Armchair journal – Page 2 – Suria Helang Lui

24 Jan 2017

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Corn: GMO or non-GMO

As I try to get a grasp of the corn story, I first had to understand the elements that make corn bad for you. In researching, I found that corn can basically be categorized into two groups: GMO and hybrid/non-GMO. It is very hard to find traditional corn seeds any more. GMO or Genetically Modified Organism corn means that the corn has been modified through genetic engineering at the genes level and contains genes that are not naturally occurring. Basically, it is modifying the DNA or cellular structure of the corn.

Most of the commercial corn has been modified so that it can withstand glyphosate (as in the commercial chemical herbicide Roundup) and it also termed as RR Corn (Roundup Ready Corn). This means that Roundup can be applied without affecting the corn plant as the plant absorbs the glyphosate to the individual corn kernel level. The result is you can get beautiful corn filled with glyphosate so from a commercial aspect, corn can be produced in quantity at a reduced overall production cost as you get a higher yield since no insects want to eat it no will it be affected by any disease or bacteria. If the insects try to eat them, they die.

The Big Chem will say that it is safe to eat corn that is filled with glyphosate. The US Pesticide Trade organizations also say it is safe. The major GMO corn seed producer is Monsanto and the produce for Roundup is Monsanto. In the 2012 Nutritional Analysis – Comparison of GMO Corn versus Non-GMO Corn conducted by an independent, outsourced, major food company found the GMO corn contains a similar amount of nutrients to non-GMO corn but also contained a number of elements absent from traditional corn, including chlorides, formaldehyde and glyphosate, and in harmful quantities. In case you are wondering what formaldehyde is used for – it is used in preserving corpse!

You will find conflicting studies and outcomes depending on who did them. Personally, I look for independent studies done by groups or companies not affiliated with Big Chem. It is also interesting to note that you get conflicting results from studies done within an organization in US. I guess it depends on what the policy or interest-to-be-protected is. At the same time, we all know the lobbyist play a big role. Other than the studies done by independent entities in US, I also read up on the studies done in Europe and it should be noted that the major sentiment is against GMO.

The International Agency on Cancer Research has concluded that glyphosate can possible cause cancer in humans. Monsanto discredits this study by saying that it is inconsistent with their finding. An international study has also found that it causes hormone disruption as well as resistance to antibiotics in humans.

What are these GMO corn used for apart from eating it as “corn on the cob”? The corn are used for many things:

1. Ingredient in production of feed for animals such as cows, sheep, goats and chickens. This means that these animals also become contaminated with these chemicals and are introduced into our food intake by products from these animals.

2. To make corn oil. Corn oil has been touted as being the great alternative for cooking oil and good for the heart. In exchange you may get damaged livers and kidneys and hormone disruptions.

3. To make corn syrup, a cheap sweetening alternative which are bad for your liver and kidneys.

4. To make corn flour.

5. Ingredient in cereals that are touted as being healthy alternatives. My thinking: How can it be a healthy alternative?

6. To make snacks such as popcorn and many others. There are many alternatives snacks.

I am opting for hybrid corn that has not undergone the GMO process. Hybrid corns are grown from corn seeds that were produced by crossing 2 types of corn to create a new variety with the characteristics of the “parent” corn. It involves no genetic engineering at the gene level. Some of the characteristics the hybridization seeks is drought-resistant, sweetness and color of corn. From a commercial production perspective, it costs more to produce hybrid seeds and they are not immune to chemical herbicides such as Roundup so you cannot flood a field with Roundup but will have to use alternative means to control weeds. Hence, it costs more from the production of corn perspective.

At the end of the day, I see my choices as simple:

Do I want to eat corn that can possibly cause liver and kidney failure as well as a host of other possibilities and later pay the medical costs to “cure” these diseases and endure the suffering

Do I eat good corn and pay more for it but have a better chance of not getting liver and kidney diseases and other problems and avoid the suffering?

I love corn so now we plant our own hybrid corn without the use chemical pesticides or herbicides or fertilizers. We use organic pest control and fertilizers and control weeds the “old-fashioned” way, manual weeding. The end result is we get good tasting, healthy corn. It is not difficult to plant and care for them, just requires more time. However, I find it well worth the effort.

I find it interesting that the manufacturer of Roundup and GMO corn seeds, Monsanto bought a major pharmaceutical company, Bayer. To me, it is making profits from both ends.

The onus is on us to educate ourselves. The debate continues with those with commercial interest categorically saying that GMO Corn is safe and those without, saying it isn’t or further studies needed as initial study indicates it is possible not safe. For the adults, we can make our own choices. For our children, I hope we make the right choices. Personally, I do not want my son to suffer from liver and kidney diseases as a result of the choices I made for him.

