Cooking class features fresh greens from urban farm

A sandwich using arugula and tomato from the urban farm near Gwangheungchang Station

By Kim Sejeong

On the roof of a four-story office building near Gwangheungchang Station in western Seoul, a rare cooking class takes place every Thursday evening.

“Arugula is easy to handle,” a young chef said, May 19, as she sliced up the leafy plant into a salad bowl. Arugula was the theme of the cooking class. She also demonstrated how to make sandwiches and pizza using the Mediterranean green.

What distinguishes this cooking class from others in town is that vegetables used come from the rooftop garden.

“This is fun,” one participant from Seoul said on condition of anonymity. “I wanted to get ideas on what to cook with vegetables. I have a small weekend farm near my apartment. I feel safe cooking vegetables from the farm and my children enjoy the experience.”

The rooftop garden is almost 115 square meters and grows peppermint, arugula, tomatoes, radish, green onions and potatoes. In one corner stands a greenhouse for radishes.

“It is a great opportunity to work with fresh seasonal vegetables and to learn new recipes using them,” said Kim Na-hee who supervised the cooking class. Kim also leads Pajeori, a group of farming-loving city residents, whose rooftop farm serves as their base.

The project is funded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which is promoting urban farming aggressively. The city aims to expand urban farmland from the current 141 hectares to 165 hectares by the end of this year. The farms are scattered along the Han River, mountain slopes, rooftops and school properties.

The urban farming policy reflects Mayor Park Won-soon’s keen interest in sustainable living amid the growing threat of climate change. Under his leadership, the city is harnessing renewable energy sources to generate electricity, instead of consuming fossil fuels.

It is also promoting electric vehicles and helping households replace old heating systems with new ones with higher energy efficiency.

The cooking class will continue until October. Visit cafe.naver.com/pajeori or facebook.com/pajeori. for reservations and more information.