Farm Report Feb-May ‘09

Kenny Ng  / Date: 25-June-09

Major activities
-    Built a two-room guest house; and a pyramid-roof hut near the fish pond.
-    Rebuilt the mini dam that holds the overflow water from the fish pond. To grow water chestnut vegetable. The previous one was destroyed by the May 13th flash flood.
-    Hosted many visitors, particularly from friends and KS Tan’s network who are mostly the volunteers of Lapis Lazuli Light Society.
-    Provide training to two Asli boys and two ladies(boys’ trainer) from Temenggor village for 4 days. They are sponsored by the Lions Club to do organic farming in their village.

Lo-light
-    Have not done any planting on the 6-acre land yet. The owner, Su Win has jokingly said that Kenny is planting the wild ‘BAKU’ vegetable there.
-    KS Tan left  for Penang after 6 month of partnership. He repeatedly said that his presence was a burden to the farm, financially. I am so grateful to him. He has improved the farm operation in many ways, particularly the techniques of growing the leafy vegetables.
-    The May 13th flash flood was a setback. The crops and top soil along the river were washed away. Money and many labour hours have been spent for the replacement of piping and replenishing the top soil. The crops output was down by 500kg in May, from the previous month.  However, I was luckier than my neighbour and some kampong folks in terms of money spent and the inconveniences during that flash flood.
-    Wild boars come more often than last year, sometimes every alternate night. Hopefully one day, the wild boars will leave the farm alone when I have accumulated enough merits for them.
-    Most of non-leafy vegetables were of low yield, particularly the lady’s fingers. Cucumber did well only in Feb-Mar.
-    The popular roselle syrup and jam were out for a few months. The roselle crop was not successful.
-    A few customer feedback that some harvested vegetables were too old, particularly the bayam and kailan.
-    Two male workers did not turn up for work often.
-    Lee May’s projects of planting more flowers and making a walking path along the river is delayed.

Hi-light
-    Honour to have Mr. Gan of GK Organic Farm and his associates visit the farm. Just for the record, below are the “Organic Stars”, my guru and senior that have visited me since I started 2 years ago.
o    Ms Tan (better known as Siew) of CETDEM
o    Mr & Mrs  Loh of Loh’s Organic Farm
o    Mr & Mrs Ho of Vision Farm
o    Mr Chin of Tg. Tualang Organic Farm
o    Mr Gan of GK Organic Farm
o    Mr & Mrs Jacky of Janda Baik Organic Farm; and of course Mr KS Tan who had stayed in the farm for 6 months.
-    The output hit 1.5 ton in April.

-    Pineapples were in good harvest in the month of May and early June, harvested over 200kg. Most of them were sent to KL and Penang market.  No demand in local market, said to be expensive.
-    The customer base has increased with the increased output. They are from Temoh, Gopeng, Ipoh, Bukit Mertajam, Butterworth and Penang.
-    Below are my loyal and consistent customers that I need to acknowledge and I want  to thank them for their great support. Some customers come and go but they have remained as my regular customers for a long time.
o    Mrs Leong (Su Win), my neighbour since started harvesting in Sep 2007
o    Mrs Ng, Sin Kee Hardware, Tapah since Oct 2007
o    Evelyn Selvarajah, Ipoh since Nov 2007
o    Mr Chan, Biotech’s Best Health Store, Ipoh since Nov 2007
o    Ms Yap, Ipoh since Jan 2008
o    Mrs Leong, Leong Electrical, Tapah since Apr 2008
o    Madam Lui, Tapah since Apr 2008
o    Fruit Shop, Tapah since May 2008
o    Dr Woo, headmaster of Pei Yuen private, Kampar, since June 2008
o    Mrs Yong (Puan Leong), SM Sentosa teacher, Kampar since June 2008
o    Mr Ho, SM Sentosa teacher, Kampar since June 2008
o    Joanne, UTAR, Kampar since July 2008
Thank you!

Farm Production

“We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

JOHN ROBBINS
Author of Diet for a New America and The Food Revolution

Farm Report Jan ‘09

Kenny Ng  / Date: 13-Feb-09

Major activities
-     nil

Lo-light
-    A week after Chinese New Year, the demand drop to almost zero. The excess produce was donated and given away to workers and some neighbors.
-    The farm-made compost and IMO was barely enough because we are opening more raised beds.
-    Spent less time in doing actual farm work personally but more time doing sales, marketing and delivery. Luckily  KS Tan is managing the farm.

