issue no. 26, jan dec 2017 restricted circulation€¦ · issue no. 26, jan – dec 2017 restricted...

CETDEM Centre for Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia

Green Nest

Organic Farming Newsletter for Kitchen Gardening, Farmer’s Group and FCOFP

Issue No. 26, Jan – Dec 2017 Restricted Circulation

CETDEM Centre for Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia

Organic Farming Newsletter for Kitchen Gardening, Farmer’s Group and FCOFP

CONTENT

REGULAR FEATURES

3 OFP Co-ordinator’s Column

FOCUS ON ORGANIC

ISSUES

5 Carbon Footprint

GUIDE TO ORGANIC

GARDENING

6 Tropical Farming

11 Pests of Vegetables

KNOW YOUR PLANT

15 Benzoin Resin

16 Agarwood

17 The Spice Route

SPECIAL FEATURE

19 Bunch of Old Bananas or Building Materials of the Future

21 Suet’s Gardening Journey

24 Interview – NGO Grocer

28 Visit to Ricky's chicken farm

TIPS FOR HOUSEHOLD

31 Common ailments uncommon remedies

33 Concept of balance

36

Orthorexia: When 'healthy eating' ends up making you sick

ORGANIC RECIPE

40 Vegetables Ferment

NEWS AND

HAPPENINGS

43 Jan – Dec 2017 Happenings

51 2018 Calender of Events.

52 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

3

Green Nest, Issue 26, Jan – Dec 2017

2017 has come to an end. Time flies really fast, everyday is like running after the clock! Looking back, has CETDEM Organic Farming Project made any impact after 31 years in the organic ‘industries’? It has been a long journey with challenges, tears, anxiety, frustration, sadness, and happiness. Nevertheless we have sailed through with the support of our long time members, volunteers and supporters! We are consoled that more and more people have become more aware of the importance of organic farming/food. As you can see, ‘organic’ farms are on the rise. 31 years ago being the pioneer organic farm in Malaysia, at that time organic farming was relatively alien to Malaysians. Thus CETDEM Organic Farm aroused a lot of curiosity and attention from media and particularly the government agencies such as MARDI, Department of Agriculture and the then UPM [Universiti Pertanian]. Through organization of numerous National Seminars, Public Forums, Exhibitions, Training Courses, Public Talks and publications based on our farming practices - have benefited many

aspiring farmers and public at large. CETDEM has also managed to bring in NASAA [National Association For Sustainable Agriculture Australia] Certification to Malaysia resulting in Titi Eco Farm, Health Paradise S/B and Everprosper Food Industries being the 1st organic farm, importer/retailer [packaging] and noodle manufacturer to obtain the certification respectively before the Malaysia Organic Standard and SOM certification came into being. We are also happy with our effort of playing a vital role in the drafting of MS1529 [Malaysia Standard] and subsequently SOM [now My Organic] Certification.

OFP COORDINATOR’S COLUMN

Looking Back…

4

CETDEM

Besides, through CETDEM many organic farmers and retailers have benefited from our technical assistance, training courses, guidance, advice sharing, and exchange experiences/information. Under the arrangements made by CETDEM, many farmers have had the opportunities to attend International conferences, workshops, world meetings, and study tours in Thailand, Philippines, India, Italy and Japan. These farms / Retailers include vVision Eco Farm, GK Organic, Titi Eco Farm, Hati Ku, Loh Organic, Ho Organic, Eco Green, Green Wish Veggies Garden, Chan Organic and others. We are glad that until today we are still being sourced for advice and

info by aspiring farmers/retailers and consumers. With 2018 approaching, we hope the young farmers will carry the torch and bring Organic Farming Forward! Let us continue to Dream, it is only when we have Dreams we have Hope! Wishing all our members, volunteers and supporters a Fruitful and meaningful New Year!

Baba OF Conference

Tirelessly giving advice

43


NEWS AND HAPPENINGS

JAN – DEC 2017 HAPPENINGS

Farmer’s Corner : 14 Jan, 18 Feb , 25 Mac, 10 Jun, 15 July, 21 Oct 2017 7.30am ~ 11am OFCC, 29, Jln. 19/15, 47300 PJ. The Farmer’s Corner is an event organized every 3rd Sunday of the month at CETDEM’s Organic Farming Community Centre (OFCC). A few farmers brought their fresh fare from their farms to sell. Members of the community were able to purchase fresh and delicious vegetables from the farmers. Breakfast was also prepared and served for an affordable price. There were other organic farming aids and materials available for sale, such as compost bins, seedlings, handbooks, vermicompost and organic fertilizers.

