BOOK: Kebun-Kebun Bangsar - a garden of hope

A quick shout-out for the new book "A Garden of Hope" which beautifully chronicles the inspiring and 'contentious' community garden Kebun-Kebun Bangsar (KKB). At IEN, we were involved from the early days and up through the difficult red notice eviction times until the Kuala Lumpur city council eventually embraced the project thanks to wide public support and declared KKB a role model for community gardening.

The book is currently for sale at the Bangsar Village 1 counter in front of the supermarket, where I incidentally met fellow environmental pioneer and KKB volunteer, Ruben Cortes, also depicted in the book, so we decided to take this selfie:

Gregers Reimann and Ruben Cortes with the new KKB book

The book is put together by writer and community organiser Khalilul Rahman, KKB youth volunteer Ahmad Yasin, and community architect and KKB chair Joanne Mun. The latter also wrote the second part of the book, which is a step-by-step guide of how to start your own community garden based on the experiences from KKB. This community farm starter guide has 14 steps, each with subsections entitled "Lessons from KKB", an "Inspiration" list, a "Pro Tip", a list of "Action" items, and "Snapshot" images from KKB. What a great guide!

The book is selling for RM120 and can also be purchased online via the KKB website: https://www.kebunkebunbangsar.org/shop

Gallery with snapshots from the KKB book:

KKB - a garden of hope book cover

KKB book. Planting an idea

KKB red notice of eviction. The community garden almost got closed down. People power saved it.

KKB book. A time of engagement

Key people behind Kebun-Kebun Bangsar (KKB) and the KKB book

Vivian Chew and Gregers Reimann, both from IEN, at KKB design workshop

KKB book. Ng Seksan lies flat on the ground. Drone photo

Growing impact: A community farm starter guide. Inspired by from KKB

Diagram of how to start a community garden. Planning, engagement, building and operation phases

KKB book. Table of contents

KKB book. Overcoming challenges

KKB book. Kebun-Kebun Bangsar today

KKB book. Beyond the garden

KKB Book. Loved and hated at the same time

KKB book. Saved by the people

KKB book. Support from the public including professional letters one of the from IEN

KKB book. Children love the animals, but they were the most contentious

KKB book. The Fruitful Years