and safety checks of the crops are conducted through the Health and Environment Research Institute.

The recipients are vulnerable residents selected by the local community center, and welfare officers deliver the vegetables either by visiting their homes or when the residents visit the community center.

Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi said, "I hope the Jungnang Happiness Farm will become not only a place where residents can experience urban agriculture and spend healthy leisure time but also instill a sense of community living together with neighbors in need and serve as a resting place where residents communicate with each other."

Additionally, the Jungnang Happiness Farm hosts the 'Jungnang Happiness Melody Busking with Music' on the last Sunday of every month. Lessees and local neighbors gather to perform through talent donations, and on the 23rd, singer-songwriter Yang Won-sik is scheduled to join. The busking events continue until October and are open to anyone visiting the farm.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.