44

CETDEM

Potluck Lunch

Get-together and

Sharing Session

(for CETDEM

members) : 19 Feb, 21 May 2017 12.30 pm~ 4 pm OFCC, 29, Jln. 19/15, 47300 PJ. The PotLuck Lunch Get-together is organized mainly for CETDEM members. These sessions are sharing and socializing sessions for members and others who are interested in organic and sustainable living. On the 19th of February, CETDEM member Ms. Casie Tan taught attendees how to make tempeh from scratch. Participants had a good time learning how to make the Indonesian staple via fermentation of soy beans. The participants also

exchanged ideas and recipes for cooking tempeh. The second PotLuck Lunch Get-together was held on the 21st of May. After lunch, Mdm. Chatna, another CETDEM member taught participants how to make lacto fermented vegetables, specifically how to prepare sauerkraut (fermented cabbage). These vegetable products are a good source of probiotics that helps boost immunity.

Making Tempeh

Fermented Vegetable Sharing Sesssion

45


Baking Class : 26 Feb 2017 10 pm~ 12 pm OFCC, 29, Jln. 19/15, 47300 PJ. RM 50 member, RM 60 non-member Learn how to make focaccia bread using organic ingredients. This simple dimple-topped Italian flat bread is punctuated with olive oil and the aromatic flavours of sage and garlic to produce a truly succulent loaf.

Organic Farming

Project Bin Composting

Workshop : 26 Feb 2017 2 pm~ 3 pm OFCC, 29, Jln. 19/15, 47300 PJ. RM 15 member, RM 25 non-member

23rd Hari Organik : 15 Apr 2017 10 am~ 4 pm Bandar Utama Community Centre (BURA Community Hall) “Hari Organik” organized by CETDEM and supported by the Selangor State Government, MBPJ, Bandar Utama Residents Association (BURA), BURA Senior

Club and Wellness Concept sought to bring the community together to learn the importance of organic farming and how to cook, eat and grow organically and adopt an organic lifestyle & sustainable living as a way of life, beside to promote household waste management within the community. Hari Organik is an event where the general public will get to meet the farmers/producers and other organic business entities to consult on organic farming/gardening practices.

Hari Organik in Bandar Utama

46

CETDEM

STAR Fair “Fit for

Life”: 21-23 Apr 2017 10 am~ 8 pm Mid Valley Kuala Lumpur, Hall 1 A65-66 At the invitation of TheStar, CETDEM participated at STAR fair, and got also Biococo Marketing and Moringer to join in the 3 days fair.

Visit to OA Organics, an

Orang Asli Farm: 28 Jul 2017

National Conference on

Sustainability and

Responsbile Business : 17 Aug 2017 Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa, Selangor Agnes Lo, FCOFP members of Biowash and another member from Tropism Trading together with the OFP Coordinator attended the conference organized by Asli.

CETDEM's booth at STAR Fair

47


24th Hari Organik : 2&3 Sep 2017 10 am~ 5 pm Oasis Square (Jalan PJU 1A/7A, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya)

For the first time Hari Organik was held in Ara Damansara, to promote sustainable living to its communities. The 24th Hari Organik was held in conjunction with the Oasis Community Carnival, in collaboration with Lifescape and Mindscape, supported by Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya (MBPJ), Wellness Concepts (M) Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Matahari Sdn. Bhd, Green Mission, Zenxin Organics, Wide

Tropism Tradings Sdn. Bhd, and Alive Organics.

25th Hari Organik : 7 Oct 2017 10 am~ 4 pm

Pusat Komuniti Bukit Bandaraya (opposite Tivolli Villas), Jalan Medang Tanduk, Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar. 59100 Kuala Lumpur “Hari Organik” was jointly organized by Centre for Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia (CETDEM) and Persatuan Penduduk Bukit Bandar Raya (BBRAYA), and supported by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) and MPPWP to bring the community together to learn the

importance of recycling the kitchen

Volunteers from Sunway University at Hari Organik in Ara Damansarra

Hari Organik in Bangsar

48

CETDEM

waste into compost, organic farming and grow organically. Aside from the usual products, there was fresh free range chicken [dressed].

