VISUAL PEOPLE
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.
过去人们认为耕种是乡村生活的一大魅力，但现在，田园搬到了水泥丛林中，甚至有人在高高的阳台上种菜。
According to a recent report released by Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba, the sales of vegetable seeds in the first quarter on Tmall doubled compared with the same period last year. Sales of products such as nutrient soil and gardening tools have tripled since April of last year. Out of all the people buying farming tools and seeds, most were born after 1995.
据中国电商平台阿里巴巴最近发布的一份报告显示，今年一季度天猫平台各类蔬菜种子销量同比翻了一番。自去年4月以来，营养土和园艺工具等产品的销量增加了两倍。所有购买农具和种子的用户中，95后占大多数。
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.
17岁的安徽小伙张超就是一个年轻的“城市农夫”。这名高中生说，他小学时和爷爷一起住在农村，因此喜欢上了种菜。
“Spending his whole life as a farmer, my grandpa likes to plant seasonal vegetables in our backyard garden when he was older,” Zhang said. “Inspired by his passion, I also learned to grow my own vegetables.”
“我爷爷一辈子都是农民，上了年纪后，他喜欢在我们家后院种些时令蔬菜。”张超说，“受爷爷的热忱影响，我也学会了自己种菜。”
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.
虽然种菜需要付出大量劳动，包括犁地、施肥和浇水，但看见种子逐渐长成幼苗，而后又长成农作物，张超还是感到很有成就感。
“It has brought me good memories,” added Zhang.
张超补充道：“种菜给我带来了美好的回忆。”
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.
虽然张超最近搬到了一个没有院子的地方，但他还是把自己的爱好延续到了阳台的菜园子上，后来他还买了草莓和番茄的种子。
“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.
张超说，“种植蔬菜、水果不仅能收获美味的食物，吃得更安全，还会让我想起和爷爷在一起的美好时光。”
Unlike Zhang, Fang Minke from Shenzhen Foreign Languages School considers planting a garden a good way to relax and develop patience.
来自深圳外国语学校的方旻珂与张超不同，她认为在菜园里耕种是放松心情、培养耐心的好方法。
Juggling many academic responsibilities, the 16-year-old girl sometimes feels frustrated.
因为要兼顾多门课业，这个16岁的女孩有时会感到郁郁寡欢。
“How much I longed for a splash of color in my fast-paced life!” said Fang.
方旻珂说，“我多么渴望在快节奏的生活中增添一抹色彩！”
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. Fang doesn’t always know which plant seeds are from, so she just plants them and waits patiently. After half a year, her balcony has become a “small garden”, including different flowers and herbs, like coriander.
为了让生活重燃激情，方旻珂从2021年开始在自己的阳台上种植蔬菜。因为大部分种子都是朋友给的，方旻珂也不知道每一份菜种来自哪里，所以她只是播种并耐心地等待。半年后，方旻珂的阳台变成了一个“小菜园”，里面种植着各种各样的花草，比如香菜。
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 and herbs 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.”
花很长时间做作业后，方旻珂喜欢在自己的阳台菜园四周转转。“看到各种各样的颜色，呼吸着新鲜的空气，我感觉离大自然更近了，也更有精神了。”方旻珂说，“这些蔬菜和植物不是我们餐桌上的主食，但一定会为菜肴添加风味，为我们忙碌的日子增添乐趣。”
Planting vegetables is now more than just a way to survive. It also brings joy and purpose to young people’s lives.
如今，种菜不仅仅是一种生存方式，也让年轻人活得快乐，有了目标。