31 Dec 2016

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Fish story – Part 1: The pond

I have a fish pond at the farm which doesn’t quite look like a pond. It flows with fresh water from the source through a 3 inch polypipe that I had installed and the water flows out into Sg. Lai at the other end. When I first bought the land, I noticed that there was a dried stream bed the winds through the land so I used that as the guide and created the fish pond by deepening and widening resulting in a river-like fish pond. Over the years, I have made modifications and I love how it is turning out. I am blessed because the farm is located in an area where there is a fresh water source and still uncontaminated – something which I strive to encourage the neighbour to maintain and hopefully no developers will come and destroy it.

I rear red tilapia, lampam and catfish. Along with the inflow of the river water, I further get river fish and shrimp bounty like bujuk, seluang, eels and haruan. With the addition of the other fishes, it is a blessing and a challenge as the larger river fish tends to also eat the fish that I put in the pond. So, it is a balancing act. The small river fish becomes food for the larger fishes. I further add greens by planting kangkong and throwing in tapioca leaves which also becomes their food. From my recycling of organic wastes, I get some black fly larvae which also serves as a protein supplement. I do supplement with fish pellets but it serves as an addition but it is something that I hope in the near future I can totally remove. Periodically, we will put banana pseudo stems from our own banana harvesting activity and this serves multiple functions: additional food, water cleanser and places for the fish to lay eggs and rear their babies. It is a continuos balancing act but it is all aimed at producing tasty, fresh water fish without the muddy or weird smells nor lots of slime. The water is uncontaminated water and we do not feed it garbage like animal carcasses or chicken innards. The water is nice and clear and you can easily see the more bright color fish and although ton see the silvery-tone fish takes a bit of work. As the farm is totally organic, we do not have any chemical elements contaminating the water and the fish.

With the two main elements of food and water in place, the other main element is maintenance and operations. The fish pond is segmented into 3 areas: the largest is non-cemented base as I try to mimic as natural environment as possible, the second is a temporary holding area when we do our fish sorting and the third is a cemented base processing pond which otherwise is used for rearing our catfish. Every two months, we will drain the ponds and sort and harvest the fish. As the larger fish tends to eat the smaller fishes, sorting and harvesting will minimise the cannibalisation. By draining the ponds, we get to clean and change the water although it is not necessary since water is flowing in and out continuously. Our latest improvement was to build “retainer” walls along one section that is closest to the farmhouse. Over the years, erosion has occurred so it became necessary to build one to protect that area. The plan is to further beautify it with flowering edibles like roselle so it can become another nice spot to rest and relax and where I can fish with a fishing rod when I feel like it.

Besides it being an opportunity for a produce and ensuing products for the farm, it also serves as a
flood mitigation element. This are has been known to flood especially during rainy season as the level of the river can rise very fast after prolonged rain. Sg. Lai is fed by 5 other small rivers and streams so the water volume can increase dramatically and it comes with strong currents known to have floated 1m in diameter cement drain pipes like it was a cork. It also adds aesthetic value and serves as a lounging area hence the addition of the patio where I can sit in the late afternoon and enjoy a drink and fresh air as I watch the fish – utterly relaxing. The fountain that was created requires no pumps but uses the pressure of the water flow.

I expect in the ensuing years I will probably do more modifications but always balancing between maintaining the environment, natural elements and aesthetics with the underlying aim of producing quality fresh water produce and products as an integrated farm.

20 Nov 2016

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Is it really organic versus Organic instead of Chemicals?

A question put forth to me:” I am skeptical that it is organic. Is it really organic? Or it is organic when compared to chemical?”. Due to this confusion and/or skepticism, that is why I do not really like the term organic but instead prefer natural. At the farm, I focus more on natural farming. What is the difference you may ask? Here’s my determining factor:

If you use organic sources such as kelapa saw it, coco peat and rice husks, this may be considered organic but to me, I will avoid using it. Why? Simple really, all these items are laden with chemicals during the growing stage from chemical herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers. So while it is organic, I do not consider it as organic.
If something is grown using hormones, whilst it may be considered organic, it is not something that is my preference because the hormones could be synthetic hormones. Plus. it is not natural and something that is done more from a commercial perspective.

It is getting more difficult to obtain clean sources because of the widespread use of chemical herbicides and herbicides, not to mention fertilisers. In order to obtain SOM (Sijil Organik Malaysia), the land needs to be free of chemical pesticides and heavy metal apart from other conditions. I don’t remember seeing any mention of chemical herbicides. Regardless, at the farm we do not use chemical pesticides or herbicides. I believe that we can always work with nature and obtain natural sources.

In the production of our enzyme and fish amino acids, 90% of the ingredients used is farm based, when I can be confident of it being free from chemical contamination. Our water source is clean, natural water taken from the source, running through 3000 m of polypipe. We have 2 lines: 1 strictly for the fish and the other for other farm and farmhouse use.

