JOHOR BARU: Residents in Presint Utama Mutiara Rini here have turned about 0.8ha of land that has been left idle for the past 20 years in their area into a community garden called Pondok Kebun.

       Pondok Kebun project head Md Azaly Man, 43, said the garden was first set up on June 29 by 20 residents who wanted to spend their free time with useful activities.

       Along with hydroganic padi farming, he said the residents also grew various types of vegetables and reared free-range chickens as well as several fish species such as tilapia, patin and keli.

       “The number of residents participating in this project has now increased to 200 people from different races or about 10% of the total population here.

       “With the commitment of all parties, this land which was once an eyesore with overgrown grass, has now been turned into a bountiful community garden,” Bernama quoted him as saying when met at Pondok Kebun yesterday.

       Md Azaly, who is a landscape consultant, said the produce they grew would then be sold to the residents.

       “The proceeds will be used to maintain Pondok Kebun or buy fertiliser,” he said.

       According to him, vegetables and fruits at Pondok Kebun were classified into three different categories – short, medium and long-term crops.

       “For the long-term crops, we grow fruits such as durian, pandan coconut, mangosteen, rambutan, and others.

       “Sugar cane, banana and papaya trees are planted as mid-term crops, while for the short-term crops, we grow vegetables,” said Md Azaly who used to own a nursery in Kota Tinggi.