May
21
Want to grow your own food?
Growing your own food is increasingly popular, even in an urban jungle like Hong Kong. A balcony can be your oasis in the city, feeding your body whilst nurturing your mind and spirit. It offers an opportunity for bees and other pollinators to find a home in the city; to have a reason to come and and show off their beauty.
I’ve talked about growing food on my balcony before. This year I expanded the herb collection to tomatoes, lettuce, beetroot and broccoli. The lack of sun and excessive rain this spring has taken it’s toll on my tomatoes, but the season isn’t over, and I am ever hopeful.
first harvest beetroot
Join others and rent a veggie plot
The coming of Spring finds a number of events held out at local organic farms to celebrate the arrival of new crops or the planting of new vegetable seedlings. We attended one such lunch recently with a group of lovely like-minded people who are as passionate about wholesome organic food as us. The lunch was held at Philip and Hillary’s Flowerworld Farm. The company was beautiful with great conversation and the food was delicious. But what I found incredible was the number of people out for the day tending their veggie plots.
Philip and Hillary allocate part of their farm for the rental of private plots. They provide seedlings to encourage everyone to grow what is in season in Hong Kong, which will differ from other parts of the world. For instance; strawberries and carrots do better in winter in Hong Kong, not what you will find in most other countries. Philip and Hillary will lovingly care for and nurture your plots when you are not there. Philip tells me that he even hand pollinates because of a lack of bees and other pollinators in the area.
Equally surprising was the number of community farm plots in this area, just 5 minutes from the Kam Sheung West Rail Line station. No more than 40 minutes from Tung Chung to Kam Sheung on the MTR and you are in a different world. It’s no wonder Hong Kongers’ are eagerly wanting to grow their own food.
For more information on Organic Farms and plots to rent see the resources list below.
Letting the garden go to seed
I’ve rarely allowed my herbs and edible plants to ‘go to seed’, secretly hoping they will just go on and on…. Over the years though, I have come to realize that even the hardiest of herb in the right growing conditions, will not last.
Plants have one primary goal: to reproduce themselves.
Although some plants package the seeds in the fruit that we eat, others will flower and then seed if left for long enough. I’ve recently allowed my coriander and rocket to do this and the results have added a delight of flowers and color to the balcony garden.
I hope you have enjoyed this collection of gardens, nature and glorious food grown by people who have a love of all these great things.
Here are some resources for organic farms, produce and plots to rent in Hong Kong. If there are others you can recommend please share these and your experiences.
Dragontail Farm – Mui Wo Lantau
Milk and Honey Organic Farm – New Territories east
Auden Mushroom farm
Sustainable Ecological Ethical Development Foundation – SEED
HK Strawberry Farm – Philip Hillarys Flowerworld also grows strawberries for sale
Organic farming support or certification organizations – also refer to these for locations of farmers markets
Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre
Farmers Markets:
Star Ferry Pier central: Wed 1pm to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm
Island East markets: Sunday 11.30am to 5pm
Tai Po Farmers Market: Sunday 10am to 5pm
Tuen Mun Farmers Market: Sat 10am to 4pm