Hi-light
-    Mr. and Mrs. Ho of Vision Farm visited the farm and they were very kind in giving a lot of valuable advice and tips on growing vegetables. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to them.
-    The January output hit more than 1 ton! The achievement was due to KS Tan’s capability in training and managing the workers. However, the increased output exceeded the actual sales amount, the increase in the number of customers and orders  did not catch up in time with the ramp in production.
-    The leafy vegetables grew bigger in size than previously. The French bean and cucumber crops also did well in yield.
-    Number of customers has increased in both Ipoh and Penang.
-    Have updated the website with more pages and photos.

Problems
-     nil

Accomplishments
-     nil

Jan 08 – 351kg	May 08 – 573kg	Sept 08 – 1022kg	Jan 09 – 1,367kg
Feb 08 – 523kg	June 08 – 758kg	Oct 08 – 936kg
Mar 08 – 513kg	July 08 – 674kg	Nov 08 – 850kg
Apr 08 – 540kg	Aug 08 – 928kg	Dec 08 – 969kg

“With Love and Gratitude!”

Farm Report Oct – Dec ‘08

Kenny Ng  / Date: 15-Jan-09

Major activities
-    Made an extension to the smaller house on the farm.
-    My family has moved from Bukit Mertajam to the farm.
-    My neighbour, Mr. Philip Leong and his wife Su Win are kind enough to rent me a 6-acre plot of land for farming. Half of the land has been cleared. Plan to plant only fruit trees.

Lo-light
-    Two workers, my wife and I came down with chikungunya fever. Many of the village folk were also infected .
-    Rain and more rain on the month of Nov and Dec. Growth of many vegetables were affected.
-    Decided to drop NASAA certification, the Australian Organic Standard. The fees and charges cost too much.
-    Spent much time packing and unpacking boxes during moving house, and re-arranging the furniture. Posses too many material things!
-    Did not write farm report on time for two months.
-    Demand dropped drastically during the year end long school holidays, from both organic shops and direct customers.
-    No longer able to accommodate visitors for over-night stay since my family moved in to the farm house.
-    Did not hit 1 ton output target.

Hi-light
-    KS Tan, an experienced farmer who had worked in Vision Farm for many years, has joined me to become my partner. The farm has improved a lot in many ways since then.
-    Started selling in Kampar market every Wed and Sat, through Mrs Yong, the distributor.
-    Have distributor and organic retailers in Penang Island and Butterworth selling my produce.
-    Deliver back to Ipoh personally. Glad that some old customers are still supporting me..

Problems
-     nil

Accomplishments
-     nil

Output {Target is 1000kg by end of 2008}

Sep 07 – 150kg	Jan 08 – 351kg	May 08 – 573kg	Sept 08 – 1022kg
Oct 07 – 224kg	Feb 08 – 523kg	June 08 – 758kg	Oct 08 – 936kg
Nov 07 – 141kg	Mar 08 – 513kg	July 08 – 674kg	Nov 08 – 850kg
Dec 07 – 340kg	Apr 08 – 540kg	Aug 08 – 928kg	Dec 08 – 969kg

“We feed the soil, the soil will feed us!”

Farm Report Aug/Sept ‘08

Kenny Ng / Date: 15-Oct-08

Major activities
-   Host 6 groups of visitors during school holidays, public holidays and a few weekends.
-  Learning trip to Comfort Organic Farm, Penang, with 4 workers in Aug.
-   Learning trip to Vision Farm, Genting, with 2 workers, in Sep.
 

Lo-light
-   Wild boars came often but this time besides eating tapioca, they came for those earthworms inside the raised beds. They destroyed many crops. I was given some advice on how to deter them like putting used shirts and human hair collected from barbers around the farm. Some even recommended shooting or trapping. However, I decided to put up speakers and play some sounds at night. Hope to scare them away.
-   Installed Astro because of the Olympic games. Even though the games are over, I often  spent about an hour a day watching it. I have been able to survive without TV and newspapers since moving to the farm.

Hi-light
-   I now have distributors in Kampar, Bukit Mertajam and Butterworth. My wife has given up distributing in Bukit Mertajam herself. She is getting ready to move to the farm by Dec.
-   Producing cucumbers for the first time.
-   The quality and quantity of French beans and Lady’s fingers are now better than a few previous batches.
-  Noticed that the soil fertility has improved, which has  convinced me that the compost, IMO, smoked rice husk and liquid fertilizer that I made works. And I strongly believe the quote, “We feed the soil, the soil will feed us.”

