Organics in Hong Kong pt.2

A few days after my visit to Apple and Jo's farm, I headed out to Produce Green which is an NGO that runs an organic farm, education centre and allotment system. Doris (left), who I met at the Hong Kong Flower Show, kindly took me out to her allotment and showed me around.
People in Hong Kong lease a patch of ground (Doris' two square metres costs $300/year) in which they can grow organic vegetables. Produce green provides them with tools, fertilisers, mentors, and watering for when you are not there. Seeds and seedlings are also for sale.
The really nice thing I noticed was how people knew each other - socialising and giving each other a hand. The "weekend" farmers would often bring their family and friends around and it would be a fun and educational day for all.
The picture (right) shows about 60 allotments!
Speaking with Doris and the resident farmer at Produce Green, I was impressed by the similarities between Australia and Hong Kong (air quality aside!).
People have the same concerns about food, health and the environment - there was talk of carbon footprinting, certification and stress... Farmers also work hard on crop rotation, getting good materials for organic composting, green manures and educating conventional customers into the world of organic produce.

For some reason I thought that things might be different, and although there may only be 70 organic farms in Hong Kong, the level of awareness is high and growing.

Organics in Hong Kong

An important family event in Hong Kong has given me the chance to have a bit of time out and investigate organics in another setting.

In a place as polluted as Hong Kong (I haven't seen a blue sky once in the time i've been here, let alone the sun!), organics is gaining popularity quite quickly, and not just amongst the expatriate community.

There are around 70 organic farms in Hong Kong (mostly in the New Territories) and several organic farmers markets.

I was very pleased to be able to visit Apple Tsang, Jo and Allison (pic to come) at their farm Organic Soil. They showed us around and we were very impressed by the quality and quantity of the produce.

Interesting things we learnt were that:

• Organic farming is well supported by the government through an NGO that provides education, training and subsidies for infrastructure and seedlings.
• Organic food from mainland China is treated with caution.
• Animals are not encouraged on organic farms.
• The main inputs are vegetable scrap compost, blood and bone, lime, and crushed peanut shell.
• The soil is low in organics, but neutral pH, so grows lots of food.
• Winter is the main tomato growing season!
  
• Farmers in HK face the same financial difficulties that Australian farmers do.

Tomorrow I'm off to another property which is run on an allotment system. People from inner Hong Kong travel out to their rented path and tend their vegies.

On a side note: apparently the chinese are taking steps to reduce pollution because it has gotten so bad that it is affecting business... in that it is getting harder to recruit staff from OS because of the abysmal air quality.

Passing of seasons

Here I am looking proudly at all my tomato seedlings, thrilled that i've managed to get so many to grow at last, and now the season is over!
I've put as many in as possible, but I know from last year that up here February is the last chance to get them in the ground and have a hope of getting fruit from them before the cold stops them from growing.
Similarly I'll stop putting zucchinis in the ground.
So onto thinking about the winter vegetables... broccoli, onions, garlic, cabbage, turnips and leeks. hmmm, not all my most favourite things to eat, but good sturdy food none the less. And that much tastier than the shop bought ones!
Thankfully, I'll be able to continue with salads, greens and spinach for quite some time. And of course I look forward to pulling beautiful bunches of dutch carrots.
Enjoy the warmth while it's here!