Entrepreneur passionate in promoting benefits of green lifestyle
Ophelia Chan Ka-lai opened Hong Kong's first environmentally-friendly shop
Ophelia Chan Ka-lai readily admits she’s happiest when she is knee-deep in compost and talking to plants. Chan, who in 2007 moved near to Sok Ku Wan on Lamma to allow her to be closer to a patch of farmland to cultivate, has for a number of years inspired students, readers and the public to choose healthier, locally grown organic vegetables and fruit and to live a greener lifestyle.
She was also the proprietor of Hong Kong’s first shop selling environmentally friendly products.
These days she gives lectures, writes books, and educates people inspiring many readers and the Hong Kong public to be more in tune with nature in a place where the urban lifestyle makes stress levels very high.
“About 95 per cent of my clothes are second-hand,” says Chan, as she pours herbal tea. “I buy them at Green Ladies, a branch of the St James’ Settlement and Oxfam. All my furniture is second-hand or items I inherited from my family.”
On her balcony she sees out to the terrace below where some herbs are growing. At this time of year there’s still the Chinese herbs which Chan largely crafts wild as they grow in abundance with little encouragement. Then, as the winter months come round, she plants Western Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme, chamomile, and calendula.
Ophelia Chan gives lectures, writes books, and educates people inspiring many readers and the Hong Kong public to be more in tune with nature in a place where the urban lifestyle makes stress levels very high
Chan has an enviable sense of calm, but she works at it choosing a lifestyle and food that energise her and leaves out the toxicity of processed foods.