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Cultivating Sustainability: Yuki Ong’s GreenLoopFarms Journey

Juniors from Yuki’s Primary School visiting the farm to learn about sustainability and microgreens.
Juniors from Yuki’s Primary School visiting the farm to learn about sustainability and microgreens.

Healthy eating can be a delicious and sustainable endeavour. This is what Yuki Ong, a recent graduate from the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (NUS Geography '23), believes as she embarked on her journey in sustainable food cultivation as one of the co-founders of GreenLoopFarms. What began as a small project among friends, growing microgreens on a simple rack and sharing their produce, has blossomed into a dedicated sustainable farm employing hydroponic systems to nurture a diverse range of vegetables.

GreenLoopFarms, for Yuki, is a journey marked by growth, passion, and dedication. "More than just a business, the farm is a manifestation of our commitment to creating a more sustainable, livable city," she shares. The emphasis at GreenLoopFarms is on eco-conscious farming practices and continuous innovation to reduce waste, whether through composting or upcycling everyday items. An excellent example of this is the farm's use of cocopeat (grounded coconut husk) as the primary growing medium. Adopting cocopeat, a natural byproduct of the coconut industry, not only reduces waste but also provides an ideal nurturing ground for the farm's microgreens.

Cocopeat has been adopted by the agriculture and gardening industry due to its water retention capability.
Cocopeat has been adopted by the agriculture and gardening industry due to its water retention capability.
Growing Microgreens in Upcycled Oatside Cartons
Growing Microgreens in Upcycled Oatside Cartons

Discovering the little-known Microgreens

GreenLoopFarms grow a wide variety of Microgreens including Radishes (in photo) to Ameranth and Borage.
GreenLoopFarms grow a wide variety of Microgreens including Radishes (in photo) to Ameranth and Borage.

But what exactly are microgreens? Microgreens are young seedlings that are grown and harvested within 7-21 days of seeding. This means they are exceptionally easy for beginner gardeners to grow, allowing beginners to build greater confidence in their own journey of cultivating their own food. The variety of robust flavours and vibrant hues in these nutrient-rich microgreens also encourages individuals to get creative with their culinary creation. Yuki and her team firmly believe that microgreens are hidden gems yet to be discovered by many Singaporeans.

Reconnecting with Food

Yuki at Lianhua Primary School providing the children a first hand experience with gardening and microgreens.
Yuki at Lianhua Primary School providing the children a first hand experience with gardening and microgreens.

For those interested in joining the sustainability scene, Yuki believes that patience and persistence are the most important traits. "Progress in sustainability can be slow, but every effort counts," she shares. "It is important to acknowledge your small victories, and as long as your heart is in the right place, you'll definitely get to where you want to go." Yuki fondly recalls the highlights from her own journey, notably the moment they obtained the keys to their farm, a significant win for the team that motivated them to start their next chapter well.

In closing, Yuki emphasizes that everyone's sustainable journey will be different, and there are many ways to contribute to this vital movement. To get involved with GreenLoopFarms, learn more about sustainable farming, or to visit the farm, visit their website https://greenloopfarms.com/.

This article first appeared on the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences website on 23 October 2023.