When someone asks me how can I claim that my FAA is organic. Simple.
First: the fish source ingredient is from the farm. The fishes’ main diet is the small river fish, shrimps, algae, certain leaves and banana pseudo stem from the farm. We do not use fish from the markets where you can almost be certain that it has been contaminated with chemicals to make it look fresh, smell fresh.
Second: The water used is uncontaminated, clean natural water.
Third: The only external ingredient is the probiotics bacteria and sea salt. The remaining ingredients are all farm based.
The FAA concentrate is diluted at the rate of 1-2 capfuls per litre of water and watered at the base of the plant.

Why do I say my enzyme concentrate is organic?
First: All the ingredients used are from the farm including the sugar source for the fermentation (we plant black sugar cane which is the source for the sugar).
Second: The water used is from our clean, natural uncontaminated source.
Third: All the pest control ingredients are also plant-based which is grown at the farm.
This enzyme concentrate is then diluted at the rate of 1-2 capfuls per litre water and either sprayed or watered at the base of the plant.

These two items are the main components in our fertilisation of the plants and trees. In our fertilisers, we also use calcium, magnesium and potassium as well as other trace elements. All are from our farm produce. For example, our calcium source is also from the farm: our farm chicken eggs and certain fruits high in calcium. Our chicken are not corn-fed to reduce introduction of contaminants. 90% of their food is from the farm. Potassium from banana pseudo stem and bananas.

Soil conditions are important so soil improvers are also an essential part of the practice at the farm so that we can continue to grow good vegetables and fruits. I mix the soil improvers into the soil in subsequent plantings in the same soil to ensure the soil remains healthy and fertile. I also use it to cover non-liquid fertilisers applies to promote the decomposition of the fertiliser as well as in soil used to increase the soil level.

The base of the soil improver is the mulch where the source ingredients are also from the farm. Again, I can be sure that it has not been sprayed with toxic chemicals. Hence, I do not use any organic material from kelapa sawit, rice husks or coco peat as although it is considered organic, it is not for my farm.

I do use some vermicompost that I obtain from a source that I feel confident as well as chicken manure although minimal. I am careful of what is introduced at the farm. Why do I care so much? I have a 3 year old son who I hope will grow up in good health without the new age, post GMO illnesses like psoriasis, eczema, respiratory problems, as well a host of allergies and other health issues. At the same time, I enjoy planting and I do not want to have to worry about getting harmful chemicals on me 🙂 This is the least I can do to leave a good environmental legacy for my son.

The ability to do all this is because I have an integrated farm and do not practice monoculture so I have the diversity in source ingredients as well as availability. Whilst it is difficult to determine chemical contamination from sources out of the farm, I try to limit the exposure. Nature provides a lot of benefits hence our maxim of “Maximising Nature’s Bounty” 🙂

17 Oct 2016

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Suria Helang Lui: 7 years later Part 4: Behind the scenes

Suria Helang Lui is a family farm, not a large corporation farm. It took me 10 years to find the right piece of land for me. As far as possible I wanted to get a piece of land that hadn’t been developed or worked on for a while. The main reason being that it meant the exposure to chemical pesticides and herbicides would be minimal. Having the basic infrastructure is important. The basics are access, water and electricity. Another important factor is the distance from my home to the land had to be within commuting distance which also meant not far from K.L.

When I bought the land, it looked like a jungle so the first few months, I spent time with my parang

and weed cutter to check the lay of the land to figure out how I wanted to design the layout of the farm. I already had road access and electricity was near so nothing major to be done in this area. The water supply to this area was by Syabas and they used a 1 inch polypipe to supply the water to the area which meant that the water supply would be insufficient for what I wanted. So, I decided to lay polypipe to bring water to the farm. Three years later, I decided to lay a second water supply line strictly for the fish pond.

The farmhouse was built on a as-I-grow basis so it started out with a storage room/rest room and then I added a square structure of 24 fee by 24 feet and it was connected to the rest room via a walkway. This has evolved to what I have now: a 3-bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1 bookworm, 1 prayer room, living room, dining/work area (where the walkway used to be) and a large kitchen. The kitchen area is an open concept kitchen with plenty of work areas and storage all to support the operations of the farm. To date, I have still not completed the outer exterior – still have details but I hope someday I will get around to it as it is not high on my priority list. I had started out with a design that allowed for growth and additions so the farmhouse took a few years to be the way it is now. Each time we did an addition, we didn’t have to knock down walls because I didn’t want the headache of debris removal and I didn’t want to waste money unnecessarily.

