From stress relief, improved emotional well-being and creativity, to a healthier immune system and enhanced sleep quality, immersion in nature comes with a plethora of restorative health benefits. It is little wonder that nature therapy is increasingly prescribed by physicians all over the world to promote health and social care.
As we slowly wind down towards the end of the year, we at Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) collaborated with the Land Education Foundation (LEF) to organize the “Farm-to-Table Land Education Foundation One-day Trip” on 13 December to give 16 HSBC Scholars and one HSBC staff the opportunity to take a breather in nature.
Led by Hayden Chan, Operation and Development Officer, and KC, apprentice at LEF, the one-day trip opened participants’ eyes to the agricultural history of Mui Wo and its community, connected them with the owner of a regenerative farm, and ended with a shared Christmas-themed lunch made with locally produced vegetables.
LEF: The New Generation of Stewards Safeguarding Ecological Health and Wisdom of the Land
Tucked away on the eastern coast of Lantau Island, Mui Wo is a rural town with an agricultural history dating back to the 16th century. From the cultivation of rice, Mui Wo’s farmers transitioned to vegetables in the 1950s, when local rice production was negatively impacted by the import of foreign rice, and the construction of the Shek Pik Reservoir in 1957 led to the significant loss of water sources for irrigation.
It was also around this period that Chinese immigrants from Bao’an and Dongguan introduced local farmers to the skills and techniques of vegetable production. The Mui Wo Agricultural Products Marketing and Credit Co-operative Society was established to help Mui Wo farmers sell their produce directly to the government-managed Vegetable Marketing Organisation (VMO), so that farmers could receive a fair value for their produce and efforts.
As we arrived at the iconic Lin Fung Building located in the heart of Mui Wo, Hayden and KC explained that the building has been at the center of local life for more than 60 years. A variety store that sold rice and oil in the past, Lin Fung has now evolved into a cultural center in Mui Wo, hosting cafés, weekend markets, and other community connection activities.
Next, Hayden and KC took us to Good Old Soil, a new brand established by young people returning from the city to the countryside, supported by the non-profit LEF. “Based in Lantau Island, Good Old Soil aims to gain traditional wisdom from the land, assist farmers and villages, restore better soil health, and preserve the village culture,” explained Hayden. “Central to the work of the organization is helping farmers sell their produce and promoting local farming to the wider community in Hong Kong.”
Naturally, Good Old Soil’s vision and mission are aligned with that of LEF: Protecting natural ecosystems and cultural heritage, improving the quality of living of the poor and the marginalized, and educating the public on the importance of protecting the natural environment and preserving cultural heritage.
Nature Resilience and Regeneratively Produced Floral Tea
Continuing on our walking tour, we stopped by Winne the Farm, which honors the regenerative agriculture approach focused on restoring and enhancing ecosystem health, and is home to a variety of vegetables and fruits such as radish, papaya, and passion fruit, as well as flowers and even coffee. With her produce, like calendula and butterfly pea, Winnie also makes and sells floral tea packs and skin care products.
“I took an interest in starting a farm, but I had no idea how to go about it,” said Winnie Kong, the farmer and owner who took an early retirement from an office job following an injury. “My brother helped me build the basic structures around the farm, and the local community gave me advice on seeding and harvesting. Good Old Soil then encouraged me to promote my farm by arranging farm tours. That was nine years ago.”
Sipping the three types of floral tea brewed by Winnie with the roselle, butterfly pea, and calendula flowers on her farm, the HSBC Scholars learned about the regenerative farming approach that uses natural input, minimizes soil disturbance, and increases biodiversity, which is under threat in Hong Kong and all over the world.
Here, Winnie explained how solitary bees benefit the nature-based farming approach she adopts, with practices including using egg shells and coffee grounds as natural fertilizers. She also shared a recent story of Mother Nature’s resilience. “One of the papaya trees was destroyed during a typhoon this year. I thought the tree had died. A few months later, however, the tree started bearing fruit!”
Touched and inspired by the beauty of nature, under Winnie’s guidance, the HSBC Scholars began mixing compost soil, which was then placed in pots for cosmos plants. What the Scholars did not know while working the soil was that the potted plants were their gifts to bring home.
A Taste of Nature, in Nature
Concluding the one-day trip was a moreish Christmas-themed lunch, made with vegetables freshly harvested by Mui Wo’s local farmers, hosted by the Pause Cafe.
“The Farm-to-Table event was a wonderful experience,” said Francis King, a 2025 HSBC Hong Kong Scholar and student at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “We learned the agricultural history of Mui Wo and its current form at Winnie’s farm. The variety of her harvest was impressive, and her life reminded us how one could find serenity in bustling Hong Kong.”
Francis’s sentiment was echoed by Stephanie Chan, a 2023 HSBC Scholar who received the Greater Bay Area Scholarship and a student at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. “The farm owner, Winnie, has run her business for over nine years. Her passion and dedication are motivating. I am surprised and impressed by someone with such a strong connection to the land and plants. She started everything by herself with her brother. Now, she is selling her agricultural products. I am truly touched and inspired by her.”
Also inspired by Winnie’s journey was Jason Chan, a 2025 HSBC Hong Kong Scholar and student at The Chinese University of Hong Kong: “I was especially fascinated by Ms Winnie’s sharing about her personal journey from a banker to a farmer. Her story reminded me that with enough determination and patience, we can all make a difference to our community and the city we love.”
As the secretariat of the HSBC Scholarship Scheme and the coordinator for Hub for the Future – a community of past and current recipients of HSBC Scholarships – FSI works to transform the Hub community into a force for good. Since July 2024, we have provided the Hub community with opportunities for mentorship, leadership development, skills acquisition, and community service activities. Learn more about our youth empowerment work here.
