Leaving the Rat Race for the Farm

When Life gives you steep slopes, you make friends with Gravity.

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Leaving the Rat Race for the Farm

Malaysia's Most Extreme Rural Microfarm

Discover the journey of monetizing a homesteading experience under the most challenging circumstances.

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Malaysia's Most Extreme Rural Microfarm

Food Security: Is Your Food Really “Organic” and Sustainable?

Making sense of food security & sustainability begins with a good understanding of excellent waste management.

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Food Security: Is Your Food Really “Organic” and Sustainable?

How to Setup a Small Permaculture Farm Without Being a Rich Dude

When the odds are stacked against you on all fronts, it seems you’re downright doomed from the start. Or maybe not.

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How to Setup a Small Permaculture Farm Without Being a Rich Dude

Staying Strong in Farming Amidst the Pandemic

Financially-challenged with a small boy in tow; living off the land proves to be harder than you think.

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Staying Strong in Farming Amidst the Pandemic

WHAT IS "MY KAMPUNG LIFE"?

I'm Melvin Tong, a confused city guy who feels totally out of place living in an urban environment. A determined passion for rural living and growing my own food eventually snowballs into an experiment to determine how far can a cash-strapped urbanite and "kampung" boy-wannabe go to achieve the dream of living a rural life. Curiously, I attempt to explore this question at a 2-acre permaculture farm in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan. Juggling between an urban day job and wearing a would-be farmer's hat, I chronicle my transitional journey and farming experiences in this blog in hopes of offering an honest view of the challenges faced in achieving a sustainable lifestyle. More importantly, this blog invites one to consider building a life off the beaten path of the mainstream economy.

MY STORY

AGAINST THE ODDS

A not-so-simple journey towards living a simpler life.

Financial Health

Ironically, it takes money to achieve the subsequent state of minimal to non-reliance on money. A land is a guzzler. It often gobbles up money (at the outset) without yielding returns until years later. Careful spending is important to ensure maximum returns in the right areas at the right time.

Reliable Labour

Having good workers to run the farm is essential, especially in my absence and when no chemical is used. Manual labour is required to maintain the trees and soil. However, good workers are always hard to find. There's only so much we can do when nature always has a mind of its own.

Technical Guidance

Attempting to run on the "organic" banner calls for some serious tried and tested methods of pest management and disease control. Access to those knowledge and their application is always a steep learning curve. Hence, the common commercial practice of resorting to chemical use.

Challenging Terrain

To be sustainable, a certain level of commercial scale should be implemented in a farm operation. This can be made possible by larger land area and flatter land. Both of which my farm severely lacks. With only 2 acres and almost 70% on steep slopes, it's a bummer.

CAN WE LIVE OFF THE LAND?

That's the million-dollar question that I'm still struggling to make sense off. What does it take for a regular thirty something, cash-strapped guy to lead a sustainable life on a permaculture farm without compromising on financial commitments? Or is it a myth that only the rich and elderly are able to achieve? Find out how I tackle this question.

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WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO

A series of posts from problems, small fixes and random thoughts about farming to negotiating the path of permaculture living and major milestones achieved at the farm. Regardless, they all contribute to the betterment of "My Kampung Life".