The development of the farm is self-funded hence I have the freedom to develop it any way I want and no reporting needed. After all, I had done my share of reports in my previous life in the corporate world. As such, every major development is properly planned to reduce wastage and unnecessary investment. I would say I went to the University of Life as I develop the farm as my idea was different than what I had seen other do. All the farms that I have seen are focussed on a produce be it vegetables, fruits, chicken, fish, etc. and followed what has normally been done. Through it all, many have often remarked that what I was doing was wrong and that if I didn’t focus, it would not be commercially viable. All the produce we have now are from what we planted or started and it takes time for them to be productive. I am happy to say that we are now moving into the black though I do not foresee being a millionaire from it in the near future but what I gain from it is ultimately worth a lot more. I could have gone into the black earlier if I experimented less but I wouldn’t have gained all the knowledge that I have now. On top of that, I am my own employer, doing what I love and I do not have to worry about what I will do when I retire. I continue to experiment, do research and learn. This keeps my brain alive and I do not have time to be bored. It is through all this that I have been able to move the farm from being a purely raw goods producer to multi types of produce and products.

I am not from an agricultural background but I have never let that stop me from experimenting and researching as well as learning from practitioners. I cannot do it alone hence having a solid right-hand man who shares my vision for the farm is essential. From time to time, I add helpers for specific projects – mainly when there is building to do or preparation of area for planting. It is not a matter of throwing bodies but having the right people with the right mindset and attitude. Currently there are 3 of us – Azis, Lia and I. We each have our roles but help each other out as needed.

Farming is not a 8-5, Monday to Friday job. We are dealing with living things, nature and life. When it rains, we have to work around it to get things done. If the river otters or wild boars decide to invade the farm at night, we cannot just ignore them and let the dogs deal with them or we may end up with our plants destroyed or the fish gone. It cannot be treated as a job but more as living. Hence it has to be a full-time commitment. It has to be a team sharing the same vision of making the farm succeed to be successful. In every task we do, we have to do it to the best of our ability and not just say a task was done. I do monitor that members of the team get enough rest so at times outsiders may find that I have people sleeping in the afternoon or resting. It is not because they are lazy but more of the fact that they were taking care of the farm until dawn.

I am very much hands-on and am involved in every aspect hence I continually need to increase my knowledge from farm practices to marketing. One of the most important tenet is that we only sell what we will eat or use. Each week as we prepare for market, the question that I remind my team is “Will we eat it? Will we use it?”. If the answer is no then we don’t sell it. I care about our brand: Suria Helang Lui. It has taken us years to build our reputation and it is important that we maintain the trust and confidence from our customers.

While it may be hard work, it is infinitely satisfying and I know that what we produce are good and something that I would feed my family and friends. Pursuing my passion has given me a lot of pleasure and sense of accomplishment and a future, in shaa Allah, until the day I die.

11 Feb 2016

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Good food is our right

Over the years, as I have gotten more and more into producing food, I have learnt a lot – from visiting sites, talking with practitioners and academicians, as well as experimenting on my own. Along the way, I have grown to believe more and more that good food is one of our basic rights. Most commercially driven food producers put profits above all else and why not, that is the purpose that they are in that business. Whilst some have maintain some honesty and ethics, many have excuses for why they do what they do.
The most favourite excuse is: To keep cost down.

Usage of chemical pesticides and fertilisers to simplify the production of fruit and vegetables as well as to cut down on costs. You do not require as many people in comparison to natural, organic farming. You can also mechanise a major portion of your production by setting up “automatic” chemical fertilising and pesticide control.
Usage of unclean waste such as human wastes (which can contain all sorts of things including chemicals from medication, etc.)

Excuse #2: To increase production

Usage of chemical pesticides to prevent pests. After all, many say, after 21 days the food is safe to eat. If you worry about pesticides, you can further clean it with other chemicals to remove the pesticides. The reasoning: only a small amount of toxic chemicals may remain so it is almost negligible so no effect. Really?
Usage of chemical hormones. The hormones are targeted mainly for two things: 1. to increase the size or quantity produced and 2. to force the tree or plant to produce enabling almost on-demand production.

Excuse #3: To produce consistent quality produce

Genetically modifying plants and trees to produce consistent “grade”, taste and size produce. Amongst the favourites locally are bananas and durians.
Usage of chemical hormones to control growth.
Usage of chemical fertilisers as this can be applied more precise.

Over the years, we have seen more and more people develop allergies to common food like chicken, eggs, fruits, etc. To my own non-expert mind, it is only logical. When we have continued to consume toxic chemicals and hormones which no one has done a long-term study on or have studies done and the recovery measure is via more chemicals, it only makes sense that we are causing harm to our body systems.

