Youths Find a New Hobby—Balcony Gardening年輕人熱衷陽(yáng)臺(tái)種菜

Farming was considered part of the rural charm in the past. But now， farms have come to the concrete jungle and they can even be found high up on balconies.

Zhang Chao， 17， from Anhui Province， is one young “urban farmer”. The senior high student said his fondness for planting was formed in primary school when he lived with his grandpa in the countryside.

“Spending his whole life as a farmer， my grandpa likes to plant seasonal vegetables in our backyard garden when he gets older，” Zhang said. “Inspired by his passion， I also learned to grow my own vegetables.”

Though farming is a labor-intensive process including ploughing， fertilizing and watering， Zhang said he still had a sense of achievement when he saw seeds gradually turn into seedlings and later plants.

“It has brought me good memories，” added Zhang.

Although Zhang recently moved to a place without a yard， he continues his hobby with a balcony garden. He has since bought strawberry and tomato seeds.

“Growing fruits and vegetables not only brings delicious food and enhances food security， but it also reminds me of the happy times with my grandpa，” said Zhang.

過去人們認(rèn)為耕種是鄉(xiāng)村生活的一大魅力，但現(xiàn)在，田園搬到了水泥叢林中，甚至有人在高高的陽(yáng)臺(tái)上種菜。

17歲的安徽小伙張超（音）就是一個(gè)年輕的“城市農(nóng)夫”。這名高中生說，他讀小學(xué)時(shí)和爺爺住在農(nóng)村，因此喜歡上了種菜。

“我爺爺是一個(gè)農(nóng)民，上了年紀(jì)后，他喜歡在我們家后院種些時(shí)令蔬菜。”張超說，“受爺爺?shù)挠绊懀乙矊W(xué)會(huì)了自己種菜。”

雖然種菜需要付出大量勞動(dòng)，包括翻土、施肥和澆水，但看見種子發(fā)芽，逐漸長(zhǎng)成幼苗，而后又長(zhǎng)成作物，張超還是感到很有成就感。

張超補(bǔ)充道：“種菜給我?guī)砹嗣篮玫幕貞洝！?/p>

雖然張超最近搬到了一個(gè)沒有院子的地方，但他還是把自己的愛好延續(xù)到了屋子陽(yáng)臺(tái)的菜園子，后來他還買了草莓和番茄的種子。

張超說：“種植水果、蔬菜不僅能收獲美味的食物，吃得更安全，還會(huì)讓我想起和爺爺在一起的美好時(shí)光。”

Unlike Zhang， Fang Minke from Shenzhen considers planting a garden a good way to relax and develop patience.

Juggling many academic responsibilities， the 16-year-old girl sometimes feels frustrated.

“How much I longed for a splash of color in my fast-paced life！” said Fang.

To help put some spark back in her life， she started planting vegetables on her balcony in 2021. Most of the seeds were given by her friends. She plants them and waits patiently. After half a year， her balcony has become a “small garden”.

After she spends long hours on homework， she likes to walk around her balcony garden. “Seeing the various colors and breathing fresh air， I feel closer to nature and refreshed，” Fang said. “The vegetables may not be staple foods on our table， but they will surely add a touch of flavor to our dishes and spice up our busy days.”

Planting vegetables is now more than just a way to survive. It also brings joy to young people’s lives.

來自深圳的方旻珂（音）與張超不同，她認(rèn)為在菜園里耕種是放松心情、培養(yǎng)耐心的好方法。

因?yàn)橐骖櫠嚅T課業(yè)，這個(gè)16歲的女孩有時(shí)會(huì)郁郁寡歡。

方旻珂說：“我多么渴望在快節(jié)奏的生活中增添一抹色彩！”

為了讓生活重燃激情，方旻珂從2021年開始在自家的陽(yáng)臺(tái)上種植蔬菜。大部分種子都是朋友給的，方旻珂種下它們并耐心等待。半年后，她的陽(yáng)臺(tái)變成了一個(gè)“小菜園”。

花很長(zhǎng)時(shí)間做作業(yè)后，方旻珂喜歡在自家的陽(yáng)臺(tái)菜園轉(zhuǎn)一轉(zhuǎn)。“看到各種各樣的顏色，呼吸著新鮮的空氣，我感覺離大自然更近了，也更有精神了。”方旻珂說，“這些蔬菜不是我們餐桌上的主食，但一定會(huì)為菜肴添加風(fēng)味，為我們忙碌的日子增添樂趣。”

如今，種菜不僅僅是一種生存方式，也給年輕人帶來快樂。

Word Bank

passion /'p??n/ n. 酷愛；熱衷的愛好

The English have a passion for gardens.

seedling /'si?dl??/ n. 秧苗；幼苗

enhance /?n'hɑ?ns/ v. 提高；增強(qiáng)

juggle /'d??ɡl/ v. 盡力同時(shí)應(yīng)付

Working mothers are used to juggling their jobs， their children’s needs and their housework.

staple /'ste?pl/ adj. 主要的；基本的

The staple crop is rice.

spice /spa?s/ v. 給……增添趣味

Her publisher wants her to spice up her stories with adventures.