Fostering sustainability through farming programmes
Sustainability is a defining issue of our time. It is now central to the programmes of many governments, businesses, educational institutions and non-government organizations around the world. It extends beyond the boundaries of ecological and economic development, business viabilities, education, public decision-making and personal behaviors.
Sustainability is also a strategic priority for The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). PolyU abounds with opportunities for students, faculty and staff to learn about, advocate for, and implement sustainability practices on campus and beyond. This can be best illustrated by PolyU’s offering of a service learning subject named Educating Rural Farmers on Healthier Food Production by the Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology (ABCT) for three years.
This subject does far more than providing basic training on farming techniques. “We bring students to rural farming communities in Heyuan (in Guangdong), Shifang (in Sichuan) and also Hong Kong. Students have to use their knowledge and skills acquired in class to help the farming community to increase their productivity and to improve crop quality. They have to communicate with the local farmers in China or the intellectual disabilities in Hong Kong effectively, to learn about their needs and consider solutions to answer. Some students are engaged in tasks like designing viable business models and publicity plans. The entire subject is so wide-reaching than one can’t imagine,” said Mr. Alex Chan, instructor of this programme and Visiting Fellow at ABCT.
It’s beyond words to describe how the subject impacts and astonishes the participants, especially those students who are city dwellers. “I had no similar experience before when I enrolled into this subject, and I had never imagined seeing myself working on farmlands in Hong Kong and Shifang, and to help with fabricating agricultural devices,” said Steven Leung, a final year PolyU student. “I went to Shifang with my other team-mates and stayed with the local farmers. We joined them in carrying out agricultural activities in the growing of Jew’s ear (Auricularia auricular) and experienced their hard work in spite of adverse weather. We explored into various ways such as building a solar-powered dehydrator to help the farmers in improving their output. We advised them on making use of new technologies to remove pesticides and grow healthier produce. We felt so amazed and were delighted to see we could contribute and apply what we have learnt,” Steven spoke with excitement.
Growing of Jew’s ear in Shifang, Sichuan
This subject approaches sustainability from multiple facets. Students are given the opportunities to experience a busy farmer’s life with the locals and meet the challenges from the weather and nature. They explore into sustainable and organic farming practices and work with the farmers to bring about efficient production of produce and simultaneously safeguarding the natural environment. They also investigate into proposals to bring about sustainable business models for the farmers and to deploy measures to ensure food safety standards are met.
Alex envisioned lots of possibilities to further develop this subject, and to make it more “sustainable” by itself. “Our student intake number keeps increasing in years and we are creating opportunities for more students to take this unique lesson and shape their lives,” Alex supplemented. Plans are already in place to open up more overseas sites for students to visit in the coming year. More ambitiously, Alex and his students have established a volunteering group to gather previous participants of this subject to continue their service engagement. “It’s all about sustainability and succession of this subject. It is vital that the experience and wisdom inherited from past students can be shared with newcomers to enable an on-going development of the subject and to continuously serve the needy.”
A succession plan is on its way while Alex and Steven are opening up a new farming site on PolyU campus together with students and graduates. This farming site, located near Block VA, is their experimental base, a ‘reunion zone’ and also a showcase to the PolyU community. “We hope to get students and graduates to work voluntarily on this site, and help with testing out different farming methods before we roll out onto other physical sites in Hong Kong and in China.” Alex said.
Mr. Alex Chan (left) and student Steven Leung at the vertical farming site on campus
This site on PolyU campus may not be big in size when compared with others, but it transcends lots of limitations and opens up a new world for learning. It takes reference from their existing establishments and collaboration with Hong Chi Association in Fanling where horticultural therapy activities take place. Unwanted pallets, waste plastic bottles and wood wine boxes are collected and used to set up rooftop and vertical farming systems. Organic potting soil is used and mixed with other dry organic fertilizer. Organic plant species like tomato, herbs like parsley, mint and basil are grown in this site, in which Alex and his students will experiment different methods to dry the herbs and produce herb-infused oil and herb soap.
Making good use of wood wine boxes in planting
“We have confidence to build this into a successful case of urban farming to impress others, and along the planting process our participants will be able to appreciate what they have now. Participants do not simply work as gardeners, but as upcycling talents, organic growers, and also practitioners of horticultural therapy,” Alex commented.
Vertical planting systems
“I believe I have gained much more than I have thought of,” Steven concluded. “My leadership and problem-solving skills are sharpened as I had the opportunity to drive and run a project. I benefited much and I was happy to serve others in need.”
In addition to the above-mentioned service learning subject, PolyU endeavors to bring more green elements and farming experiences to staff and students. The Urban Farming Programme at Lee Shau Kee Building was organized earlier by the Campus Sustainability Office that over 30 staff and students were given individual planter boxes to grow organic vegetables and herbs in three months. Other urban farming workshops and seminars on sustainable urban organic farming were held in the Campus Sustainability Weeks in March 2016. All these activities won tremendous support from the PolyU community who treasures farming as a channel of relaxation or contemplation as well as a responsible way to grow a green future for all.