Local Buzz: HK Farm

HK Farm (edited with PicFrame)

A little over a month ago, I visited HK Farm in Ngau Tau Kok, for a planter-making workshop. This "organisation of Hong Kong aspiring farmers, artists & designers founded in April 2012" is located on the roof of an industrial building (140 Wai Yip Street, just off the Ngau Tau Kok MTR stop), and is open to the public every weekend day from 12pm to 5pm. The space is beautiful and the three young, creative, and passionate guys behind the magic that is this 4,000 square foot green space are helping to generate the kind of buzz and excitement needed to get urban agriculture and sustainable food systems into the minds and hearts of Hong Kong's citizens.

At the moment, HK Farm is growing crops like basil, string beans, bush beans, chili peppers, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, okra, nasturtium, marigold, lavender, peppermint, lemon balm mint, lemon grass, and brussels sprouts on a small scale. They're testing out various soil mixes, composting methods, and companion planting schemes to see what works best, as they encourage the public to volunteer and learn more about urban agriculture, sustainable farming in general, issues surrounding food systems in Hong Kong and globally, and principles of permaculture. In the next three years, founder Michael Leung (of HK Honey fame) says, they hope to ramp up production and to collaborate with various local restaurants and local artists. On the day I made my planter, over 70 people visited the roof. Here are a few photos from a truly lovely and inspiring day:

HK Farm is located near the Ngau Tau Kok MTR Station (edited with PicFrame)

The designers behing HK Farm have their studio beneath their rooftop Eden (edited with PicFrame)

Above and below HK Farm (edited with PicFrame)

Say hello to the bees behind HK Honey (edited with PicFrame)

Beautiful driftwood bench, crafted by HK Farm founders (edited with PicFrame)

My planter! (edited with PicFrame)

Seedling on the edge (edited with PicFrame)

We at TFT HK applaud the great work HK Farm is doing, and look forward to seeing it grow, flourish, and spread the word about urban agriculture!