From Singapore to India, urban farms sprout up as coronavirus leaves Bollywood celebrities with thyme on their hands
Across Asia, people are turning to urban farms to pass the lockdown hours, cut expenses, keep their peace of mind – and even earn a buck or two
By Kimberly Lim and Kalpana Sunder
South China Morning Post
2 Aug, 2020
Excerpt:
In the half a year since the virus first came to public attention, urban farming has boomed in popularity, as green-fingered Asians spot an opportunity to while away those lockdown hours while cutting living costs and putting food on the table.
Among those whose fingers are turning green are Bollywood celebrities who, locked down in their homes away from the red carpet, have picked up their shovels and trowels and tried their hand at growing fruit and vegetables, often involving their young children.
Actor Twinkle Khanna shared a post about growing Ceylon spinach, while fitness guru Shilpa Shetty Kundra showed off her fresh harvest of brinjals and chillies. And in a post that really set the media’s tongue wagging, Kareena Kapoor shared a picture of her actor husband Saif and son Taimur gardening together.
Not only does the hobby benefit people’s wallets, but clinical psychologists say being surrounded by nature also helps to boost serotonin levels and overall well-being – just at the time most people are in need of a mental boost.
What’s more, experts say that if the trend is sustained it could even help countries secure their food supplies and reduce the impacts of climate change by boosting locally sourced produce.