Day Trip To

Fireflies Organic

Farm in Broga: 12 Nov 2017 7 am~ 2 pm Programme: 38 participants (31 adults and 7 children) got the opportunity to experience hands on activities such as vegetable seeds sowing, transplanting, harvesting and animals feeding. After lunch there was Q&A and sharing session with farm owner.

49


Baba OF

Conference: 10 Dec 2017

Students from Taylor

University

Outreach Community

Gardening, Bangsar

50

CETDEM

Autograph

session at

Gurmit

Singh’s

book

launch

Visitor from

Austria

The OFP Coordinator attended the Launching of Smart PJ Alliance of Composting Explorers (SPACE) in conjunction with 4th PJ Waste Summit 2017 Wednesday, 6th December 2pm at Dewan Ilmu, Perpustakaan Komuniti MBPJ, Jalan Selangor, PJ. Good news for PJ residents who wanted to recycle their kitchen waste into compost but unsure how, can register with CETDEM OFP to attend a free talk and composting demo. Thereafter will get a free compost bin from MBPJ. The free talk and demo on composting is sponsored by YB Rajiv, ADUN of Bukit Gasing.

51


Smart PJ Alliance of Composting Explorers (SPACE) 7 Jan 2018 11 ~ 12 am, 3 ~ 4 pm OFCC, 29, Jln. 19/15, 47300 PJ. Farmer’s Corner 20 Jan; 3 Feb; 17 Mac; 21 Apr; 19 May; 21 Jul; 11 Aug; 17 Nov; 15 Dec 2018 7.30 am ~ 11.00 am OFCC, 29, Jln. 19/15, 47300 PJ. An event that happens every 3rd Sunday of the month except on public holidays and clashes with our other major events. Objectives of this small farmer's corner include: • To cater specifically for small organic farms as an outlet to market their produce. • To cultivate closer relationships and trust amongst farmers and consumers. • To provide fresh and affordable organically grown vegetables to consumers.

26th Edition Hari Organik, SS2 March 24 (Sat) 8.30am ~2pm 27th Edition Hari Organik, Venue to be confirmed, June 30 (Sat) 28th Edition Hari Organik, Venue to be confirmed, Sept 29 (Sat) Note – Activities organized may be subject to changes. Please visit CETDEM website / Facebook for any changes and additional activities

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS

2018 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

52

CETDEM

CETDEM would like to express our gratitude and heartiest appreciation to the following individuals/companies for the support and donations made to CETDEM Organic Farming Project:

Edward Chia Nyuk Fui RM 300 Chong Song Haw RM 50 Josephine Ng RM 50 Gan Chai Kem RM 50 Alex Ang RM 40 Yeah Swee Lin RM 50 YB Tony Pua MP PJU (HO PJU) RM 1000 Malcolm Dennis& Lee Min RM 150 KL Lee RM 100 MPPWP (HO Bangsar) RM 3880.20 Wellness Concept Tang Fuie Koh MBPJ Councilor (HO BU)

RM 2000

Wellness Concept (HO BU, PJU, Bangsar RM 1600 Lee Chuy Fong RM 50

In Kind / Time: Matahari S/B [HO BU, PJU, Bangsar/FC]; Green Mission [HO BU, PJU]; Zenxin Oraganic [HO BU, PJU/FC]; Alive Organic [HO BU, PJU]; Wide Tropism Trading S/B [HO PJU, Bangsar]; Radiant Code S/B [HO BU]; Catherine Chen [HO BU}; YL Tan [HO BU, PJU, Bangsar] ; Legenda Madu S/B [Compost]; Charles Tan; Pook Li Yoon; Francis Tan; Harvey Yap; R. Korvananithi (prepare compost bin for use); ML Tan; Kok Hee Meng (maintenance) The Star and Sin Chew Daily for the publicity given to series of Hari Organik, Baking and Composting Classes. We are indebted to Mr Lee Yoon Hooi of Penang[Laksa] and many other members / volunteers / supporters for continuing to play a vital role in all the Hari Organik’s other activities organized. I can’t imagine organizing HO without their help. Last

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Charles Tan

53


but not least thanks to Sunway University Students for volunteering at the 2 days Hari Organik [HO] at the Mind Space ,PJU, Ara Damansara. Thanks to CETDEM members KL Lee for continuing to cut our garden grass and Tan ML to render his help whenever help was needed. And also not to forget our never say no Board Member Charles Tan , who has been a great help to our organic farming project! Apologies for being unable to name everybody / those whose names may have been missed in the above list.

