Michael Simon and his wife Ivy are the founders of Homegrown Farms, or Projek Kebun Homegrown – a social media platform that teaches people how to grow vegetables in their own backyards.
Speaking with FMT, Michael explained that the initiative – which began as an effort to provide healthier food for their four children – is driven not by commercial goals, but by a desire to inspire more people to start planting.
He and Ivy have been tending to their home garden for the past 10 years. It now features about 55 types of plants, including local staples such as kangkung, spinach, kailan, mint, lettuce and eggplant.
According to Michael, the high cost of organic produce prompted him to try growing vegetables himself. He was pleasantly surprised to find that their harvest soon exceeded the family’s needs.
“It wasn’t just enough – we had more than we required,” said the 57-year-old, a television producer.
The garden has since evolved into a small business, offering weekly subscriptions of organic vegetables to residents around the Klang Valley.
Michael has also introduced vertical aquaponics, a method well suited to limited urban spaces. The system combines aquaculture – the controlled cultivation of aquatic organisms such as fish – and hydroponics, the soil-free cultivation of plants.
Its vertical setup allows for denser planting while using significantly less water. “In just one square foot, you can grow up to 36 plants,” he noted.
“Water usage can also be reduced by up to 95% through a recycling system.”
He added that the system uses fish waste as a natural nutrient source, reducing reliance on petroleum-based chemical fertilisers.
Michael has even succeeded in growing rice using aquaponics in tanks, with harvests reaching up to four times a year – challenging the notion that paddy can only be cultivated in fields.
“It doesn’t have to be. You could even grow it on a rooftop with this system. I’ve been doing it for seven years and it works,” Michael shared.
He highlighted the country’s favourable climate for year-round farming, noting that Malaysia should aim to reduce dependence on imported food, especially amidst global geopolitical uncertainties.
“Why import so much when our land is fertile and we have year-round warmth without snow or frost? I hope to see more government policies that encourage people to grow their own food, so costs can be reduced,” he concluded.
Keen to grow your own veggies at home? Get some pointers from Homegrown Farms on YouTube and TikTok.
Also find out more via their website, Facebook and Instagram.