Farmer's Sprout Market 2018
Today we went to Suntec Convention Centre hall 406 to look at the Farmer's Sprout Market, and boy, was it crowded! Didn't expect so many people to be there! Seems like the farming community is gaining some traction in Singapore and that's good!
I interviewed some people and got to know more about their organisations. They're really cool people with really cool, good and green ideas which are sustainable for Singapore.
One interesting organisation was VertiVeggies, a hydroponic vertical gardening company. They are looking to grow veggies using hydroponics and then sell it to the market. Their veggie prices are not that much different than Malaysian veggies due to the little transportation costs. Did you know that hydroponics uses less water than normal farming? Also, they are working with a few partners, for example Apex Harmony lodge, a nursing home with elderly with dementia to involve them in plant propogation. They also include people with disabilities and special needs into their program. They have a strong social cause which is something we should look up to. And their way of growing veggies is realy sustainable too as it can be grown indoors and nearer consumers!
Another interesting organisation is VegePod. They have a rolling tray of vegetables grown in soil and water. The water is kept in a tank below the soil, but the soil nicks up the water and the entire soil is filled with water. It holds 16 litres of water and the soil below is saturated. There is a also a protective cover to cover the veggies when you are away! What an innovative idea!
I also met ComCrop, a veggie growing organisation at the top of SCAPE rooftop. They are expanding to Woodlands, which will be 10 times the size of SCAPE. They were selling home made pesto, which was really good! Ingredients included toast pine nuts, basil (hand picked), virgin olive oil, sea salt, and garlic powder. Can't wait to try it by my own! They also sold wasabi lettuce, the leaves form the wasabi plant, and they grow fresh mint and basil. They are thinking of growing Chinese veges at Woodlands.
I didn't know that one day, I would visit ComCrop, in request for an internship! Truly learnt a lot, and that they do have to rely on manpower for harvesting and sorting.
I also met Edible Garden CIty again, where I volunteered at before. They showcased their microgreens which are grown indoors with gro-lights, such as red vein sorrel, free tendrils and so on. They are grown not to full size so they are much sweeter and more nutrient dense. They can be eaten with crackers and cheese. What an effective way to grow greens! They also have sustainable waste management, using black soldier flies and composting, so no waste is wasted!
I met Areosprings again, which indoor growing system can grow 27 pockets of veges using gro-lights and a modular system, and is very effective! We tried the stevia and peppermint and they were really fresh! So why Areospring decided to start this was because he wanted to grow food for himself, and this idea could be sold to Europe during the winter, and can be used indoors in Singapore, which is space saving. I really admire that guy!
I also visited an organic produce farm which grew lots of veggies. They repel insects without using pesticides, and thus their leaves have lots of holes. But actually, there are many ways to do so such as using traps and lures.
I visited a fair trade shop named Greenie Genie where they sold baskets made from local grass, quinoa, chocolate, oil and such. They appreciate the time and effort and culture of the community they support, and encourage sustainable practices. The money is then sued to pay for healthcare and education and infrastructure in the community. They support communities in Ghana, India and Italy.
Finally, Green Spade, a soil company sells really good potting soil for for 5 litres for $3.80 and 40 litres for $10.80. They have a new veggie mix where inside is leca balls and cocoa pits, where it allows veggies to germinate faster.
Overall, I learnt more about sustainable practices, innovative ways to plant veggies and more about gardening and the environment. Do support these causes!
I interviewed some people and got to know more about their organisations. They're really cool people with really cool, good and green ideas which are sustainable for Singapore.
One interesting organisation was VertiVeggies, a hydroponic vertical gardening company. They are looking to grow veggies using hydroponics and then sell it to the market. Their veggie prices are not that much different than Malaysian veggies due to the little transportation costs. Did you know that hydroponics uses less water than normal farming? Also, they are working with a few partners, for example Apex Harmony lodge, a nursing home with elderly with dementia to involve them in plant propogation. They also include people with disabilities and special needs into their program. They have a strong social cause which is something we should look up to. And their way of growing veggies is realy sustainable too as it can be grown indoors and nearer consumers!
Another interesting organisation is VegePod. They have a rolling tray of vegetables grown in soil and water. The water is kept in a tank below the soil, but the soil nicks up the water and the entire soil is filled with water. It holds 16 litres of water and the soil below is saturated. There is a also a protective cover to cover the veggies when you are away! What an innovative idea!
I also met ComCrop, a veggie growing organisation at the top of SCAPE rooftop. They are expanding to Woodlands, which will be 10 times the size of SCAPE. They were selling home made pesto, which was really good! Ingredients included toast pine nuts, basil (hand picked), virgin olive oil, sea salt, and garlic powder. Can't wait to try it by my own! They also sold wasabi lettuce, the leaves form the wasabi plant, and they grow fresh mint and basil. They are thinking of growing Chinese veges at Woodlands.
I didn't know that one day, I would visit ComCrop, in request for an internship! Truly learnt a lot, and that they do have to rely on manpower for harvesting and sorting.
I also met Edible Garden CIty again, where I volunteered at before. They showcased their microgreens which are grown indoors with gro-lights, such as red vein sorrel, free tendrils and so on. They are grown not to full size so they are much sweeter and more nutrient dense. They can be eaten with crackers and cheese. What an effective way to grow greens! They also have sustainable waste management, using black soldier flies and composting, so no waste is wasted!
I met Areosprings again, which indoor growing system can grow 27 pockets of veges using gro-lights and a modular system, and is very effective! We tried the stevia and peppermint and they were really fresh! So why Areospring decided to start this was because he wanted to grow food for himself, and this idea could be sold to Europe during the winter, and can be used indoors in Singapore, which is space saving. I really admire that guy!
I also visited an organic produce farm which grew lots of veggies. They repel insects without using pesticides, and thus their leaves have lots of holes. But actually, there are many ways to do so such as using traps and lures.
I visited a fair trade shop named Greenie Genie where they sold baskets made from local grass, quinoa, chocolate, oil and such. They appreciate the time and effort and culture of the community they support, and encourage sustainable practices. The money is then sued to pay for healthcare and education and infrastructure in the community. They support communities in Ghana, India and Italy.
Finally, Green Spade, a soil company sells really good potting soil for for 5 litres for $3.80 and 40 litres for $10.80. They have a new veggie mix where inside is leca balls and cocoa pits, where it allows veggies to germinate faster.
Overall, I learnt more about sustainable practices, innovative ways to plant veggies and more about gardening and the environment. Do support these causes!
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