Lingnan Campus transforms into Lingnan Garden : The Lingnan Gardeners Project Inauguration Ceremony = 嶺大校園變身嶺大彩園 : 「嶺南彩園」計劃啟動儀式
Organizer
Lingnan Gardeners, Kwan Fong Cultural Research and Development Programme, Lingnan University
Document Type
Event
Date
11-25-2014
Venue
Lingnan Garden, Lingnan University
Description
The Lingnan Gardeners project, organised under the Culture and Sustainable Livelihood research cluster of the Kwan Fong Cultural Research and Development Programme, was inaugurated on 25 November 2014. The project pulls together efforts of staff, students and alumni for Lingnan to become the pioneer in developing a "transition campus" in Hong Kong.
Land is the basis for sustainable livelihood. Unfettered development ruins the land and destroys the balance of nature, rendering us a parasitical existence with unrestrained pillage of nature and dependence on foreign resources. The concept of "transition campus" is derived from the development of "transition towns" in some overseas countries to re-nurture soil and roots above cemented grounds as an alternative out of this urban crisis.
The Lingnan Gardeners project promotes organic farming and related research studies, drawing attention to the relationship between land and food as well as the direction of our future development, and opening the way for a transition campus. With the support of the University, designated areas in between academic buildings were allocated for the farming of crops. Through manual labour as well as study and discussion groups, participants can retrace the steps of nature to realise self-sufficiency, rebuild community cohesion, and foster the spirit of liberal arts education.
At the project's inauguration ceremony, President Leonard K Cheng said the wonderful campus environment of Lingnan University was the result of the appropriate development of natural lands. Lingnanians should be grateful to nature for providing a shelter for the growth of the University. "I believe the Lingnan Gardeners project can help us ponder environmental, global warming, ecological, food crisis and processed food issues facing Hong Kong and even the world. It can also help us think about the future development direction of Hong Kong, and what each one of us can do to bring positive changes to ourselves and society," he said.
Lingnan staff, students, alumni and their families are welcome to join the Lingnan Gardeners group and enjoy farming.
「嶺南彩園」是群芳文化研究及發展部轄下的「文化與可持續生活計劃」研究項目，於2014年11月25日正式啟動。該項目集合了教職員、學生和校友的努力，讓嶺大成為於香港開創「轉型校園」的先驅。
土地乃生存之根本，妄求發展破壞土地，會摧毀自然循環的根基，令人們陷入不斷掠奪自然、依賴外力的寄生狀態。「轉型校園」的概念源自一些在海外國家發展的「轉型城市」，在水泥地上重新培土扎根，作為化解城市危機的一種出路。
「嶺南彩園」計劃推廣有機耕種和相關的研習活動，關注土地與食物，再思發展與未來，並由此開啟轉型校園之路。在大學的支持下，教學大樓之間的一些指定地點用作種植農作物。透過參與耕種勞動以及讀書和討論會，讓參加者重履自然的步伐，自給自足，重構社區的凝聚，並發揚博雅教育的精神。
在計劃的啟動儀式上，鄭國漢校長指出當年嶺大發展現時校舍時，需要把大自然的土地適度開發，才能造就嶺大現時理想的環境。嶺南人應該對大自然一直以來對嶺大的孕育和庇蔭心存感恩。「我相信『嶺南彩園』有助我們思考香港以至全球面對的環境問題、氣候暖化問題、生態問題、糧食問題、食物加工等問題，思考香港這個城市未來的發展方向，以及我們每個人可作甚麼行動，為自己及社會帶來好的改變。」
「嶺南彩園」計劃歡迎所有嶺大教職員、學生、校友及家人參加，享受耕種樂趣。
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Lingnan University (2014, November 25). Lingnan Campus transforms into Lingnan Garden: The Lingnan Gardeners Project Inauguration Ceremony = 嶺大校園變身嶺大彩園 : 「嶺南彩園」計劃啟動儀式 [Video podcast]. Retrieved from http://commons.ln.edu.hk/ln_gardeners_videos/2
Additional Information