The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

20 2019 • 07 belief that each plays an essential role in the food chain. The farm is open for visitors to gain hands-on experience in farming. He takes pride in staying true to his initial aspiration to cultivate produce that is safe for consumption. “Every time I tend to my farm, I’m pleased to see the crops growing well. The fresh produce is ready for consumption after rinsing them clean,” he would share with his visitors. Over the past decade, Chin Siong has weathered his share of trials and tribulations in his journey to becoming a farmer. He has been working tirelessly to achieve a balanced ecosystem on his farm and a stable yield of crops. Now, he receives a fair amount of orders for his fresh greens as the demand for organic produce has been gaining momentum. Chin Siong remains grateful for the kindness and generosity of his benefactors in enabling him to pursue an education, and affirms the transformative role of education in equipping him with the knowledge and mettle to step out of his comfort zone. He is inspired by Tzu Chi’s efforts in raising awareness on vegetarianism to supply quality produce in a bid to encourage more people to adopt a vegetarian diet. “Some conservative farmers have been sceptical of environmentally- friendly agriculture but I hope to prove its worth by spreading the message on its advantages,” he concluded. OneStepataTime SavingtheEnvironment Chin Siong generously imparts his wealth of knowledge and experience in environmentally-friendly agriculture to visitors. [Photograph by Yong Siew Lee]