Problems
-   nil

Accomplishments
-   Met 1000kg target early by 3 months!

Output (Target is 1000kg by end of 2008; to be financially sustainable)

Sep 07 – 150kg	Jan 08 – 351kg	May 08 – 573kg
Oct 07 – 224kg	Feb 08 – 523kg	June 08 – 758kg
Nov 07 – 141kg	Mar 08 – 513kg	July 08 – 674kg
Dec 07 – 340kg	Apr 08 – 540kg	Aug 08 – 928kg

Sept 08 – 1028kg

“The wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings.

Let food be your medicine”

Hippocrates
(460 – 377BC)

Farm Report July ‘08

Kenny Ng  / Date: 11-Aug-08

Major activities
-  Nil. No group visitors.

Lo-light
-  Most of my customers were able to accept my vegetables’ price increase starting mid July. However, some have bargained for better quality of vegetables and no worms inside the fruits.
-  One capable worker left for the army and has been replaced.
-  A few farmers have said that six workers for a small farm is too many staff.  My workers and I are not able to work efficiently and effectively yet. Moreover, they work only six days a week and often do not like to do OT; not like the foreign workers. It is my obligation to hire and educate the local Asli as long as they are willing and like to work.
-  Two old customers have requested for me to continue distributing in Ipoh. Sorry to say that I have not found a better way of distributing there yet. Now my farm produce mainly goes to my hometown in Penang and also Kampar.
-  July output is 674kg, dropped from the month of June; mainly dropped from the banana and non-leafy produce.

Hi-light
-  I have more direct customers from UTAR of Kampar, the lecturers and staff. Thanks to Wai Yoon,  a staff of UTAR, who helped in the networking. She is a long supporter of the organic lifestyle since the 90’s.
-  Started to harvest some pineapples.
-  Planted a few Persian fruit trees and they grow well.
-  Received many ‘thank you and compliments’ thru sms as well as cards from those who have visited my farm. They have given me encouragement and motivation to carry on.

Problems
-  nil

Accomplishments
-  nil

Output (Target is 1000kg by end of 2008; to be financially sustainable)

Sep 07 – 150kg	Jan 08 – 351kg	May 08 – 573kg
Oct 07 – 224kg	Feb 08 – 523kg	June 08 – 758kg
Nov 07 – 141kg	Mar 08 – 513kg	July 08 – 674kg
Dec 07 – 340kg	Apr 08 – 540kg

“Organic Farming has taught me and that we must not exploit nor abuse available resources that GOD/NATURE has created”
“Organic Farming has also taught me not to be greedy in life as we have come to this world naked and we will depart naked.”
“I believe that once we have the correct value system in life, everything will fall in place.”

Tan Siew Luang
CETDEM Organic Farming Project Coordinator

Farm Report June ‘08

Kenny Ng / Date: 03-July-08

Major activities
- Hosted the following visitors in June.
2nd   > 40 pax , from Butterworth, mostly school teachers and their families, for a day trip.
6th – 7th   > 2 families, from Bukit Mertajam, for 2D1N trip.
28th – 29th   > 3 families, from KL, for 2D1N trip.

Lo-light
- The price of petrol, hence the transportation and almost all farm inputs cost increased significantly. However, I have not decided when to increase my farm produce price yet but it will be inevitable. Moreover, other organic farmers already said I sell too cheap.
- Stopped delivering to Ipoh by myself because of high transportation cost. Apologized to my Ipoh customers and friends. Hope to find way to distribute my farm produce in Ipoh soon.
- Again not many varieties of non-leafy vegetables were produced except long bean. The yield of a new batch of lady’s finger was low. Others like radish, bitter gourd, petola were not ready to harvest yet.
- A few heavy storms caused many banana and tapioca trees to fall. On one occasion, the plastic cover of a rain-shelter flew off!
- Banana fruits from certain trees were cracked. Could not sell the fruits in this condition. Need to apply sea salt to banana trees, this advice was given by a visitor. To try on a few trees.
- Some banana fruits had worms inside, feedback by a few customers. Guess some wrappings were not effective, probably wrapped them too late.