Often we hear reports on death caused by food that has been “contaminated” by toxic chemicals or over-use of chemicals. Some countries are banning GMO or requiring labelling of GMO. It is important for us to understand what these technological advances are in agriculture and how it impact us from GMO to the usage of chemical hormones, fertilisers, pesticides and preservatives. Many fruits are sprayed with chemical preservatives to increase the “freshness” of the fruits especially when it has to be packed, shipped, and distributed before it finally gets to the consumers. I rarely see any mention of this or labelling. So I wonder, when you juice the fruits without peeling them first, what else are you adding to your health drink? And, there is virtually no peeling of the outer layer for vegetables (except for those like carrots): spinach, kale, celery, etc.

For the sake of ourselves and our families, we need to take an interest in this and not view it lightly. Once the damage has been done, sometimes it is not irreversible and we will live with the after-effects. I am very much an advocate for growing your own food, if not a major part then to supplement commercial food. This can be achieved by having our own “garden” and you do not have to have land to do this. There are so many food plants that can be grown in pots for those with limited or no land space. There are many ways to produce your own fertilisers organically and it is not difficult to do so. We are blessed to live in a country where it is “growing” season year-round. Whilst we may care about our outward appearance by buying good quality and expensive clothes, accessories, make-up, body care items, etc., as well as spending time and money to go to gyms and spas, I feel that we should exercise the same concern and care for our insides.

For me, I like to enjoy a calamansi drink and be able to drop the squeezed fruit into the glass for additional flavour; I love the joy of enjoying durians of different sizes from the same tree as well as the different tastes; and I enjoy eating my vegetables without have to detoxify them.

The moral of my story is this: If you cannot produce your own food, or reduce consumption of chemically contaminated food, you should at least know the origins of the food and how it was grown. Then you can make a choice: ” pay now or pay later”.

07 Jan 2016

0 Comments By admin Armchair journal, Development

SHL 2016: What we are

Many have visited our farm during our events and many have asked about our farm. This farm was born out of my passion for edibles and therapeutic plants and trees as well as to prepare for my old age. Since I have always been busy and active, I couldn’t envision myself without activity once I reached the retirement age and forced to retire. So, I opted to leave the corporate world and begin an adventure in natural organic farming – producing quality, healthy produce in an integrated farm
environment, maximising nature’s bounty and maintaining an environmental balance. One of the underlying core principles of the farm is to work with the natural resources and not destroy it. The farm is slightly over 1 hectare (2.5 acres) in size and is located in Sg. Liu, Hulu Langat. It took me 10 years to find the right piece of land, one that met my criteria. Amongst the criteria was the location must be under 2 hours from K.L., availability of infrastructure (road, electricity, communications, etc.) as well as an abundance of one of the most basic resources: fresh, natural, uncontaminated water. Anything else is considered as a bonus. When I first got the land, you can play Tarzan – it was jungle-like with vines hanging from trees that was thick and strong enough for you to swing on.

After a challenging 7 years, today the farm is an integrated farm that produces natural, organic produce from fruits and vegetables, chicken and eggs, to fresh water fish as well as organic fertilisers and sprays as well as seeds and plants. We have a very lean operation with 2 workers working with me. This means that I am very hands-on. Most of the seeding and planting as well as quite a bit of the maintenance work is done by me. Being a stickler, I have specific things that I want done specific ways so my workers are there mainly to assist me and to take basic care of the farm and its inhabitants when I am not there. It is pretty much on a small scale still but we hope to be able to bump up production substantially this year. We sell our produce at the Sg. Penchala Sunday morning market and throughout the years, we have built relationships with our customers, many of whom are our regulars.

Another aim of the farm is to preserve our banana diversity. We do not have any genetically modified bananas but focus on the many wonderful varieties of local bananas – many of which are difficult to find in the market. We more than 25 varieties of local bananas and week to week, we have different varieties of bananas. We have managed to weather the various problems that have occurred with the banana plant diseases and continue to be able to grow them healthily. Of course we take quite a few preventive measures. It is gratifying when people come to us looking for the rarer species.

Over the years, I have experimented with papaya trees and have finally settled to the few varieties that we have which are sweet and the flesh is either red, orange or like cantoloupe in colour. Not all the papaya trees produce fruits – we have both male and female plants. The male plants are for the flowers and leaves. Our other fruit trees include rambutan, pulasan cempedak, nangka, mangosteen, mata kucing, pomegranate, soursop, jambu madu, lime, calamansi and abiu. Not all have made it to market as they are enjoyed by family and friend, and some have just started to “learn” to fruit.

Chemical pesticide free vegetables are important to me and since I began the farm, I have planted many varieties and got to enjoy many of them. I have learnt a lot regarding growing them, caring for them, soil composition and fertilising. Looking forward to 2016, we are getting more organised in producing them as well as hope to have finally obtained the rhythm so we can have a continuous supply for our weekly market. By not introducing toxic chemicals, I have discovered that many varieties of vegetables can be eaten raw where it is at its best.

