With Tim Schumann, Jens A. Geissler, Sigit Kusumawijaya, Winartania, Veerawan Katanyuvivad and Pattarasuda Anuman Rajadhon
The word “urban” first appears to be antagonistic to “gardening”. When we think about growing plants, we think of urban as a place where people live far from nature. As part of the “Goethe is(s)t scharf” project, the second live talk is entitled “URBAN GARDENING – Does gardening really work in cities?”
The libraries of the participating Goethe-Institutes in Bangkok, Jakarta, Bandung and Myanmar have searched for and successfully found speakers from diverse cities and backgrounds. Tim Schumann and Jens A. Geissler are head librarians from Germany who push beyond the traditional role of public libraries to create hubs that actively raise awareness about the social environment. Indonesian urban architect Sigit Kusumawijaya and Winartania successfully network communities to run non-profit environmental organizations. And from Thailand we enlisted Veerawan Katanyuvivad, a construction businessman who overcomes the limitation of cultivation in the dense Bangkok urban area, and Pattarasuda Anuman Rajadhon, the moderator of this event and a renowned stage performer with a passion for nature. These eco-lovers will tell the stories of their green journeys in the different contexts of each region, each lifestyle, and how they make city gardening possible in the digital era.
The event is public and free of charge upon prior registration. Register now and be part of it! Or join the event on Facebook and invite your friends:
URBAN GARDENING: Does gardening really work in cities?
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Speakers
© Tim Schuman
Tim Schumann and Jens A. Geissler (Germany)
A library is not just a place for reading anymore—it is also where people can interact and learn to change their communities for the better. This idea becomes tangible in the project “Harvest Your City” by the two librarians Jens A. Geissler, Director of the Bad Oldesloe Public Library, and Tim Schumann, Head of the Heinrich–Böll-Bibliothek, initiator of Libraries-4-Future, and co-founder of the Green Library Network in Germany.
© Jens A. Geissler
Tim and Jens use gardening as a medium to improve the community environment and sustainability. For them gardening also encourages new forms of learning and provides meeting spaces in a digital society. Following its successful launch in 2015, “Harvest the City” has grown into an annual event and has expanded by networking with local authorities for environmental protection.
© Sigit Kusumawijaya
Sigit Kusumawijaya and Winartania (Indonesia)
These two Jakarta-based nature advocates dedicate their every breath to protecting the environmental. Sigit Kusumawijaya heads his own SiG architectural company, which is mainly concerned with environmental and sustainability issues. His competence is in design and urban planning. Winartania is a marketing expert who has been a speaker at many conferences related to gardening.
© Winartania
Besides their respective professional activities, these two pro-environment advocates are committed to running the urban farming community “Indonesia Berkebun”, where Sigit is a co-founder. Their activities focus on restoring wasteland in city areas to livable green spaces. They have been praised for their work by many institutions and received a 2011 Google Award in the category “Web Heroes”.
© Veerawan Katanyuvivad
Veerawan Katanyuvivad (Thailand)
It’s hard to imagine that hidden in the cold concrete landscape and steel skyscraper skyline of Sathorn in Bangkok’s CBD there is a lovely green space bursting with plots of vegetables. Without any experience in agriculture, Veerawan Katanyuvivad (aka Vee), a construction entrepreneur and apartment building owner, together with the building’s security and administration staff devote their time to learning via the internet and then experimenting with methods aimed at transforming the top of the building into “Baanrim Rooftop Farm”. This small farm provides more than 40 kilograms of vegetables for distribution throughout Bangkok every week, proof that urban gardening is possible for anyone with passion and determination.
Moderator
© Pattarasuda Anuman Rajadhon
Pattarasuda Anuman Rajadhon (Thailand)
Besides her performing arts talents, Pattarasuda Anuman Rajadhon (aka Bua) has also discovered she has a green thumb—she keeps her surroundings full of home-grown herbs and greeneries. Being environmentally conscious, Bua promotes eco-friendly living whenever possible. Finding shelters for abandoned dogs is another commitment she has been voluntarily involved in for many years.
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