Hi-light
- The back portion of the farm has been cleared and crops have been planted. However, the soil was hard and lacks fertility. One area was too sandy. I was told that the area was once a fishpond, many years ago.
- Participated in the school cooperative day by promoting my vegetables, at SM Sentosa, Kampar. It was well received by the school’s teachers and students’ parents. Thanks to Mrs. Yong, the teacher who invited me to the occasion. She has been helping me to liaise with other teachers in getting my vegetables on every Wednesday.
- June output is 758kg, 185kg more than May output.

Problems
- nil

Accomplishments
- nil

Output (Target is 1000kg by end of 2008; to be financially sustainable)

Sep 07 – 150kg	Jan 08 – 351kg	May 08 – 573kg
Oct 07 – 224kg	Feb 08 – 523kg	June 08 – 758kg
Nov 07 – 141kg	Mar 08 – 513kg
Dec 07 – 340kg	Apr 08 – 540kg

“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”
                                                                Masanobu Fukuoka

Farm Report May ‘08

Kenny Ng / Date: 09-June-08

Major activities
- Hosted the following groups for Farm/Eco tours.
18th-19th – 30 pax , from KL Canton Association
24th-25th – 10 pax , organized by CETDEM
29th-30th – 12 pax, from KL.

Lo-light
- Price of goat dung and rice bran increased by 33% and 50% respectively. For other items like hardware and maintenance parts, the price has also increased significantly.
- Getting lesser Ipoh customers than in the previous months.
- All cucumber plants dried off after bearing only a few fruits. Have not been successful in planting the cucumber yet, after 3rd attempt.
- The yield of French-beans, from the new batch was also low.
- Not many varieties of non-leafy vegetables were produced except for lady’s fingers and long beans.
- Papaya output dropped by half. The matured plants produced less than before and the young ones were not yet bearing ripe fruits.

Hi-light
- Getting more direct customers from Kampar, Tapah, Bukit Mertajam and Butterworth.
- Applied Kuntan (smoked rice husks) to papaya trees. The potash can harden the papaya skin and hence prevent it from the fruit flies sting, as advised by a friend. Awaiting to see the results.
- The Siew Pak Choy size was bigger than the previous month. It implies that the previous month reported smaller size was not due to the type of seeds used but because of the soil fertility.
- A few Pineapple plants started to bear fruits, these were planted last Aug.
- Planted a hundred more Pineapple plants.
- May output is 573kg, 33kg more than April output.
- The eco-farm tours helped for the month of May, financially.

Problems
- The rat pest was still a problem, they continue eating up the groundnuts before I could harvest and some papaya too.

Accomplishments
- nil

Output (Target is 1000kg by end of 2008; to be financially sustainable)

Sep 07 – 150kg	Jan 08 – 351kg	May 08 – 573kg
Oct 07 – 224kg	Feb 08 – 523kg
Nov 07 – 141kg	Mar 08 – 513kg
Dec 07 – 340kg	Apr 08 – 540kg

“The Garden of Eden is not forever lost. The secret to its revival lies buried no deeper than the first few inches of your soil”
from the book of Secrets Of The Soil

Farm Report April ‘08

Kenny Ng / Date: 05-May-08

Major activities
- Host 38 pax from Kajang Rotary Club, for a day trip.

Lo-light
- Again rain almost every day for the whole month of April. The vegetable yield, especially the bayam and kangkong that were grown outside the rain shelters, were very low.
- The yield of the long beans (snake skin type) and French beans were low also, could be due to too much rain.
- Rats ate up at least 50kg of groundnuts before I could harvest it!
- The Siew Pak Choy(SPC) leafy vegetables were small compared to other farmers’ produce, commented a long time organic consumer. I think it is either due to soil fertility or the breed itself. I have to find out.
- A few customers feedback that the papayas were infested by worms before it could be eaten. Guess I should have harvested them before they became too ripe.

Hi-light
- Started getting more direct customers from Kampar and Tapah after doing some marketing. My friend used to tell me that these two townsfolk are generally thrifty and would not buy organic grown produce at a premium price. Well I hope I am able to get enough customers to justify my delivery cost.
- The okra (lady’s finger) plants grew well and healthy. The quality and yield were good.
- April output is 540kg, only slightly more than March output. Leafy vegetables output is about the same as the month of March, 244kg.
- A friend offered me a RM10k interest free loan, as a gesture of goodwill and friendship. He likes the organic farming movement but he himself is not able to do it. He wanted to share my burden and support organic farming in a way. I told him that I still have some money to invest but he insists I take his offer. I am touched!