I never used to enjoy fresh water fish like catfish (keli), tilapia and lampam. I always associated the muddy taste as well as a strong, unpleasant smell with them. With the availability of fresh, clean, uncontaminated water at the farm as well as the natural contour of the land at the farm, I had a fish pond built albeit it is not like the many fish ponds that you see at the fish farms. Our fish pond resembles a flowing river with water flowing in and out all day long, every day. Without feeding the fish wastes like chicken innards, carcasses, etc. like many fish farmers do and keeping the water clean, our fish tastes great without any muddy taste and a natural sweetness to it. The ultimate test was when I have friends and customers who have steamed them and said that they taste good. If you are familiar with steamed fish, you know how unforgiving it is if the fish is not fresh or good. Our plan this year is to be able to bring fresh catfish once a month to market and to be able to produce about 10 kg of smoked catfish per month. Both these items are a favourite with our customers so our aim is to be able to be consistent. The tilapia and sampan will take longer to bring to market.

Another area of interest that I have and which I pursue is the area of herbals and therapeutic plants. Over the years, I have collected and planted many plants from all over our country. I enjoy using these natural flavourings in cooking, eating them as a salad as well as producing teas. We have numeric, white basil, Thai basil, Holy basil, Small galangal, citronella, lemon grass, cekur, belalai gajah, misai kucing – to name a few. When I walk around the farm, I graze a lot – picking a leaf here, a leaf there, a fruit here and a fruit there. It feels great to be able to do that without worrying what chemicals are on it.

We have all sorts of other plants and trees not mentioned in this article but covering them all would make this article too long. From time to time, we have open farm days where we accept visitors and have our produce on sale at the farm. Due to the lean operations and the workload, we do not have daily or weekly visiting hours. Weekdays are filled with our farm operation activities and weekends are busy with preparing for market and going to market as I am particular regarding the freshness of our produce. Moving forward in 2016, we hope to be able to increase our yields, work more efficiently and get the infinite satisfaction from producing quality, healthy great tasting produce.

12 Sep 2015

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SHL Version of the Beneficial Microorganism (EM) solution

As we practice organic or natural farming and we aim to recycle as much as our organic wastes to a useful product, I began to experiment with making my own beneficial effective microorganism concentrates for use at the farm. Knowing the source of the material will further help me ensure
preventing introduction of toxic chemicals to our farm hence we tend to use farm “:wastes”.
Selecting the ingredients is also important to me as I wanted to produce something that has the plus effect – more nutrients to the plants and trees – as well as pest deterrent properties. I also wanted to have as much beneficial enzymes in the mixture. The whole aim is to produce healthy plants with healthy soil. The beauty of using this is I do not have to worry when I am happily spraying my plants with the diluted solution that I will be covered with toxic chemicals. My 2 year old son also has fun spraying the plants and I do not have to worry about how he will be affected to exposure to this solution.

At the base is sugar. As we grow black sugar cane (tebu hitam) which is one of the sources for the production of molasses with its high sugar content, we use this to serve as the food to the microorganisms. To have the pest deterrent properties, we use citronella (serai wangi) leaves. Another good item for this is the onion peels and the outer layer that we tend to peel off the onion when we cook.

Next comes the additional nutrient components that I want to provide to the plants such as calcium, phosphorus and potassium. Here there are lots of choices such as calamansi (lima kasturi), key lime (lima nipis), banana peel, papaya peel, and even ginger torch (bunga kantan) stalks. I will chop all these up. You can also use vegetable wastes from your food preparation. By adding the citrus elements, your solution will have a nice citrus aroma so you can get aroma therapy whilst you are spraying your plants.

Chlorine is harmful to the microorganisms so it is important to use water that is free of chlorine to this mix. We are blessed with having a clean, natural water source so that is what we use.

We use a lot of it at the farm as I use it for all the plants and trees, fruiting and non-fruiting so when we prepare, I use a large covered plastic “garbage” container.
Now, the favourite question: how much of each. The ratio I use is 2 parts black sugar cane, 2 parts organic material (the leaves, peel and such) and 10 parts of water. Basically, for our production, I use 2 kg of black sugar cane, 2 kg of the other organic material and 10 litters of water.

