Joe Lau

HKU organic farming project

SORRY. QUOTA FULL.

New project

HKU is still unable to provide any land for organic farming. To avoid delay, we shall be moving the project to an organic farm in the New Territories instead. The farm is in Fanling, and we shall be renting a few plots of land until around the end of Dec / Jan.

Website: http://www.o-farm.com/

Google English translation: http://bit.ly/pYFa1c

Some details about the arrangement:

  • Students who participate would need to attend three training sessions at the farm. Sat afternoon 2:30-5pm on 29/10, 5/11 and 12/11. The sessions will be in English if there are non-Cantonese-speaking students, or we might try to offer translation. (There are English speakers who also rent plots at the farm.)
  • The farm will be responsible for watering during weekdays. Seeds/seedlings, tools, fertilizers and training will be provided. You can go anytime during weekend (open between 9am to 5pm) to help out. Depending on the number of students, you probably do not need to go every weekend.
  • Harvest would be around Dec. It would be best if you can commit to the project until the very end.
  • Each student will get a transportation subsidy of $50. I shall try to organize a van from HKU to the farm for the three training sessions.
  • Quota: about 9 to 12 students.

Please email Joe Lau before 18 Oct to confirm if you want to participate.

At the end of the project you should write a short report (About 5 pages) about your experience. Deadline 5pm 20 Dec. Email your pdf file to Wenjia at ahenghere@yahoo.com.cn. If the file is too big to be sent by email, burn it to a CD-ROM and hand it to Loletta at the Department Office before the same deadline. It should include:

  • A brief introduction about organic farming.
  • Photos recording your progress.
  • A discussion about your experience and impressions, e.g.
    • the advantages and difficulties of organic farming
    • the relevance of organic farming in modern society
    • whether organic farming is relevant to students
    • how this project has changed your way of thinking, what you find interesting or disappointing

Obsolete

The following information is out of date. See the new project above.

  • As an option for your special project, you can choose to participate in an experiment to setup and maintain an organic farm at HKU.
  • This is a joint project with Mr. T.S. Wong of Permaculture Institute (HK). (http://hkpi.webs.com/home.htm) Mr Wong will be a guest speaker in one of our lectures.
  • Please email Joe Lau if you are interested . NO MORE VACANCIES!
  • Tasks involved:
    • Do some self-study on organic farming.
    • Help setup an organic farm at HKU. You will be involved in all the different stages of setting up the farm.
    • Active participation required.
    • Assist with publicity.
    • Write up a report afterwards.
  • Assessment: Your marks will depend on the quality of the report and your participation.