Returning To Our Roots

Three home farmers offer food for thought on sustainability and how the produce we grow and eat tells the story of who we are

- Coco Marett

More than 90 per cent of the produce in Singapore is imported. What does this mean for the environment, our health and our relationship with food? Beyond that, how does the dependence on imported goods create food insecurity, and how has it impacted our connection to culture and tradition? In 2019, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment announced a 30 by 30 goal, with the hopes of growing 30 per cent of Singapore’s nutritional needs locally by 2030. Tatler meets three Singapore‑based home farmers who are getting a head start by growing edible plants at home, with the hopes of inspiring others to do the same.

NADIA KISHLAN

It’s early in the morning when we arrive at Nadia Kishlan’s apartment. It’s warm and inviting, with soft light shining through the surrounding trees. She excitedly tells us that a single strawberry has grown overnight in her hydroponic planter. This is a big deal—strawberries don’t grow in Singapore’s climate, but Kishlan has figured out a clever hack.

“Strawberries need a drastic change in temperature in order to grow, which obviously doesn’t happen in Singapore. So I tricked the plant by putting ice in the water tray,” she shares while pouring tea made from the Indian borage she has been growing on her balcony.

“I love how Indian borage leaves look,” she says. “They have a velvety furry texture and are quite thick. They’re fragrant and grow really well. Every time I prune them, they shoot up quickly. It’s a good plant to grow at home because it’s so easy and fuss‑free.”