I allow it to ferment for at least 3 months, the longer the better, and once a week, I will stir the mixture allowing for the waste gases to escape and increasing oxygenation. It is during this fermentation process that the microorganisms will multiply. When it is done, I will strain the liquid and store it in recycled plastic bottles. I use it at a dilution rate of approximately 2 tablespoons of concentrate to 1 litter of water and spray it all over the plant and soil. The use of these solutions are not limited to the plants but can also be used in your household to clean counter tops and surfaces. And now you have our story. Try it and you may fall in love with it too 🙂

28 Aug 2015

0 Comments By admin Armchair journal, SHL Project, Vegetables

Shredder, My New Love

I am involved in a new love affair – yes, you read it right. My new love’s name is Hawk Shredder which is made in China. It is simply wonderful, it helps me out and does things that fills my heart with joy and it didn’t put in in the red, in fact, in shaa Allah, within 1 year will help me save money. What more could a woman want?
Am I gushing over a shredder/chipper? Yes, I am. I have been looking for a shredder for over two years but I didn’t want to over-invest. After all, one of the principles of the farm is to be sustainable economically so any investment should be able to pay for itself. Otherwise it would not be practical. This item is important to the farm, not a toy.

Being an organic farm that is more focussed on maximising nature’s bounty (which is our tag line), an inherent principle is to go for natural farming where possible and using what we have to the maximum potential. For us, it is important to keep the soil alive and to continuously feed it so it will be healthy, enabling us to grow edibles using more natural methods.

Top soil is important as well as the soil composition. An important element in our farming methodology is the use of organic mulch, free of pesticides and chemical fertilisers. In our initial stages, we used bought organic matter but over the years, we have begun to recycle our organic waste such as banana pseudostems, ginger torch leaves and stems, grass and various other plant-based matter. In this manner, we can feel confident of mulch matter being free from chemical pesticide, herbicide and fertiliser.

As in all love affairs, it is not perfect. There are ups and downs. The downs are the shredder cannot handle recyclable wastes that have high water content nor with lots of stringy fiber so it doesn’t handle the banana pseudostem. It will cause the shredder to clog up and overheat. The up is there are many options at the farm – the tebrau, bunga kantan stems and leaves and all sorts of other vegetation.

You also need to get attune to how it functions – don’t stuff the input chutes or you will have problems with it clogging up. Just take it easy. Every once in a while, you will need to clear the output chute. As the shredded material will be moist, it may clump up so it doesn’t drop off easily. Get a feel on when you need to speed up the engine and when you can just have it at a steady pace.

As with any relationship, you have to maintain it. Be sure to use good quality 4-stroke engine oil – no need to go overboard on this as the prices of the oil for 1 litter range from between RM 10 – 50. Periodically clean it so that it doesn’t dry up on the insides and create blockages.

All in all, I am happy with it as we have been running the shredder about 3 times a week, 2-3 hours each time. I now use a lot of mulch all over the farm, around my fruiting trees, my vegetables, and also as an organic additive to the soil. At the rate that I am creating and using mulch, the machine along with the lubricants and petrol would have paid for itself in 6 months.

20 Aug 2015

0 Comments By admin Armchair journal, Edible Landscape, Herbal Therapy

Why the Super 5 in a tea?

I enjoy blending herbs to create a refreshing tea that I would want to drink any time without thinking of it as a health food or “medicinal”. Somehow we tend to equate healthy drinks to bitter, awful tasting drink but in this instance, it tastes great and not medicinal. I wanted to create a tea with lots of preventive properties as well as curative properties while maintaining the taste.

The criteria for the tea was that the source of the leaves had to be able to be grown on the farm (read: local and organic) as well as easy to care and maintain. And of course, had to result in a good tasting tea that can easily be stored and transported (read: either a concentrate or dried tea leaves blend).

I started out with the first leaf selected: the durian belanda or soursop (graviola) mature, dark green leaves. Many studies have been conducted including by Purdue University, Catholic University of South Korea, Virginia Tech to name a few, have found the the phytochemicals in the leaves and fruits are effective as a cancer prevention (since they kill off cancer cells and we all have them, just whether they are active or not) and also as a curative for cancer with its cancer cell killing properties. In traditional or herbal medicine, it is also use for hypertension, kidney stones, gall bladder stones, diabetes and other major illnesses. From my research, 5-7 leaves per day are used. It should be noted, that to date, there has been no known adverse effect from the leaves.

Misai kucing or cat’s whiskers has long been used as an aid to control the blood sugar, treatment of gout, high blood pressure and as a blood cleanser in traditional or herbal medicine. The flowers are also used in the blend for a subtle floral undertone flavour. The care and maintenance of this shrub is easy and it is easily propagated from stem cuttings. From my research a range of 1-2 gm per day is used.

Kemangi or lemon basil is often used in cooking as it emits a citrus herbal flavour. In traditional or herbal therapy, it is often used for diabetes, high blood pressure , cholesterol, blood cleanser as well as to strengthen the heart. This plant is easy to care for and propagated by seeds. From my research about 5-7 leaves per day is used.

