More details on this tour from Jane:
Strawberries & Sunflowers
We all know about Strawberries and Cream, but during our next excursion, you will understand why Strawberries and Sunflowers go well together.
As some of us saw for ourselves last week, organic farming is one of Hong Kong’s quiet success stories. On October 26 (Wednesday) you have a special opportunity to learn more about how to raise better plants without chemical pesticides and fertilisers when we visit the government’s experimental station.
The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) at Tai Long is an inspiration to anyone who ever tried to raise a pot of basil or the occasional tomato. Best of all, as they take us around the farm, staff will actually explain and answer questions about environmentally friendly pest control, composting and the secret of raising perfect rock melons, strawberries, tomatoes, green vegetables of all kinds, asparagus, potatoes, mushrooms and carrots. We have even been promised a chance to try out the mechanical bug sucker and some of the other mechanical tools.
As we all know, Hong Kong summers challenge the ingenuity of everyone who cares about raising healthy plants. Part of the AFCD’s work involves finding ways to remain productive despite the weather. At Tai Long you see history in the making albeit on a very small scale in the experimental plots of new crops and new varieties, using innovative techniques.
Hong Kong consumes 1,700 tonnes of fresh vegetables each day. There is a niche for organic produce, although at the moment the SAR’s 80 organic farms can only harvest a daily total of 2-4 metric tonnes, most of which is sold through the Vegetable Marketing Organization (VMO) in some 240 retail outlets around Hong Kong. Unfortunately, however, Tai Long does not sell produce direct, but only via the VMO.
This is a very special opportunity as Tai Long Farm is not normally open to members of the public. Following the visit to the Tai Long we will call at one of Hong Kong’s few specialist organic supply shops in Sheung Shui. The owner carries wide stock of organic seeds, pesticides and fertilisers. If you do not aspire to acres of rocket or lettuce, try a few dollars-worth of vegetable seeds.
For those who enjoy instant gratification, we will round off the day by visiting at least one nursery that is well stocked with inexpensive bedding plants and perennials of all kinds (non-organic, alas, but you can’t have everything).
The per capita $150 charge covers round-trip coach transport from Central Pier 4 via University Station (Ma Liu Shui). Register with Jane directly by email to
Janetaipeng@gmail.com.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
