Over the past 12 years, Chin has transformed approximately 75m of the sidewalk into an oasis. But how did this retired teacher become a sidewalk gardener?
“It all started in 2012. I have always loved gardening, but there was no more space in my house for my plants,” said Chin, a former accounts teacher at SMK La Salle in PJ.
At one point, he had approximately 250 potted plants hanging around his house. “My friends used to come and admire the flowers when they were in full bloom. They told me, ‘You have a hanging garden.’
“I added, ‘Of Babylon’,” the amiable Chin quipped with a laugh.
He began to consider other areas in which he could exercise his green thumb, and found the answer in the sidewalk near his home where he would take walks.
“The sidewalk was long and very beautiful, but there was a lot of rubbish. I used to pick up the rubbish and throw it away,” he recalled, noting that the strip of grass along the sidewalk was also ideal for gardening.
So that’s exactly what he did. Over time, he noticed people would avoid throwing rubbish where his flowers would bloom. “That gave me the encouragement to expand the garden,” he said.
A peaceful pursuit
Chin typically starts gardening at about 7.30-8am and doesn’t stop until 10.30 or 11am. He finishes earlier if the weather gets too hot. He does this daily, unless it rains or if he goes away on vacation.
His time is spent trimming the plants, weeding grass, picking up dried leaves, and clearing rubbish. He carries two buckets with him: one to store tools such as a small spade and garden cutter, and the other for foliage.
Bringing FMT Lifestyle on a stroll along the sidewalk, Chin shared that he grows about eight different types of plants, including hibiscus, Chinese evergreen, and Coleus – all certainly a sight for sore eyes.
The plants, he added, are hardy and can survive adverse growing conditions. He doesn’t even need to water or fertilise them. “The ground itself is quite fertile,” he noted, adding that he extends the garden by using stem cuttings instead of buying seeds.
Gardening has become a way for Chin to keep active in his golden years. Asked what this activity has taught him, he said: “A lot of patience and calmness. Focusing on gardening helps me not to think of anything that worries me.
“Also, it’s very pleasant in the mornings. There is fresh air and, sometimes, I listen to the songs of birds in the trees. It’s very tranquil.”
He has always had an interest in gardening: his father, too, loved it, and Chin has fond memories of helping him. But life got busy as he grew older, and he reflected that there was never enough time for him to pursue gardening until he retired in 2000.
“When you retire, you want to have a peaceful and blissful life doing something you like,” mused Chin, who has four daughters.
For him, it’s a rewarding feeling to see people enjoying the fruits (or flowers) of his labour. “I’ve seen people on morning walks slow down and take deep breaths of fresh air.”
Often, those on their way to work will greet him with “Uncle, good morning!” or “Uncle, it’s getting hot, take a break!”
Chin has certainly become a familiar and beloved sight in the area. “Even those who do not live here have slowed down their car to say, ‘Hi Uncle, good job’!” he shared.
“People have asked me, ‘What do you get out of gardening here?’ The satisfaction I get is from making the place clean, beautiful, and being able to contribute to the environment and community,” he concluded.