Mr. Ha Giang's rooftop garden is located on the 4th floor terrace, reinforced with a steel frame, divided into two floors, each floor has an area of 50m2. In addition to growing vegetables and fruits, the couple also raises fish, chickens, pigeons... right on the rooftop.
Mr. Giang shares about his 4-year gardening process to have the "miniature farm" today (Video: Nguyen Ngoan).
Mr. Giang uses the ground floor to raise fish, raise chickens, pigeons, and grow fruit trees. The upper floor is used to grow seasonal vegetables. The entire system is designed to be automated, including watering, composting, and catching insects, which saves him a lot of time on maintenance.
To ensure the safety of the project, Mr. Giang discussed with the house design engineer, carefully calculating the weight and structure. Initially, he spent about 250 million VND to reinforce the terrace with a steel frame, dividing it into two floors.
In 2024, he decided to spend another 450 million VND to renovate the entire planter, using fiberglass composite plastic material. In addition, Mr. Giang bought 10 tons of organic waste including bean dregs, cow manure, and fish intestines to compost and make fertilizer for the plants.
Unlike conventional gardens, Mr. Giang's "rooftop farm" applies three modern farming models: Aquaponics - Combining aquaculture and hydroponic growing, utilizing fish waste to provide nutrients for plants. Wicking bed - Osmotic irrigation system from bottom to top, helping the soil stay moist without being waterlogged.
Organic Planting Tower - Using fertilizer from kitchen waste, combined with earthworms to create a balanced ecosystem.
To add nutrients to the soil, he uses intestines, fish heads, and vegetable peels and puts them in a perforated compost bin. After decomposition, the nutrients seep into the soil, helping plants grow without the need for chemical fertilizers. Thanks to that, the vegetables grown are always clean and absolutely safe.
"Planting trees is taking care of the soil. If the soil is good, anything can grow," Giang shared.
The growing system is designed with two floors to optimize the area. The upper floor is for growing vegetables, the lower floor is for climbing plants such as squash and luffa. The water filtration and organic waste treatment systems are also continuously improved.
Thanks to that, all kinds of fruit trees, even though grown on the terrace, are always green and bear fruit all year round.
On the ground floor, he designed to raise 12 bantam chickens, 2 pairs of pigeons and nearly 100 fish of all kinds such as tilapia, carp, catfish... Even though he raised chickens and fish right on the terrace, anyone who entered was surprised because there was no fishy smell.
"My secret is to raise animals at low density, directly on the ground, combined with growing plants right in the cage. Thanks to the dense microflora in the soil, waste is naturally decomposed, providing nutrients for plants.
When animal manure is released, the plant roots absorb it immediately so there is no smell. Moreover, I grow a lot of flowers so the space always has a gentle fragrance," said Mr. Giang.
According to Mr. Giang, at first he encountered many difficulties when he started farming. "At first, I built a metal-enclosed planter with a tarpaulin lining inside, but rats bit holes in it, the water flowed with a fishy, fecal smell, very unpleasant, the floor was damaged, I had to repair it dozens of times.
Finally, after much research, I was able to design a system for growing vegetables, raising chickens and fish that meets technical standards," said Mr. Giang.
Since having a "rooftop farm", Giang's family rarely has to buy vegetables, eggs, and fish at the market.
This place is not only a source of food but also a space for relaxation and entertainment: In the summer, children can bathe on the terrace, in the winter, the whole family can light a campfire and grill meat. Friends and relatives often visit, harvest vegetables and fruits, and enjoy the green space in the heart of Hanoi.
"Before, when I worked in a factory, I felt like I was living in a box. Since having this garden, I feel like I am truly living. The garden is not only a place to provide clean food but also a space I love to work," Giang confided.
Not only does he do his own gardening, he also designs aquatic gardens for many other households, turning his passion into a new job. From a management engineer, Mr. Giang has found a peaceful life in his own garden.
Dantri.com.vn
Comment (0)