Uncle Ko: A Journey Back to His Roots
Plot B14, City Sprouts @ Henderson
<Translated from Mandarin>
Introduction
In an unexpected twist of fate, Uncle Ko’s journey with City Sprouts began where his childhood did—at his old primary school, Keng Seng School. Now transformed into an urban farm, City Sprouts holds both new growth and nostalgia for Uncle Ko. This space carries decades of history, from the days when pigs roamed freely during Kampong times to today’s thriving greenhouses.
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Q: “Hello! Could you introduce yourself?”
This place was actually my primary school, Keng Seng School. This space is a piece of history. In the past, during the Kampong times, the pigs roamed freely. I am Ko Soon, a farmer here. I started in April of 2020. During that time, it was the COVID-19 circuit breaker.
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Q: “Oh wow, that connection! What made you come back here to City Sprouts?”
At that time, I was still working, but I knew I would be retiring soon. Coincidentally, I heard an urban farm opened here. I have always loved gardening and growing up in the Kampong. Back then, there weren’t all the buildings you see now; it used to be a forest! I kept thinking how nice it would be to grow what I liked and be surrounded by lush plants and greenery again. That would be my wish.
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Q: “Wow…so how has it been so far in your greenhouse?”
Here, for example, this is a lemon tree. I have never grown a lemon tree before. This is songgan, and here’s rambut. All of these used to be common sights in the Kampong days. Back then, I didn't know anything about gardening, and I didn’t know vegetables were so hard to grow. So, I started growing other plants as well, not just edibles. It’s okay if some become a success while others don’t; you just have to embrace change and be open to trying new things, and I'll stick with whatever suits me. For example, this pumpkin—I didn’t expect it to grow so well, especially since it's sold so expensively outside.
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Q: “That’s an amazing mindset. What inspires you to continue this hobby?”
I feel like this space has allowed my farming skills to constantly improve, and I’ve gained a lot of experience here. This place gave me a chance to learn so much, and it allows me to keep learning as I grow older. I spent a significant part of my childhood and youth here. I wasn't able to visit this place when it became Henderson Secondary School, but now that I get another chance to come back… honestly, it has made me very happy.
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Watch the full video on our Instagram: @city_sprouts
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