Greening of a drain
Residents build their community garden around a stormwater runoff area
Dirty, smelly IRTY and dangerous are usually words that come to mind when you think about drains. One community in Subang Jaya, however, has transformed the 0.4 hectares of land around a monsoon drain in USJ 3 into a community garden.
Tan Yeng Yap, chairman of the Rukun Tetangga (RT) said the idea cropped up in 2014.
“The only available space was along the drain and so we asked for approval from the Subang Jaya Municipal Council,” he said, adding the officers were sceptical it would take off.
RT committee member Soh Hoe Jin and self-confessed village boy is the unofficial manager.
The plants include various types of herbs as well as fruit trees such as papaya, banana, rambutan and Vietnamese apple.
Chicken, quail as well as fish are also reared in the garden.
Other than the plants, there are also environment-friendly initiatives such as solar lights and soon a rain harvesting system. Residents have also given some unwanted stuff a new lease of life. For example, a sink has been made out of an old chair in true McGyver fashion.
Tan says the community garden has given residents, especially senior citizens, a purpose as well as a place to hang out.
“They are very eager to share ideas on how to improve the garden and have a sense of achievement when their projects work.
“It also gives the community a sense of ownership,” he says. The volunteers’ efforts were recently recognised with the Innovation Award in the council’s Clean Zone campaign. Another benefit is that it has brought the community together.
Tan adds that getting volunteers has not been a problem.
“We take turns tending to it. Some come after work to do the weeding.”
The community garden has also attracted outsiders.
“People come here to have a look after hearing about the garden,” he says,
Several residents are currently busy decorating the RT cabin situated next to the garden, which serves as both a respite from the sun and a meeting place.
There is one ground rule, though.
“No gossiping is allowed here. Only beneficial discussions,” Tan grins.
