Healing through urban farming: Social transformation experience at the Kampung Lindungan Library community

Abstract

KEBUN KITA is a facility available at the Selangor Public Library @ PJKita Community Library, Kg. Lindungan, Petaling Jaya, a joint venture between the Selangor Public Library Corporation and the Petaling Jaya City Council since August 2018. It provides a combination of conventional planting techniques, namely using raised garden beds and aquaponics techniques, which are a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics techniques. This garden has four (4) aquaponics sets and three (3) raised garden beds filled with herbs and vegetable plants which were created based on the findings of a survey that was conducted with the local residents who needed an area that was suitable for urban farming.

KEBUN KITA (local garden) uses the concept of full volunteering from local residents comprising different age groups. The community can plant any type of vegetables such as bitter gourd, long beans, okra, eggplant and chili. Every day, volunteers will come to water the plants and feed the farmed fish. Meanwhile, weeding, fertilizing and cleaning the fish tanks will be carried out periodically according to the set schedule. The proceeds from the fish harvest will be sold to the local community and used as revolving capital to buy seeds and fish food for the next cycle.

For a community library located in the middle of the city and surrounded by dozens of low-cost flat buildings, such a space is bound to have a great impact on the socio-economic development of the community in ensuring that the library remains relevant in meeting the needs of the local community.