SHAH ALAM, Aug 12 — Gardening in the middle of a city may sound awkward to some people.
Limited space, maintenance costs, and a lack of land are often seen as obstacles to growing crops.
However, in Selangor's capital, this perception has been dispelled as more than 20 community gardens have demonstrated that residential areas can also serve as places to produce food, strengthen neighbourhood ties, and even generate income.
More interestingly, they not only add greenery to the surroundings, but also provide a gotong-royong platform for residents and foster a sense of togetherness in managing their neighbourhoods.
One that has attracted attention is the Taman Tanjung Api-Api Community Garden, which has been managed by residents since 2015.
What began as an effort to use an open space in the housing area has now become a community space where residents gather, hold community activities, and jointly manage the crops.
The garden was established to strengthen ties among residents and create a space that benefits the community.
“This garden was established to cultivate the bonds of fellowship among residents,” Taman Tanjung Api-Api Community Garden chairman Mat Zin Karim told Media Selangor.
Monsoon drain becomes garden’s lifeline
The uniqueness of the garden lies not only in the crops grown but also in how the community uses existing resources to ensure it continues to function effectively.
A monsoon drain that was once overgrown with weeds and water hyacinths (keladi bunting)and had become a habitat for venomous animals was cleaned through a community effort before being turned into the main source of the irrigation system.
The residents’ efforts to maintain about 400m of the drain have also revived the ecosystem, as water has begun flowing properly again, allowing local aquatic life to thrive once more.
Water from the monsoon drain is used to irrigate the crops and livestock ponds, making it the garden’s primary irrigation source.
“With the drain cleaned up, the water can flow properly, and we can once again see local fish such as catfish, gourami (ikan sepat), snakehead, and the slender walking catfish (ikan limbat).
“The water from the drain is then pumped into the livestock ponds and crop-growing areas,” Mat Zin said.
Aside from utilising natural water sources, crops are also grown using polystyrene boxes, polybags, and pots, while mineral-water bottles and various discarded materials are reused according to the concept of ‘reduce, reuse, and recycle’ (3R) to reduce costs and make use of still-viable materials.
Potential economic source
What is happening in Taman Tanjung Api-Api reflects the development of community gardens throughout Shah Alam.
Under the coordination of the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), more than 20 community gardens are now being managed jointly with the Residents' Representative Councils in their respective zones.
Besides revitalising community activities, some of them can potentially be developed as sources of community income through the sale of produce.
“I believe several community gardens can be commercialised. The produce can be sold at markets or during programmes organised by MBSA, thereby generating income to fund activities at the community level,” said MBSA Community Development Department director Shahrin Ahmad.
This development demonstrates that urban farming is no longer merely a leisure activity.
With organised management, a spirit of cooperation, and the creative use of resources, community gardens can green up residential areas, strengthen relationships among neighbours, and, at the same time, create income-generating opportunities that benefit the local community.
