Our next stop was an organic sanctuary in Bentong, owned by an ex-banker who traded in suits for overalls. Mr Tam's farm is a haven for durian trees, papaya, starfruit, banana, purple chili, and lime. But the real stars of the show are the kelulut, a special type of stingless bee that's only found on organic farms. If you see these little guys buzzing around, you can be sure that the produce is as natural as it gets!
In this interview, we talked to Mr Tam about:
- His backstory
- Why organic farming
- Organic farming techniques
- The challenges of organic farming
- Problems faced by Malaysian farmers today
See what Mr Tam has to say, watch the full interview below:
Why organic farming? Because Mr Tam believes in eating healthy and nutritious, and advocates for food safety.
His customers pointed out eating his organic durian results in less "heatiness" or 热气. Mr Tam told us that this is because his fertilizer is completely organic, so there is no sulphur content that seeps into the ground, being absorbed into the fruit, which results in “heatiness” when eaten.
Besides that, Mr Tam's “must try” superstar is his papaya, which he plucked a fresh one for us to try. It was the sweetest and juiciest papaya we've ever eaten! If you're ever in Bentong, drop by and try it out for yourself!
Special thanks to Mr Tam for allowing us to pay a visit to his organic farm and understanding the beauty of natural farming. If you would like for us to visit your farm next, feel free to contact us on WhatsApp at +603-9213 0863.