Serai or lemongrass has only recently surfaced as being used in cancer therapy. At the Ben Gurion University, a study conducted found that citral, a phytochemical in lemongrass “causes cancer cells to commit suicide”. A local favourite herb for many of our local dishes, it is also used to create refreshing drinks. Easily propagated from stem bulbs, it grows with hardly any care required apart from periodic cleaning of old and dried stalks to maintain plant health. From my research, 1 gm of fresh leaves are use.

Belalai gajah or snake grass is also known for its usage in cancer therapy and high blood pressure in alternative, traditional and herbal treatments. It is easily propagated from stem cuttings and grows well in sunny to semi-shady areas. An average of 7-10 leaves per day is used but sometimes more, depending on the purpose of the tea.

Ultimately, I wanted a tea blend that would allow me to eliminate toxins as well as having illness preventive characteristics but yet be palatable. Amongst the major illnesses that I hope to address in myself are cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, stroke, hypertension, kidney and gall bladder stones to name a few. To my knowledge, we all have cancer cells and it is just a matter of whether they are active or not. Thus, as a preventive measure, I hope to kill off as many of these cancer cells. Our modern day diet also introduces a lot sugar, uric acid and fats to our food consumption as we enjoy crustaceans, desserts, steaks, and many other wonderful tasting food. My aim is by consuming the tea, it will help my body eliminate all the unhealthy by-products from my body such as excess sugar, bad cholesterol, uric acid and the like. I wanted my blood system to be cleansed of all the undesirables regularly or keep them in check so as not to make me fall victim to these illnesses.

I do not advocate dismissing physician’s visit and advise but merely share what has been used for years over the generations. I periodically go for a medical check-up as a form of motoring my health. Unfortunately, not much is documented as the traditional practitioners do not carry out documented studies. I am constantly on the lookout for studies conducted by research centres and universities to further add my knowledge so if anyone else has information, please share.

I belief that a healthy blood is one of the keys to a healthy body so the blood cleansing properties is also high on the list of the characteristics of the tea blend. In preparing the tea, I will chop up the leaves to facilitate the release of the nutrients from the leaves. I tend to prepare a concentrate which I store in my fridge and I have tested storing it for 3 weeks in the fridge. When I want to drink it, I will add either hot or cold water, depending on my preference at that time. Personally, I drink it twice a week, mainly for preventive and maintenance purposes as I have other blends that I drink. So, why not create an organic “tea” garden where you can enjoy the beauty of the plants as well as the health benefits 🙂

Updated: Aug. 20, 2015
Updates: Aug. 21, 2015

12 Aug 2015

0 Comments By admin Armchair journal, Eating Well, Edible Landscape, Healthy Options, Well-being Landscape

Just drink it :)

After a conversation that I had with a very good friend, I was inspired to share this. Oftimes we feel lazy to eat fresh “ulam” or find it difficult to find. I remember my late great grandmother, late grandmother and even my mother have “ulam” at almost every lunch and dinner. For us nowadays, in the age of technology and processed foods, we have lost this tradition until we get sick and then we scour all over the place for them. At the farm, part of the aim is to keep the species alive and continue to propagate them.
The beauty of these herbs is that they can be consumed as a drink and done in such a way so that it becomes a regular drink and no longer thought of a medicinal or health drink. Many can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge, ready to drink or as a concentrate which can later be mixed with hot or cold water to drink.
The can also be easily planted and cared for, and can be planted in containers for those with limited ground space. As long as the plants can receive about 6 hours of sunlight a day, the soil not left to dry out and planted in a good soil mix, they can produce the necessary leaves and flowers for consumption. Since we live in a tropical climate, we do not have to worry about planting times as we can plant throughout the year.
Since the purpose is to produce quality for our consumption, I strongly suggest that it be planted organically, using organic fertiliser and pest control and totally avoiding chemical and toxic pesticides. Basically, we should feel comfortable to pluck the leaf and eat it directly from the plant.
So, here is my top 10 list:

Lemon grass or serai
Lemon basil or kemangi (produces small white flowers)
Cosmos caudantus or ulam raja (produces 5-petal pink with yellow centre flower)
Cat’s whiskers or misai kucing (produces white or lilac flowers)
Holy basil or ruku (produces tiny purple flowers)
Pereskia sacarosa or tujuh bilah (produces vibrant pink or red flowers)
Asiatica pennywort or pegaga
Chinese betel or sireh cina
Snakegrass or belalai gajah
White basil or selasih putih (produces tiny white flowers)

Tujuh bilah

Misai Kucing

Ulam Raja

Ruku

Selasih Putih

The above plants either on its own or in combination is purported to address may different diseases or illnesses including cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, and gout as well as detoxifying your body. It also includes antioxidants as well as containing many different vitamins and minerals.
It is important to remember that it is the fresh, green leaves that are used and not the old brown, dried leaf. So, when planning you garden, whether it is in a patio, cemented space or ground soil, why not include these plants 🙂

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Category: Armchair journal