Sky farming brings peace and mindfulness to a busy city
High above the packed streets of Shanghai, one of the most densely populated areas on Earth, the soothing smells of soil and plants mix gently to bring the countryside to a busy city.
In this city of 24 million, farms are flourishing — in the sky.
Tens of stories in the air, and you can smell the vegetables growing around you.
Riki Ding, a founder of Peace Place, believes sky farming puts people back in touch with nature amid the bustle of a metropolis.
And it can give them mindfulness and a positive attitude.
Her inspiration came from a visit to the rooftop of a friend’s office near the Bund, which had been turned into a farm. She realized rooftops were being wasted.
The rooftop pool of Peace Place.
With the support of investors and friends she built up a city green paradise.
“The name comes from Taoism. It is like nature — you always have space for a peaceful state of mind. No matter what is happening or how hard things are,” she says.
Riki's goal with “Peace Place” is to create a spot for the people in the city to enjoy a green life. Growing living things only brings fresh, healthy food, it brings mindfulness and satisfaction from your own hard work and sweat.
Riki Ding and her dog Da Bai. The farm is dog-friendly.
And in an age of fertilizers and chemical, sky farming aims to be organic.
“You can view from the soil that we don't use any chemical fertilizes. Only water. And we don't use any pesticide,” said Riki.
Shanghai Daily visited the “Peace Place” to learn more about sky farming. Check out our interview with Riki Ding to find out more about living green in our city.
The Peace Place
4F, 955 South Suzhou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Customers can order seasonal hand-picked fruits, drinks, and dessert at the resting area.
