Integrated Farming within Rural Chinese Villages

 On a weekend trip to Anhui province in rural China, I encountered many agricultural plots nestled within the ancient village fabric of Xidi. The surrounding countryside is filled with terraces of tea plants and vegetables, but these practices continue within the village wherever space is available. This small courtyard is used for ornamental shrubs and some impressive pumpkin vines extending overhead with a simple cable system. 

This canal system shown above is fed by a local river, creating access to water for cooking. cleaning, and of course, some edible landscape elements. This planter is only a fraction of a meter wide, but allows these squash vines to happily inhabit the space.

I stumbled upon this larger private garden within Xidi's labyrinth of narrow alleys. This farmer is growing some corn, squash, long-beans, and eggplant.    

Shanghai Alley Agriculture

 In the narrow alleys outside of Xintiandi, a posh district of converted historic shikumen housing in Shanghai, the local residents make full use of their small planter beds. This one is packed to the brim with squash vines, figs, tomatoes, peppers, and several other unidentified greens. 

These residents are using small planters for some peppers and squash next to some azaleas and a nice rose vine. It's surprising how much is growing with the limited light available within this narrow alley. 

Grapes? Yes, please. I'm not sure if they're for eating, or ornamental, or maybe they're home-vintners. When space is tight, why not go vertical? 

This alley is full of good things. They're mostly ornamentals, but I do see a loquat tree in there.