Rooftop Farming: Cultivating Green Spaces in a Chinese Megacity

In Shanghai, amidst the ever-moving pulse of the city and the towering glass and steel skyscrapers that define the skyline, a small rooftop farm offers a welcome breath of fresh air. What began as the founder’s personal longing for a green space to cultivate has blossomed into a thriving project, bringing together locals and expats to connect with nature and each other.

We met with Kylie Bisman, the visionary behind the urban farm, to hear about her journey and the vibrant community she has built atop the city.

Kylie, a New Zealander who has called Shanghai home for over 20 years, is the heart of this rooftop oasis. Her connection to horticulture is deeply rooted in her upbringing in a family where gardening was a central part of daily life. “After living here for about 10 years, I needed to find a way to reconnect with nature, so I started looking for a gardening project in Shanghai.”

In 2015, through a chance encounter, Kylie was introduced to a neglected rooftop space in the city. “It was just a patch of overgrown grass,” she recalled. Undeterred, she and a group of Shanghai NYU student volunteers cleared the space, planted seeds, and learned through trial, error, and patience.

Today, Kylie’s rooftop farm is a productive and flourishing space. Raised garden beds stretch across the rooftop, each bursting with an array of plants — from fragrant herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary to vegetables such as broad beans, tomatoes, and leafy greens. Fruit plants are beginning to thrive, with blueberries nearing harvest. Strawberries peek out and lavender spills from pots, infusing the air with a sweet fragrance. “It’s exciting to see new plants take root,” Kylie said. “This year, we’re growing pomegranates. We haven’t grown them before.”

The farm now attracts a diverse group of volunteers, many of whom commute from various parts of Shanghai, and even beyond, including Kunshan, Songjiang, and Xinzhuang. “It’s inspiring to see how far people are willing to travel to be part of this,” Kylie says. “We now have a team of 13 regular volunteers, and it’s amazing to see the community we’ve built.”

The garden’s multicultural atmosphere mirrors the diverse nature of Shanghai itself, with volunteers from countries all over the world, including Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Sweden and the Netherlands. The people who join come for various reasons — some are passionate about gardening, while others simply want to be around nature. One volunteer, who works a high-pressure executive job, says she loves coming here just to switch off.

Farming in Shanghai presents its challenges though, particularly with the city’s subtropical climate. The farm’s success relies on constant care, especially when it comes to watering. During the summer months, Kylie and her team are up there almost every day, manually watering the plants. This year, the farm has been battling a particularly strong aphid infestation. To tackle the problem, Kylie introduced 100 young ladybugs, natural predators of aphids.

One of the most important things to Kylie and her community is their commitment to sustainability, focusing on pollinator-friendly practices and composting organic waste to keep the garden healthy. “We’re completely organic,” Kylie emphasizes. “We don’t use any pesticides or chemicals.” One of the farm’s standout features is its commitment to no-dig gardening — a method that minimizes soil disturbance to encourage biodiversity. 

The farm’s influence extends far beyond just growing food. It’s also become a space for education and community engagement. Students come here to learn about food production. From selecting plants and sowing seeds to transplanting seedlings, the hands-on experience teaches the full process of sustainable food production. “It’s important to share how food is produced and the effort it takes to grow healthy, sustainable food,” Kylie shared. 

Kylie’s vision for the rooftop garden continues to evolve, aiming to expand its role as both a learning space and a source of nourishment for the community. While the produce is currently shared among the volunteers, the goal is to widen its reach and continue donating to local organizations and initiatives.

For Kylie, the most satisfying aspect of the farm is the sense of family that has been fostered through gardening. “If it weren’t for the community, I would still garden, but it’s so much more rewarding to do it with others.”

Inspired by the story of Kylie’s rooftop farm and the sustainable practices taking root in Shanghai? There are plenty of opportunities to explore and support sustainable projects while traveling in China. Reach out to our travel designers for ideas on how to make your journey even more impactful. To see more of the farm’s journey, you can follow Kylie’s updates on Instagram at @theshanghaigardener.  

By Gabrielle Keepfer 

With thanks to Kylie Bisman