Operation Santa Claus’ Impact on Elderly Hongkongers’ Rooftop Farming Community

As the sun casts its warm rays over a bustling Hong Kong neighborhood, 70-year-old Lai Yee-man meticulously tends to a lush array of vegetables atop a shopping center’s rooftop. Shielding her face with a broad white hat, Lai’s dedication is not to a traditional farm, but to a unique urban rooftop farm. Surrounded by bell peppers, dragon fruit, pineapples, and figs, Lai delights in visitors’ amazement at the sight of these crops. She shares, When Hong Kong people come here, they are surprised to see the vegetables. They say ‘Oh wow, that’s how eggplants are grown!’ Some kids have never…