ENG1502
ASSIGNMENT 3 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 22 AUGUST 2025
, ENG1502 ASSIGNMENT 03 – 2025
Selected Text (300 words)
Nguyen, L. (2021) Why urban gardens matter more than ever. National Geographic, 22
July.
In cities around the world, patches of green are quietly transforming concrete
landscapes. Urban gardens, whether on rooftops, in community plots, or tucked into
balconies, are more than just aesthetic additions — they are lifelines. They provide
fresh produce in food deserts, reduce heat in densely built areas, and offer vital habitats
for pollinators.
Beyond their environmental impact, these spaces foster community. Strangers become
neighbours over shared compost bins and watering schedules. Children learn where
food comes from, not from a textbook, but from planting seeds and watching them grow.
In an age where loneliness is described as an epidemic, urban gardens offer a place for
connection.
The benefits ripple further. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen,
contributing to cleaner air. Green spaces reduce stormwater runoff, lowering the risk of
flooding. Even a small rooftop herb garden can provide a cooling effect in the
surrounding microclimate.
Critics argue that such initiatives are symbolic rather than systemic. While it’s true that
gardens alone cannot reverse climate change or end food insecurity, they represent a
shift in mindset — from passive consumption to active stewardship. Every plant, every
shared harvest, is a statement: cities can be spaces of life as well as concrete.
In the rush of modern urban life, urban gardens remind us to slow down, to notice the
seasons, and to value the living world around us. They prove that sustainability is not a
distant goal but a practice rooted in our daily choices.
ASSIGNMENT 3 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 22 AUGUST 2025
, ENG1502 ASSIGNMENT 03 – 2025
Selected Text (300 words)
Nguyen, L. (2021) Why urban gardens matter more than ever. National Geographic, 22
July.
In cities around the world, patches of green are quietly transforming concrete
landscapes. Urban gardens, whether on rooftops, in community plots, or tucked into
balconies, are more than just aesthetic additions — they are lifelines. They provide
fresh produce in food deserts, reduce heat in densely built areas, and offer vital habitats
for pollinators.
Beyond their environmental impact, these spaces foster community. Strangers become
neighbours over shared compost bins and watering schedules. Children learn where
food comes from, not from a textbook, but from planting seeds and watching them grow.
In an age where loneliness is described as an epidemic, urban gardens offer a place for
connection.
The benefits ripple further. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen,
contributing to cleaner air. Green spaces reduce stormwater runoff, lowering the risk of
flooding. Even a small rooftop herb garden can provide a cooling effect in the
surrounding microclimate.
Critics argue that such initiatives are symbolic rather than systemic. While it’s true that
gardens alone cannot reverse climate change or end food insecurity, they represent a
shift in mindset — from passive consumption to active stewardship. Every plant, every
shared harvest, is a statement: cities can be spaces of life as well as concrete.
In the rush of modern urban life, urban gardens remind us to slow down, to notice the
seasons, and to value the living world around us. They prove that sustainability is not a
distant goal but a practice rooted in our daily choices.
