Good afternoon everyone, two Saturdays ago, Mak and I have decided to take the new camera on a road trip to the farms. I am still trying to familiarise with the functions, modes, scenes and learn the camera’s capabilities. I need to spend more time with this monster – I am a slow learner when it comes to gadgets.

And so, our Saturday started off very early – about 9:30am, after a decent dose of McDonald’s breakfast.

Our first trip was to Hay Dairies.

Coincidentally, when we arrived, there was a school excursion and we managed to join in the crowd to witness milking of the goats. It’s nice to be able to understand more about the benefits of goat milk and the process of extracting, processing to what we see and consume in a bottle.

There were plenty of people that morning, more than I expected to see. There were also people popping by just to purchase the goat milk.

Mak had the original version of goat milk and I had the chocolate one. The chocolate goat milk tastes exactly the same as the goat milk tablets I used to eat when I was little – very nice and easy to drink. They are also being pasteurized and homogenized.

A little note about goat milk extracted from their leaflet.

Goat milk is known to be more digestible compared to cow milk. Goat milk is fresh, pure and highly nutritious, absolutely natural and contains no additives. It is an ideal alternative to human milk and can be used for cooking. Goat milk is suitable for people with lactose intolerance and those who are allergic to cow milk.

Numerous scientific studies show goat milk to be beneficial for health of people of all ages.

Home deliveries to selected locations in Singapore are available with a minimum order of 1,600ml once a week. S$2.50 for 200ml, S$8.00 for 800ml – comes in a bottle pictured below.

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HAY DAIRIES

3 Lim Chu Kang Lane 4
Singapore 718859

Tel: 6792 0931

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There’s a dragon fruit farm just down the road from the goat farm and we have decided to pop by for a little scroll.

There is nothing much happening at this farm but if you are looking for some fresh fruits and vegetables, this is the place. Not an awful lot of choices tho but you are allowed to pick your own fruits and vegetables from the farm yourself – quite an experience.

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SPRING ORCHARD

1 Lim Chu Kang Lane 4
Singapore 718858

Tel: 6310 1884

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Next, we drove further up to a farm which uses aeroponics growing system, developed by A/P Lee Sing Kong of the Nanyang Technological University to grow their vegetables.

Extracted from their website, aeroponics is a method of growing plants whereby the roots of the plants are suspended in the air. The plants are anchored in holes, atop a panel of polystyrene foam. From a sealed trough below, a fine mist of soluble nutrients are sprayed and they adhered to the roots.

In supporting good and healthy growth of the plants, the availability of air in the root zone is critical. In aeroponics, air is aptly present and unlike hydroponics system where water is circulated to encourage aeration of the solution.

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AERO-GREEN TECHNOLOGY

260 Neo Tiew Crescent
Singapore 718899

Tel: 6792 4298

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Last but not least, we ended our road trip at a wheatgrass and mushroom farm. This farm is Singapore’s largest commercial organic wheatgrass farm that produces and supplies such crops. Fresh edible cactuses, aloe vera, mushrooms as well as roselle fruits can also be found within the farm.

Edible cactus pads are green and spike-less. The skin should be wrinkle free with a healthy glow. A typical cactus pad can be stored at ambient temperature for a period of approximately 15 days and 40 days if stored in the refrigerator.

When preparing edible cactus for consumption, remove any spikes with a sharp knife and if the cactus pads are in old shoots, remove exterior skin to enhance taste. Cactus has becomes a favourite dish in banquets and there are many ways to cook cactus. The stem can be eaten cold, dressed with sauce, fried or stewed.

Mexico Milpalta edible cactus contains protein, minerals, vitamin, amino acid, carotene and micro-elements like zinc, iron, strontium, calcium, potassium, phosphor and more. With functions of antipyretic, detoxification, invigorate the circulation of blood and decrease blood sugar – promotes balance and strengthens muscles and bones, help digestion and improves immunity.

Here’s a recipe for some healthy, delicious cactus soup (serves 4 – 5 persons) for you and your family.

INGREDIENTS

• Fresh Chicken 1.1 – 1.3kg
• Fresh Cactus 400 – 500g
• Honey Dates 3 pieces (60g)
• Salt 8g

STEPS

1. Remove chicken skin, chop into cube and boil with 2 litre of water.
2. Slice cactus to approximately 10cm in size, add into pot.
3. Add honey dates and slow cook for an hour.
4. Add salt and boil for another 10 minutes.

I have not tried making the cactus soup at home, not sure how it will turn out or if the recipe works well. But it’s worth a try if you have some spare time on hands. I tried the cactus soup while visiting the farm, it’s delicious and this recipe is from them.

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KIN YAN AGROTECH

220 Neo Tiew Crescent Singapore 718830

Tel: 6794 8368

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 HISTORIAL SITES FOR HISTORY BUFFS

• Kranji War Memorial
• Kranji Army Barracks
• Kranji Railway Train Crossing
• WWII First Landing Site
• Neo Tiew
• Thow Kwang Industry
• Sungei Buloh

FARM SITES FOR NATURE LOVERS

• Lian Wah Hang Quail & Poultry Farm
• Jurong Frog Farm
• Hay Dairies
• Kok Fah Technology
• Bollywood Veggies
• Nyee Phoe
• Hausmann Marketing Aquarium

TIPS FOR TOURING THE KRANJI HERITAGE TRAIL

• Trail markers on the Kranji Heritage Trail are QR code-enabled, bring your smartphone out for a day of discovery and fun
• Bring an umbrella or raincoat in case of unexpected rain
• Bring insect repellant to ward off mosquitoes or try rubbing citronella on skin
• Plan your itinerary before embarking on a day out in the countryside; the farm sites have different operating hours and it will be wise to check before showing up
• Do not pluck fruits from fruit tress along the beautiful winding lanes
• Do not litter
• Drive slowly; the lanes are narrow and frequently used by cyclist.

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Overall, it was a pretty educational outing – something a little different for us. If you have a morning to spare, exploring the countryside might be quite fun especially if you have kids. We think Hay Dairies and Kin Yan Agrotech are worth visiting.

Thank you for looking.