Problems
- Rats have been a major problem. Cats can help but unfortunately my two dogs cannot live and get along with cats. I have tried.

Accomplishments
- nil

Output (Target is 1000kg by end of 2008; to be financially sustainable)

Sep 07 – 150kg	Jan 08 – 351kg
Oct 07 – 224kg	Feb 08 – 523kg
Nov 07 – 141kg	Mar 08 – 513kg
Dec 07 – 340kg	Apr 08 – 540kg

“So long as one is fed on food from unhealthy soil, the spirit will lack the stamina to free itself from the prison of the body”
Rudolf Steiner

Farm Report March ‘08

Kenny Ng  / Date: 08-Apr-08          
 
Major activities
-Hosted 10 students, a teacher and 8 parents from The Abundant Resource Center (a private school), Pandan Indah, KL, for 2D/1N eco tour package.

Lo-light
-Rain fell almost every day for the whole month of March. This caused less vegetable output than expected.
-Not many varieties were available to harvest. Besides the leafy vegetables, had only petola, bitter gourd and binjal. Sorry, maybe due to poor planning.
-A former organic farmer in the 90’s visited my farm recently and frankly told me that my farm size is too small to be  financially sustainable. He is convinced that I would get poorer and poorer until I give up one day. Wou…How? He recommended that I turn my farm into an eco farm resort that is able to host 60 guests at one time. My farm produce will be mainly supplied to those in-house guests. I am not convinced yet. My target is still 1000kg/month output by end of the year.
 
Hi-light
-The demand for my produce is still more than my farm’s supply. This is especially for the Bukit Mertajam, Penang market.
-Recruited another worker, I now have 6 workers.
-March output is 513kg. Leafy vegetables output increased from155kg (Feb) to 237kg (Mar).
-2 customers told Lee May, my wife, that they somehow feel happier after consuming my vegetables. Guess it is probably due to my workers and I being happy, and enjoying ourselves while working in the farm.

Problems
-nil

Accomplishments
-nil

Output (Target is 1000kg by end of 2008; to be financially sustainable)
Sep 07 – 150kg
Oct 07 – 224kg
Nov 07 – 141kg
Dec 07 – 340kg
Jan 08 – 351kg
Feb 08 – 523kg
Mar 08 – 513kg

“Protection against disease is more important, and more effective, than later therapy. And protective medicine starts in the soil.” …….. Dr. Weissman

 

“Soil is the basis for our present and future existence!”

Farm Report Feb ‘08

Kenny Ng  / Date: 10-Mar-08          
 
Major activities
-  Learning trip to Loh’s Organic Farm, Semenyih and rewards trip to Genting Theme  Park and KL downtown for 3 workers on 26th – 28th Feb. For the workers, this was their 1st trip to KL.
-  Did marketing with the help from CETDEM, to few wholesalers in KL/PJ/Subang areas.

Lo-light
-  A few direct customers cancelled order during Chinese New Year. Left over some vegetables and could not sell at that time.
-  Vinegar chili not sellable, probably not tasty enough. Aborted.
-  Long bean (snake type) and French bean yield were low, compared to  previous harvest.
 
Hi-light
-  Started making Roselle jam, syrup and pickle for sales, however only in small quantity.
-  Close to 100kg of ginger was sold, with the help from CETDEM, to a few wholesalers, and at good price too.
-  There is  market demand, based on few inquiries from wholesalers and retailers in the month of Feb. However, farm produce could not meet their demand yet.
-  Feb. output increased to 523kg, however ginger contributed close to 100kg. Leafy vegetables output increased by 100%, from 74kg (Jan) to 155kg(Feb).

Problems
-  2 customers feedback that sawi not lasting on the last week of Feb. Sorry, it was too wet when harvesting; and too wet when delivered to customers.

Accomplishments
-   nil

Output (Target is 1000kg by end of 2008; to be financially sustainable)
Sep 07 – 150kg
Oct 07 – 224kg
Nov 07 – 141kg
Dec 07 – 340kg
Jan 08 – 351kg
Feb 08 – 523kg

“It is not that organic grown vegetables and fruits are expensive; rather, it is the conventionally grown produce that is unreasonably cheap- because they are subsidised by the stolen resources from our future generations!”

……Thanks for buying & eating organically grown produce and preserving our Earth.