Road Test: Lantau farm educates children about the environment

My friend and I decided it was time to go back to nature at the Dragontail Farm in Mui Wo. This small farm on Lantau grows affordable organic food while promoting a more sustainable way of life.

With seven children in tow, aged between two and nine, we caught the 3M bus from Tung Chung MTR station to Mui Wo. The farm is a 20-minute walk from Mui Wo Market and at least a 25-minute walk from the ferry pier. The walk is stroller friendly, however, and takes you through villages in the foothills.

Dragontail is run and managed by Donald Latter, who led our tour and the educational activities that filled the morning. At first my friend and I wondered how the farm would keep seven city kids entertained. We needn't have worried. The children moved enthusiastically through the activities and, inspired by everything growing around them, couldn't stop asking questions.

The farm grows vegetables and herbs for delivery, and the children wandered happily between rows of broccoli, tomatoes and dill. They were particularly taken by the pile of compost and took delight at the refuse that could be added: egg shells, yes; wet tissues, no. They were even more taken with the piles of manure that had been collected from a herd of cows.

This was farming first hand. We loved how the activities involved the children in the running of the farm. They weren't doing it to learn, but to help.

They started by turning over beds of soil, and planted seeds for beans and alfalfa plants that would, in turn, improve soil quality. They had to get on their hands and knees, trowels in hand, and work the soil before planting and watering the seeds. I would recommend old clothes and shoes.

The children then had to make scarecrows to guard the seed beds. It was harder than it looked, with a busy 30 minutes filled with huffing and puffing to stuff old clothes with straw, and arranging wigs and hats to make the funniest looking scarecrow.