2020-01-01_Her_World_Singapore

HERWORLD JAN 2020

HAYLEYTAI

VERONICATAY&FRENCHESCARLIM

ALICEPIN

UNPLUGGED &

Whenherroostercrowsatthebreakofdawn,she

getsupforacupofteaorsimplyrollsbackinto

bed.Herdaybeginsbetween11amand12pm,

whenshe’sfullyrested.

Next,OliviaChoongfeedsherchickensand

prunestheshrubsattheexpansivebackyardof

herfamilybungalowinMacPherson.

Thebackyardissectionedintothreeplots

ofland.Oneforachickencoopthatfitsthree

chickens,anotherforbiggertreeslikemulberry,

andtheotherfornewplantsliketaroand

popcorn.Oh,shekeepsbees,too.

TheformerRepublicPolytechniclecturer

whobecameafull-timehomefarmerhasbeen

slow-livingsince2012.

Oliviasays:“Singaporeansaresousedto

routine.That’sfineifitkeepsyouinspired.For

me,takingitslowenlivensmymind.”

Sheadds:“It’snothardtojusttaketimeoff

whenyoufeelstressed.Ashortstrollinthepark

nearyourhomewillclearyourmind.”

Balancingtheslowlifewithsociety’space

keepsherintouchwithreality.Whenshe’snot

farming,Oliviafreelancesasaneventorganiser

anddoespublicrelationsforecocompanies.

Herloveforfarmingbeganwhenshewas

studyinginPerth,Australia.Tendingtothe

gardenatthehouseshelivedinstruckachord

withinher.

In2007,shereturnedhomeandset

upGreenDrinksSingapore,anon-profit

movementthatraisesawarenesson

pertinentenvironmentalissues.

Morerecently.Oliviaheadedto

ByronBayinAustralia,whereshe

becameinterestedinbeekeeping.

Duringherfour-monthstaythere,she

enrolledinbeekeepingandfarmingcourses

conductedbyAustraliannaturecompany

Milkwood.

Herpay-off:Oliviaattractedacolonyofbees

toherDIYhiveinSingapore.Andwhenthe

beesdidn’tsurviveawaxmothinfestation,the

positivefarmertookthatasalifelesson.

“Thingsaren’talwaysinyourcontrol.Now,

I’mtryingtoattractanewcolonyofbees.”

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"FOR ME,
TAKING IT SLOW
e
n
l
i
v e
n
s
MY MIND."
OLIVIA CHOONG, 40
She is Singapore’s
green girl on
Instagram (@
tendergardener),
and also the co-
founder of local
non-profit green
movement, Green
Drinks Singapore.
The home-farmer
has learnt many
life lessons from
her garden.
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