Autumn 2023

7 www.sandridge-pc.gov.uk AUTUMN 2023 I n the current summer season, you might have spotted a new guest farmer from Hong Kong just outside the Marshalswick Community Centre. He has introduced Chinese vegetables to our raised beds in the community garden. The new vegetables have been greeted with enthusiasm by local residents. This is the third year that Kenny, a Hong Kong resident, has been planting Chinese vegetables since his arrival in St. Albans with his family in 2021. Parish Councillors Mike White and Carol Chalkley, regular community garden volunteers, welcomed Kenny and invited him to share his knowledge and expertise with the rest of the gardening community and local residents. Kenny explained; “Planting native Hong Kong vegetables in the UK is a challenging, but rewarding, experience.” Challenges The weather in St. Albans can o!en be uncooperative, and the window for successful planting is much smaller than most Asian countries. Additionally, slugs can be a signi"cant problem for novice growers. Despite these challenges, Kenny believes that it still worth the e#ort, and he is passionate about sharing his love for horticulture and vegetable growing with the community. At present, Kenny’s Hong Kong bed boasts a variety of crops, including large bok choi ( 大白菜 ), bok choi ( 白菜仔 ), choi sum ( 菜心 ) , chinese broccoli ( 芥蘭 ), garland chrysanthemum ( 茼蒿 ), stem lettuce ( 萵筍 ), sponge gourd ( 勝瓜 ), bitter gourd ( 苦瓜 ) and hairy gourd ( 節瓜 ). Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the garden, located at the Marshalswick Community Centre, adjacent to Marshalswick library. Seeds for these crops are readily available from local suppliers and gardening websites if you are interested in undertaking your own planting adventures. It was Kenny’s planting in raised beds outside his home here in Marshalswick that "rst caught the eye of one of our long standing community gardeners, Sally, who lives nearby. She approached Kenny and introduced him to the community garden team of volunteers who suggested he added some South-East Asian culinary colour to our plantings. Welcome What is interesting is the methodical approach to Kenny’s planting scheme and the fantastic support frame he has built out of bamboo canes. “I am honoured to be part of this and excited to meet new friends. The Parish Council has been so creative in its welcome to the Hong Kong community,” said Kenny. The Parish Council is delighted to have Kenny’s contribution to the garden. Growing and sharing produce, exchanging ideas and knowledge, is a wonderful way to bring a community together. This has also been great for Kenny, his family and friends, to help make new relationships, spark the tastebuds of the wider community, and, for some, evoke memories of home, away from home. Please say hi if you should see Kenny in the garden!