Bye, Bye Sunday morning market at Sg. Penchala

Today was our last time having a stall at Pasar Pagi Sg. Penchala.  It was the first place where we

started to sell our produce in September, 2010.  In the beginning, we only sell fresh produce and more on what was considered "sayur kampung".  It was my first experience at doing consumer direct sales to the masses.  In the beginning, many looked at us "sideways" and looked down on us.  After all, we were selling "sayur kampung" whilst they were selling items bought from "passer borong" - to them denoting that they were better off because they had money to buy the items from suppliers whereas our was planted from our farm in the "boonies".  It was challenging but I always felt that what we had to offer was good and competitive.  The farm has been an organic farm from day 1 so what we have offered has always been organic produce.
Through the years, I have learnt a lot but the one principle that I have always stuck to was "I do not sell what I don't or wouldn't want to eat".  This principle was the main guide to what I planted at the farm.  What I don't eat, I don't plant even if it was fashionable or the in-thing.  I harvest things in accordance to how I like them for consumption.  My prices was based on cost-recovery basis hence it was competitive to non-organic produce and at times, even cheaper.  My prices were not based on supply and demand and I was often questioned and sometime labelled stupid for not raising prices when everyone else was.  Then again, I do business in accordance to my principles and goals.  In this instance, it was to provide good, healthy food at competitive prices for the masses.  You can say it was my jihad.  I have always tried to practice my business in accordance to Islam: fair and just.
Our presence at the market has also provided me with the opportunity to meet with other and share as well as exchange knowledge from planting to caring for it to harvesting and on to how to consume
I have also learnt a lot about people being on the front-line of meeting customers.  One of the comments that stuck in my mind was a mother saying to her child: " Look, even the vegetable seller can speak English".  This was a reminder to me to never assume that a person has limited capabilities just from looking at them from a distance - it pays to get to know people as you never know what knowledge you can gain.  At the same time, it also reminded me that someone who looks humble doesn't mean that they have nothing to offer or that their academic education is lacking.  It is about choices on how you want to lead your life.
One question or should I say complaint I got is "How come your signs and notices are in English.  This is Malaysia, you should use Bahasa Malaysia".  The reason is simple, it is a language that most people understand and my customers are not only Malaysian but also people from other countries.  You could say that I have an international clientele.  By using English, I got more customers.
Now, our farm has produced more: from fresh produce covering food, vegetables and fish to processed products such as teas and EVCO.  I also do customised herbal mixture based on a customer's purpose.  The underlying principle is the raw materials are always from the farm so I can control and be assured that it is organic.  In this aspect, I do not compromise.
Although we will no longer be doing market at Sg. Penchala, we will be offering our produce and products at my home base in K.L.  With the easy access to communications for everyone, people can also order online or through whatsApp, for example and pick-up or delivery arranged.  A selection of our herbal products is also available at The Jasmin Foundation Homeopathy Clinic in Setiawangsa.  We will also continue to do events, especially those promoting green living.  Next year, we also plan to do more events at the far as well as offering specific classes based on what we do.  Does opting out of the Sg. Pencahala Sunday morning market mean that we will have less to do?  I don't think so.  I anticipate that our future will have lots of opportunities and activities that we will remain as busy as ever.
Thank you to all that have supported us at our stall in Sg. Penchala.  In shaa Allah, we will meet again.

Only constant is change: 2018

Our tilapia growing with natural food

As we head to the end of the year, I am finalising my plans.  Over the last 10 years, every step that I took has been leading me to this direction.  I experimented, researched, tested and studied what was a new field to me.  My inherent belief that we an improve our health through our normal daily diet led to the development of the farm and the ensuing produce and products developed.  I cannot change what happened to me from a health standpoint previously, but I can improve it for my future with the aim of leading a quality, fruitful life filled with joy.
When I first started the farm, the concept has always been to maximise on nature's bounty to provide good food for the family.  The application of it was to have a farm free from chemical pesticides, herbicide, hormones and to have a symbiotic relationship with nature.  In our fresh produce production, we use natural, organic fertilisers and methods for pest control.  It included in the water that was used hence the implementation of our own water pipeline from a natural source.  Our fish lives of the living water with its natural minerals and small fresh water shrimps and fish that flows in.  We complement their food with greens and naturally-produced larvae.  Our chickens feed on the insect sand also on the organic waste such as used grated coconuts, and extra fruits and tubers.  Our organic wastes are converted into fertilisers and pest control and even into cleaning liquids.  The aim is to limit introduction of toxins into our environment and surrounding areas - doing our part in conserving the environment.

Our liquid concentrates

EVCO and lemongrass range

As years passed, we started doing a market stall in Sg. Penchala to sell the excess food produced.  I began to produce products from our produce such as liquid drink concentrates and dried herbals which we added to our list of offerings.   So our weekly items included the fresh fruits, vegetables and our products.  Sometimes I would bring plants and fertilisers, either on order or just-because.

The ginger and turmeric range

When I first started the farm, I started my collection of herbals, mainly because I was told of the benefits and I felt I may need them in the future.  Further study on the benefits and therapeutical values of what we grew led to the development of our line of SHL Naturals in early 2017.  As we progressed in 2017, I had a lot more requests for customised herbal mixtures ranging from colds and flu, cholesterol control, high blood pressure, gout, diabetes to cancer.  The basis is alway from what we produce at the farm as I can then be assured of the c\"clean" source and quality.  I knew where the source materials were coming from, how it is grown and processed.

Our first community bazaar

I also organised a Community Bazaar where I live and held our first one on November 5th.  It was a success so we will continue with it with the frequency changing to fortnightly in 2018.  We have also began to offer our dried herbal products at The Jasmin Foundation, a homeopathy clinic in Setiawangsa.  We began to do deliveries for orders subject to minimum spend.  Our customers can order our dried products which we send through poslaju.  With these activities in mind, we will cease to do our Sunday morning market in Sg. Penchala in December.  For the month of December, we will focus on planting, maintenance, producing our products as well as doing some planning and marketing.
We are a lean operation team and it is not just about adding people to the team but adding the right people.  As we grow, I may need to add more people to the team but it will be something to deal with in the future.  I look forward to the future with the many possibilities of discovery and opportunities to help people, a life filled with activity driven by passion.

Go Local: Power trio

We have been mind-trained to look west that in the process we have lost our traditionally wonderful vegetables.  To me, peperomia pellucida (sireh cina), cosmos dianthus (ulam raja) and wild purslane (beremi) are superfoods that can be eaten raw as a salad.    They grow easily in our weather and requires minimal care.  To maximise the benefits, it is best grown organically without the use of chemical fertilisers or pesticides and not exposed to any chemical herbicides.

This combination provides the following nutrients:

1. Vitamin A
2. Vitamin B1, B3, B6
3. Vitamin C
4. Calcium
5. Copper
6. Iron
7. Magnesium
8. Manganese
9. Potassium
10. Omega-3 fatty acids
11. Sodium
12. Zinc

These combination has the following properties:

1. anti-oxidant
2. anti-hypertensive
3. anti-diabetic
4. anti-inflammatory
5. bone-protective effect
6. anti-microbial
7. anti-fungal
8. anti-cancer
9. lowers cholesterol
10. anti-arthritic
11. anti-rheumatic
12. anti-diarrheal
13. analgesic

The beauty of this trio is it is natural food so it can easily be incorporated into your daily diet.  You don't have to worry whether you take it before a meal or after a meal or on empty stomach because it is food and not chemicals.  I am not a proponent of juicing but if you want to drink it, blend it so that you get all the nutrients and benefits.  Happy eating :)