Since I started my organic farm 10 years ago, I have always looked for books, talked to experts in their areas and met up with practicing farmers, all in the quest of knowledge. I found that most books centered on one aspect of it. I wanted my farm to be a complete cycle farm. To me, a complete cycle would be from planting to caring and maintenance to harvesting to consuming to end other uses and finally recycling. Then the idea of writing a book that covered this was born. My emphasis has always been on local plants and what is traditionally used as this would mean that we would not rely on imports and maximise what is doable and available here in Malaysia. While it is nice to have imports but this would mean that we would be dependent on another nation and also subject to currency fluctuations as well as lack of controls and varying regulations and control.
I have always believed that you should always depend on yourself first before going external. To this end, the plants selected are what can be grown in Malaysia and that which will flourish in our climate. This will set us up for success as we can maximise what is available. The book also contains many photographs all taken at the farm and my home as I feel that photographs can clearly illustrate the idea or item.
Some have asked me what the book covers and how is it different that the many available out there. For starters, the five selected plants are what I grow at the farm organically and continue to grow due to its health and therapeutic benefits. It is also what I consume hence it is the viewpoint of a practicing farmer who consumes what she produces. Over the years, I have spent time in researching the benefits from a nutritional standpoint as well as ease of consumption. Another aspect that was important to me was the ease of incorporating it into my normal diet. Although I subscribe to the principle of "Eating food for medicine and not medicine for food". I didn't want to feel like I was eating medicine. This would surely make it something that I would get bored eating and stop consuming after a couple of months - something that happens with supplements. I preferred the normal route of making it easy to consume.
I selected 5 plants that I feel form the basics to supporting and maintaining health of our immune system, gastrointestinal system and brain. Without a song immune system, our body will not be able to fight off diseases. Without a good gastrointestinal system, our body will not be able to extract the nutrients needed for our body as well as enable proper elimination of wastes. And, of course the health of our brain is important. These plants are easy to grow and care for and it is described in the book. It also covers when to harvest and what you can harvest and consume. It also provides ideas of how to use some parts of the plants for non-consumption purposes.
While the harvest can be consumed in its simple form, I find it is good to have options either due to abundance of harvest or as alternative ways of consuming to enable us to incorporate it into our normal diet in a variety of ways. The alternatives include processing them to produce other edible products like oil, teas, drinks and flour. The book also includes some simple recipes to give the reader some ideas and suggestions. However, I am sure that you will get more ideas.
This book is geared for everyone who has a love of eating well, gardening and experimenting with edibles. The published price is RM 75. At the moment, it is not available in bookstores. If you would like to order, please whatsApp me at 017-2821219 or e-mail to suria.helang.lui@gmail.com.