Green Nest Adviser: Tan Siew Luang Editorial: Gurmit Singh, Tan Siew Luang, Cai May, SL Yeah, Production: SL Yeah, Cai May, Tan Siew Luang

Centre For Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia 17, Jalan SS2/53, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Tel; +603 7875 7767, Fax: +603 7875 4039 E: [email protected]; W: www.cetdem.org.my F: facebook.com/cetdem.org.my Please write in with your views, news and suggestions! Any articles related to organic farming matters are welcome. Letters and articles may be edited for clarity, , brevity or grammar before publishing. For the issue 26, please send all letters, articles, advertisements, etc., to be received by third week of May. Advertisement space available Rates for Classifieds : Full page: RM60 ½ page: RM 40 ¼ page: RM20

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.cetdem.org.my/

54

CETDEM

ABOUT CETDEM & ITS ORGANIC FARMING PROJECT

CETDEM is an independent, non-profit, training, research, consultancy and development organisation, committed to improving environmental quality through the appropriate use of technology and sustainable development. Since we began in 1985, CETDEM has adhered to the taglines 'Always Promoting Sustainable Development' by focusing on related issues of Climate Change, Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Transport and Organic Farming. CETDEM believes that Practicality and Sustainability are inseparable. We have been making practical and sustainable solutions available through training courses in environment, energy, technology, organic farming, and development to business, industry, government, citizen groups, and the public. Over the past 30 years, CETDEM has undertaken many studies and public awareness projects related to Sustainable Development. CETDEM also operates a documentation centre, which is open to other researchers and the public. In August 2011, CETDEM launched Sustainable Development Initiatives (SUDI), an independent Think Tank, to address national sustainability issues. Organic Farming Project Organic Farming is one of the key focus areas as well as the longest running project of CETDEM, a pioneer in this sector in Malaysia. Its Organic Farm in Sungai Buloh was the first organic farm (1986~1996) in the country and, the TMC mini market in Bangsar was the first outlet to sell local organic vegetables in Malaysia. After 10 years, the OF Project moved on to focus on public awareness on the importance of organic farming / food, kitchen gardening, and promote organic lifestyle and sustainable living. Since 1996, our extended promotional work on Organic Farming has been done through

Organic Farming and Kitchen Gardening Courses, Baking and Composting Classes, Children Activities for the public in general and Organizations /Institutions.

Internal newsletter – ‘Green Nest’ for our Farmers’ Group (FG), Kitchen Gardening Group (KGG) as well as Friends of the Organic Farming Project (FCOFP) that include organic food outlets, retailers and fertiliser/compost manufacturers. In 1998 CETDEM published a book based on our farm experiences entitled ‘Organic Farming Practices in Malaysia’ in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin. Videos and VCDs in the three languages are already being used to promote organic farming. Followed with a Composting Hand Book on how to recycle the kitchen waste into compost as well as The Malaysia Organic Guide, a source of information about organic farming and where to get organic products within the country in 2009.

In 1999 CETDEM organised the 1st Malaysian Exhibition on Organic/Natural Products. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Exhibitions followed in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2010. In 2001, a carnival on Organic/Natural Products was organised to create public awareness of the importance of caring for the Environment and Health through Organic Food.

In January 2007 the CETDEM Organic Farming Community Centre (OFCC) was officially open to the public to showcase that urban farming is possible aside from serving as a working model of a learning centre for ecological sustainable living for the local community. It aims to demonstrate that the community can adopt sustainable principles into their daily lives to illustrate minimum negative impact to the environment in urban housing.

In 2009, CETDEM launched a three monthly event, the Hari Organik, to further promote an organic and sustainable lifestyle. It is also an event to connect producers, cooks, consumers and other stakeholders, a platform for networking and sharing information and experiences.

Conducts public talks on organic farming/kitchen gardening and demonstrations on composting to public, private sectors and the local communities.

Organizes national seminars, public fora on organic matters. Conducts/organises study tours to organic farms for children and adult groups. Outreach activities: Helping KGG members, Children’s Home and School/Institutions set up

their organic vegetable plots/farms

issue no. 26, jan dec 2017 restricted circulation€¦ · issue no. 26, jan – dec 2017 restricted...

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