Feb 2026

Morning Farm, one of our new grantees, faces a unique soil challenge. Located beside a pond, the farm’s plots contain high levels of iron oxides, turning the soil a brownish-red, rust-like colour. While iron oxides are common in Hong Kong due to humidity and historic rice cultivation, the concentration at Morning Farm is unusually high, limiting crops’ ability to absorb nutrients.

Although iron is essential for plant health, it must be in a reduced, plant-available form, which is currently lacking in this soil. To address this, our agricultural expert has recommended applying high-quality compost alongside a rigorous program of bioactive plant nutrients to rebalance the soil and mitigate the effects of excess iron oxides.

After just a few months of transition, early results are beginning to show, and farmer Lam is encouraged by the improvements observed so far. As the farm has not yet entered full production, this phase allows valuable time to deepen understanding of the science behind the practices and adopt them more fully—laying a strong foundation for continued progress.

  • With the help of the fund, they purchased a woodchipper to produce their own mulch in times of mushroom substrate scarcity. Twigs and wood are collected regularly from a nearby fruit tree farm, upcycling “waste” into meaningful farm products.

  • Reflecting on the changes compared to previous years, farmer Lam shared that overall pest pressure has decreased. This kale crop is a clear example - showing no visible signs of insect damage.

  • Mulching wasn’t commonly used at Morning Farm before the transition, but its weed-suppressing benefits quickly made the case for adoption. According to farmer Lam, the labour required for weeding has now been reduced to almost none.

  • Similar to Field of Compassion Farm, Morning Farm mostly gets its bio-active plant nutrient ferments from their TAP due to a lack of foundational material (e.g. nut pulp, soy residue). This is the only bucket they have produced and are experimenting with. Effects TBD.

Morning Farm