🌱 A Deep Dive into Community Garden Design: An Interview with Wang Jingkang

Recently, environmental advocate Wang Jingkang toured the DKU Community Garden. We at CGSC seized the chance to sit down for a short interview about his philosophy and hands-on experience in community-garden design. Below is the full transcript.

Further reading: Wang Jingkang, “Everyone Is a Designer— Gaia Ecological Construction Inspires Civic Action” https://www.meipian.cn/1xsw99sy

Self-Introduction

Q: Could you briefly introduce yourself and your background in garden design?

Wang Jingkang: Hello everyone, I’m Wang Jingkang— friends call me Jingang. I’m retired now and spend most of my time on community-environment projects. I’m a Gaia Design & Build practitioner, a seed instructor at Friends of Nature Blue Sky Lab, and a member of the Smart Air lecturer team. I joined Friends of Nature’ second Low-Carbon Family Renovation program and am a certified composting trainer with Green Option.

I’m passionate about natural ecology, urban environmental protection, comfortable homes, and low-carbon living. Over the years I’ve gained experience in community building, rain-water harvesting, home gardening, composting techniques, and DIY eco-devices. Right now, I’m actively promoting neighborhood composting to get more people involved.

I also launched Third-Life Space, a project that encourages older adults in the community to age actively— staying energetic and socially connected.

How His Interest Began

Q: What first drew you to community-garden design?

Wang Jingkang: Honestly, it began with simple enjoyment. My interest dates back to 2008, when I joined a tulip-garden competition at Shunyi Flower Port during the Beijing Olympics. In 2013 I entered the Family Garden Construction Contest at the World Expo Park, and that’s when I really started focusing on community-garden building.

That same year I volunteered with Friends of Nature— China’s first nonprofit environmental NGO, founded by Liang Congjie— and dug deeper into ecological issues, weaving eco elements into garden projects.

In 2016, while visiting relatives in Melbourne, I toured local communities and farms and encountered permaculture principles. Those experiences deepened my understanding of ecological community gardens and shaped the approach I use today.

Design Principles

Q: What principles guide you when designing a community garden?

Wang Jingkang: My core principle is “co-learning, co-building— everyone participates.”

I treat the garden-building process itself as a community eco-exchange platform so people can explore the relationship between humans and nature— and with one another— through hands-on work. The from-nothing-to-something process gives everyone a sense of ownership and closeness to what they’ve built.

A community garden isn’t just a physical space; it’s a platform that connects people to nature and to each other. The sense of achievement and connection people gain from creating together is priceless.

Memorable Projects

Q: Could you share one or two projects that left a strong impression on you? What made them stand out?

Wang Jingkang: As a technical adviser I’ve seen plenty— some successful, some not. Many communities build surface-level “flower-bed” projects that look nice but aren’t sustainable because the team doesn’t truly understand gardens.

One striking example was a community in Beijing’s Dongcheng District. When I arrived, the infrastructure was already in place: steel planting boxes welded and lined along the street. They’d focused only on visual effect, overlooking box height, soil quality, and drainage. The result was a typical showpiece project— little real beauty, no environmental benefit, and residents felt no attachment.

In contrast, the Keyuyuan Community project in Haidian District turned out well. It’s a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences residential compound. From the start we added eco elements— natural materials, insect hotels for biodiversity, and mostly herbs and hardy perennials to keep maintenance light in a narrow, humid corner.

Most importantly, we promoted the idea that “everyone is a designer.” Residents shared their expectations; we used their ideas as the primary input, guiding them through the process. Participation was high, people felt ownership, and they now voluntarily care for the garden. That involvement and accomplishment, to me, is the most meaningful part of any community-garden project.

Significance on a University Campus

Q: What value do you think a community garden brings to a university campus like DKU?

Wang Jingkang: A campus vegetable garden makes great sense. I’d call it a community veggie garden and involve faculty and students in co-building from day one. Give it a good name, weave ecological ideas into it, and it becomes a perfect way to learn about natural farming, plants, and sustainability.

It can also serve as a social hub for campus clubs— a place to share growing experiences and reflections, directly fostering ecological awareness.

What you grow isn’t the key point; it’s the process— seed in soil, sprouting, growth, harvest, and finally eating. The whole cycle is therapeutic; it brings inner healing.

Everyone’s experience will differ, of course, but on campus the garden is both a learning space and a place to relax and connect with nature.

Advice for the DKU Community Garden

Q: If you could offer one suggestion, what should we improve most?

Wang Jingkang: A few quick points:

1. Clear positioning. Since it’s a campus veggie garden, make it look like one while still being visually appealing— avoid the feel of a random plot.
2. Defined boundaries. Clear edges make management easier.
3. Natural materials. Use materials with a natural texture; they match the eco ethos.
4. Functions and paths. Decide the garden’s functions first, then lay out paths so everyone can easily reach their plot. Convenience and a pleasant experience encourage visits— and friends will come to see and share.

Yesterday I noticed everyone left with muddy shoes— that’s not ideal. I’d call it an “edible scenic micro-garden,” blending it with campus landscaping so it looks natural. Participants will enjoy it, and I’m sure the administration will, too.

If it works well, you could later expand the area and boost its landscape value— that’s a great direction.

Practical Advice for First-Time Gardeners

Q: Any practical advice for newcomers to community-garden planting?

Wang Jingkang: For beginners, I suggest starting by understanding the habits and needs of different plants. Each species has its own preferences when it comes to sunlight, water, and soil. Knowing these basics will greatly increase your chances of success.

Patience is also important. Plants grow at their own pace— there’s no rushing them. Accepting this natural rhythm is part of the learning process.

You also need to be prepared for failure. I’ve grown many plants that didn’t turn out well. But failure is part of the experience, and you learn the most from it.

Gardening is something that slows you down. It’s not like absorbing knowledge from a book— you have to go through the full cycle yourself to really understand it.

It’s helpful to learn from those with hands-on experience, like campus gardeners, landscaping staff, or colleagues who grew up in the countryside. They often have very practical tips that can make a big difference.

It’s also wise to start with easier crops and gradually move on to more challenging ones. For example, I saw someone planting a lot of leek seeds, but leeks take two to three years to grow from seed to harvest. A more efficient way is to plant leek roots directly. As long as the roots are intact, they’ll grow back after each harvest and can keep producing for years. This is where understanding plant characteristics makes gardening much more manageable.