5 farms in Singapore to escape the urban jungle

Edible Garden City began with a humble concept, which was to build lush, edible gardens for restaurants and homeowners looking to grow their own produce. This business grew, with unexpected partners such as schools, offices and even malls. In 2016, after four years of building farms for others, the group finally constructed one it could call its own – Citizen Farm. This farm, located in Queenstown, was later renamed the Edible Garden City Queenstown Farm. By incorporating modern technology into traditional farming methods, the farm can compost agricultural byproducts to use as fertiliser, ensuring sustainability.

The Edible Garden City Queenstown Farm is not open to the public, but guests can sign up online for its farm tours and workshops, as well as both physical and virtual learning experiences. The public workshops demonstrate the basics of organic farming and growing microgreens, while the tours allow a look into the farm’s unique features, such as insect farming, hydroponic growing, and natural soil-based agriculture.

Short for Oh Chin Huat Hydroponic Farms, Oh’ Farms is one of Singapore’s pioneer hydroponic estates, where plants are cultivated in liquid nutrient solutions as opposed to soil. While the farm grows an impressive variety of pesticide-free tropical vegetables, herbs and spices, what makes it distinctive is its butterfly lodge, which houses 20 butterfly species. Part of educational and conservation efforts, the butterfly tour allows visitors to interact with the insects and learn about their significance as pollinators. A butterfly starter kit is available for purchase for enthusiasts looking to cultivate their own sanctuary from scratch.

There is also a herb and spice tour, where guests will learn more about their culinary and medicinal values. The hydroponics tour provides a look at the stages of planting, as well as a demonstration on how to grow your own hydroponic plants at home.

The farm is open Monday to Saturday, except on public holidays.

As a goat farm – the only such farm in Singapore – the history of this family-run estate dates back to 1988, when it imported its first batch of these gentle animals. Now, 30 years later, it has 800 mixed-breed goats with origins from Minnesota. The farm utilises the latest modern milking and pasteurising processes to produce goat milk, which is sold in supermarkets in Singapore.

Arrive early to catch a glimpse of the daily milking session which runs from 9am to 10.30am, then purchase a packet of alfafa hay and hand-feed the goats. Visitors are free to roam the estate, but tours are also available, giving insight into the farm’s history, the milking process and the benefits of goat milk. Pasteurised and homogenised, it has no added preservatives or additives. Compared to regular cow’s milk, it is easier to digest, less allergenic due to its protein content, and more suitable for those who are lactose-intolerant.

Do note that the farm is closed every Tuesday, except on public holidays.

Run by couple Lim Ho Seng and Ivy Singh-Lim, the farm’s name was inspired by Ivy’s half-Indian heritage. The 4ha farm specialises in locally grown produce that’s free of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and growth hormones. In recent years, it has expanded to include a culinary school and food museum, which illustrates the history between food and humans through 24 oil paintings.

Bollywood Veggies offers a diverse range of tours and activities suited to various age groups. Those with green fingers can attend a potting session, while the treasure-hunt activity and scarecrow challenge will keep the little ones occupied. Culinary classes that teach you how to make healthy dishes or Peranakan cuisine are also available.

Sign up for the basic farm tour and get a closer look at the varieties of plants while learning about sustainable farming methods. Then have a meal at the in-house restaurant, Poison Ivy Bistro, which uses farm produce to whip up dishes such as nasi lemak and laksa. End the day on a refreshing note with the home-brewed fig tea.

The farm and bistro are open from Wednesday to Sunday, and public holidays.

Qian Hu, which means “a thousand lakes” in Chinese, is one of the largest distributors of ornamental fish in Singapore. It imports and exports a thousand different species of fish from across the world – including Southeast Asia, South America and even Africa.

The farm organises an in-depth, guided tour that details the origins and natural habitats of the fish. It also offers longkang (drain) fishing – a popular 1960s pastime where people would catch small fish in neighbourhood drains. If your feet need some TLC at the end of the day, dip them into the fish spa – the Garra Rufa fish will help remove dead skin cells as an alternative form of exfoliation.

The farm is open every day, including on public holidays.

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