I taught English in a middle school in Wuhan, Hubei, China for 4 years and then joined WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and worked there for another 4 years on wetland conservation. I felt so confused about the work I have been doing so I studied and have got an MA degree on Anthropology and MSc. degree on Environment and International Development. However, degrees didn't help me to resolve all the questions, let alone providing the solutions.
After my master degrees, I got a job in KFBG (Kadoorie Farm and Botanic garden, Hong Kong) where I got to know sustainable farming and transition movement.. where I got chance to put together all I have seen and have learnt together, starting reflecting on human life and the connection with the earth.
Without working in KFBG, I wound't be so fortunate to know "Permaculture " and join this network by now. The story is: my colleague, Hilario Padilla invited me to help him organize a week's permaculture course for forest guards, teachers and villagers in and around a Nature Reserve in Hainan, China. The training was so much fun and I myself, learnt so much from organizing and helping run the training. Hilario saw my interest in Permaculture, he then encouraged me to take a permaculture course to learn it more systematically. Hilaro, himself, took Bill's course many years back and has extensive experience on agriculture.
Coincidentally, Geoff Lawton happened to agree to offer a PDC course in Hong Kong in Dec, 2010. So I quited my job and took this course and got to know a lot of organic farming practitioners in Hong Kong.
After the course, though I haven't really started any big project, my own little vegetable garden has taken into shape.For a city girl like me, it was a marvelous achievment and am still in the blissful joy and happiness. In my spare time, I am also networking people who are doing CSA farming in Mainland China and people who are interested in organic farm and concerned about food safty. My role I believe has been and will be to act as a messenger, spreading the world-wide permaculture practice to my fellowmen and inspire more people to join the big family.
Permaculture Design Course 2010, Hong Kong |
Type: Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course |
Teacher: Geoff Lawton |
Location: Hong Kong |
Date: Dec 2010 |