Sharing gardens invigorate old residential area in Ningbo

Residents of old residential areas in Yinzhou district, Ningbo are allowed to turn unused land into beautiful gardens. These gardens, built and managed by locals, are known as "sharing gardens."

Shi Xingqi, a young social worker in Yangjiangshuian Community, has been managing a sharing garden since 2018. Over the past five years, she has developed from a newbie into a skilled gardener and turned the 100-square-meter abandoned space into an all-season garden.

Local residents also helped Shi decorate the garden. Some brought their own flowers to the garden and some have been volunteering. A volunteer team consisting of 14 people is responsible for daily maintenance work, such as watering, weeding, fertilizing and cleaning.  

In Yuanding Community, 70-year-old Lu Jianxin has taken advantage of his gardening skills to help neighbors save their dying flowers.

"They trust me. And I do my best," said Lu.

Lu created a sharing garden called "Grandpa's Garden" outside his home as a place for nearby residents to relax. Last year, the community helped renovate the garden with paving bricks and an arbor.

Xu Lingling, a resident of Zijuan Community, considers garbage a valuable gardening resource.

Xu discovered a large area of unused land filled with construction waste when she moved to the community in 2018. She decided to clean up the land and bought soil and plants. She turned dilapidated wheels and empty bottles into flowerpots, and used construction waste such as brick fragments and pebbles to make a walking trail.

After half a year of work, the space became a garden and attracted many neighbors.

"The garden is great for nearby residents. Community workers have also supported me. I'm glad to do it," said Xu.