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Meet Kenji, the Gardener
A2 👤 Profile · 227 words · about 3 min
A profile of Kenji, who turned an empty roof into a green garden.
Kenji Tanaka is thirty-eight years old and he lives in a busy part of Tokyo. He works in an office from Monday to Friday, but his real passion is gardening.
Kenji Tanaka is thirty-eight years old and he lives in a busy part of Tokyo. He works in an office from Monday to Friday, but his real passion is gardening.
Three years ago, Kenji looked at the empty roof of his building and thought, "Why not make a garden here?" He asked the owner of the building, and she said yes. Kenji bought some boxes, soil and seeds, and he started with tomatoes and herbs.
Three years ago, Kenji looked at the empty roof of his building and thought, "Why not make a garden here?" He asked the owner of the building, and she said yes. Kenji bought some boxes, soil and seeds, and he started with tomatoes and herbs.
The first year was difficult. Strong winds broke some of the boxes, and the sun was too hot in summer. However, Kenji did not give up. He read many books and watched videos, and he learned how to protect the plants. He built a small roof of cloth for shade and used rain water.
The first year was difficult. Strong winds broke some of the boxes, and the sun was too hot in summer. However, Kenji did not give up. He read many books and watched videos, and he learned how to protect the plants. He built a small roof of cloth for shade and used rain water.
Now the roof garden is bigger than a tennis court. It has over thirty kinds of vegetables, flowers and herbs. His neighbours help him on Sundays, and they share the food together. The children in the building love picking strawberries.
Now the roof garden is bigger than a tennis court. It has over thirty kinds of vegetables, flowers and herbs. His neighbours help him on Sundays, and they share the food together. The children in the building love picking strawberries.
Kenji has also started a small group on the internet. More than two hundred people have joined, and they send each other photos and tips. "A garden doesn’t need a lot of space," he says. "It needs a little time and a lot of patience."
Kenji has also started a small group on the internet. More than two hundred people have joined, and they send each other photos and tips. "A garden doesn’t need a lot of space," he says. "It needs a little time and a lot of patience."
His next plan is to teach a class for beginners in the spring.
His next plan is to teach a class for beginners in the spring.