text | Ivan Wong / photo | Lok Cheng 原文刊登於《JET Magazine》12月，English version translated by Bonnie Yves.
荷李活道香草園 | Plant a City
Bonnie Yves（張葆瑜）是港泰混血兒；在香港土生土長，媽媽成長於泰國。她每年都會回泰國小住一段日子，會住在市郊的大屋，也會到種稻米的家鄉享受最純樸的大自然。
雖然喜愛大自然，但也明白，她現在真正的家，是在香港。她知道香港寸金尺土，縱使住在元朗或上水，也未能逃離石屎森林的命運。既然如此，她索懂放棄全在郊區或離島的念頭，六年前下定決心，在市區尋找頂樓連天台的單位，在天台種植。
開辦工作坊教授各種DIY食物製作之道，兼在網上售賣自製果醬及蛋糕等的Bonnie，在天台種的全跟吃有關，本來還想種菜及稻米，但礙於大廈結構，不容許在天台地台上種植，於是便索性種起香草及水果。由最初「種什麼死什麼」，到現在略有所成。這六年間，好證明了，其實種植，不在乎地點在那兒，那怕您在懸浮粒子勁超標極度污染的石屎森林次內 也可以種出一株株氣味芳香的白華，一個個甜美多汁的水果。
以下，是Bonnie 六年天台種植的一點心聲：
1. 種植的地方最好是通風的開揚地方，避免種植太嚴密（註：天台最好上的高檔樓層，向北的小陽台便成為理想了）。
2. 不要過分呵護，一切適可而止。
3. 當認識植物環境，約先掌握天候氣候，先掌握它的特性（譬如玫瑰要多曬）。
4. 至於種植參考書，可以看看，但要注意各地風土氣候不同，外國的種植方法不一定適合香港。
5. 肥料方而，最好可用天然廚餘。（奶及豆漿很適合香草）
6. 雖然說早晚淋水，但淋水前也要摸摸泥的濕度，才決定淋水的多寡。
7. 摸清您所種的香草或水果的脾性，讓它有足夠的水份、陽光及空氣，一切順其自然。種植，其實就是這麼簡單。
Plant a City - Hidden Herb Garden on the Hollyrood road Hong Kong
Bonnie Yves is of HongKong–Thai heritage; she was born and raised in Hong Kong, while her mother grew up in Thailand. Every year, she spends some time living in Thailand — sometimes staying in a large house in the suburbs, sometimes returning to her family’s rice-farming hometown to enjoy the purest and most unspoiled nature.
Although she loves nature, she also understands that her true home is now in Hong Kong. She knows that in a city where every inch of land is precious, even living in Yuen Long or Sheung Shui cannot escape the fate of the concrete jungle. With this in mind, she gave up the idea of moving entirely to the countryside or outlying islands. Six years ago, she made the decision to find an apartment in the city with rooftop access, and began planting on the rooftop.
Running workshops on various DIY food-making techniques — while also selling her homemade jams and cakes online — Bonnie fills her rooftop with plants that are all connected to food. She once thought about growing vegetables and rice, but building regulations in her apartment block do not allow planting directly on the rooftop floor. So she decided to focus on herbs and fruits instead.
From the early days of “whatever I plant, it dies,” she has now achieved some success. Over these six years, she has proven that planting doesn’t depend on location — even if you are in the middle of a heavily polluted concrete jungle with sky-high levels of fine particulates, you can still grow fragrant white flowers and sweet, juicy fruits.
Here are a few thoughts from Bonnie’s six years of rooftop gardening:
- Choose a location that is airy and open, and avoid planting too densely. (Tip: a high-floor rooftop, ideally facing north with a small balcony, works best.)
- Don’t over-pamper your plants — everything in moderation.
- Get to know the plant’s environment: first understand the weather and climate, then learn its characteristics (for example, roses need plenty of sun).
- Reference gardening books if you like, but remember that soil, climate, and conditions vary from place to place — overseas methods may not be suitable for Hong Kong.
- For fertiliser, try using natural kitchen waste. (Milk and soy milk work particularly well for herbs.)
- Although it’s common to water plants morning and evening, always check the soil’s moisture first before deciding how much water to give.
- Understand the temperament of the herb or fruit you’re planting, and give it enough water, sunlight, and air. Let it grow naturally — gardening is really that simple.
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