SINGAPORE - Fresh vegetables grown in various community gardens and farms in Ang Mo Kio were distributed on Sunday (July 3) to Cheng San and Seletar residents facing financial difficulties.
The greens were harvested as part of sustainability efforts in the neighbourhood.
Residents of Ang Mo Kio learnt about such initiatives during the neighbourhood's first-ever Community EcoDay, which was organised by the Cheng San-Seletar Citizens' Consultative Committee.
At the event, social enterprise City Sprouts explained how it uses food scraps from nearby hawker centres as compost for the plants in the gardens.
Over the last few months, it has also been engaging community gardeners and supporting the launch of a community composting effort.
Residents were encouraged to bring reusable bags and recyclable containers and cups to the event, which was held at Chong Boon Market and Food Centre.
Those who did were given the chance to spin a wheel and win various prizes, including food vouchers.
There was also a pop-up thrift store organised by Upcircle, a ground-up group which advocates and promotes sustainability through organising door-to-door collection of recyclables and reusable items.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was guest of honour, toured the neighbourhood and spoke with residents about the various green initiatives.
He also took part in the day's activities by planting eggplant seedlings at the Cheng San Bottle Tree Residents' Network Community Garden.
Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin, who is an Ang Mo Kio GRC MP together with PM Lee, said residents' interest in gardening and other sustainability efforts had grown during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was because they were spending more time at home.
"Sustainability is a big word, but it's really about our day-to-day habits... we hope to see more people coming together to be able to literally share the fruits of their labour," she said.
Madam Manor Param, 74, who had just taken part in a craft project using recycled materials, said senior citizens could educate the younger generation about recycling.
Ms Tay Wee Leng, who founded Upcircle, hopes her organisation's thrift shop can show residents that there is still value in second-hand goods.
The 34-year-old Ang Mo Kio resident said it is important for people to understand the benefits of the circular economy, a model of production and consumption that involves sharing and reusing items for as long as possible.
"We have a lot of technology that can turn things into other items, but at the heart of it, it's every consumer's action that really counts.
"You can have great recycling technology, but if nobody does the recycling, it doesn't work," said Ms Tay.
Student Jolynn Yeo, 15, has been turning her family's food waste into compost for use with their plants.
She said: "In school I learnt a lot about how our actions impact the environment... there's a lot of food waste produced in Singapore, and if we're able to reduce some waste, I think it'll make a big difference."
