Organic farming all the rage
Hongkongers are increasingly turning their hand to growing their own organic produce - and in the least likely of places
In land-scarce Hong Kong, developers usually figure the solution to most problems is to go up. Now the same idea is taking root among the city's expanding organic gardening community, with vegetable plots on rooftops and even in industrial buildings.
For urban square-foot farmers yearning to grow their own greens, Mawin Cheung Man-wai sees an answer in vertically mounted planters, portable container beds that make full use of available space, and indoor hothouses.
"City folks think farming is difficult, but it can be easy if you have the right set-up and knowledge of organic growing techniques," says Cheung, a former bank executive turned promoter of organic gardening.
This alternative path began when he and his wife rented a plot in a site set aside for horticulturally inclined residents at their Tuen Mun development. She enjoyed growing their own vegetables so much, Cheung decided others would, too. Last year he left his job to start Easy Organic Farming, a company that helps organisations and households establish portable organic gardens.
Urban people suffering from stress can derive lots of pleasure from gardening.
"Portable farming is all the rage now," Cheung says. "Urban people and corporate types suffering from stress can derive lots of pleasure from gardening. My company devises solutions for those who want to practise urban farming. We organise classes for clients on organic growing techniques, like crop rotation and regular fallowing to conserve soil."
His clients range from institutions such as Diocesan Girls' School to corporations such as JP Morgan, which had his organic container gardens installed at the podium outside their Sha Tin offices so staff could develop their green thumbs during breaks.
