Do you know that in just one year in 2012, <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/amount-food-waste-here-hits-record-high-20130701" target="_blank">we dumped around 703,200 tonnes of food in Singapore</a>? Scary thought, huh? The effects of such food wastage are more than just long-term, they are also detrimental to the global economy and environment. While it's inevitable, considering that our population and tourist numbers have increased exponentially over the past few years, it doesn't mean we can't do our part to cut down on food waste. And one of those ways, is to become a HDB farmer.

So what does being a HDB farmer exactly entail? Well, it basically means you grow your own food like vegetables. The benefits of becoming a HDB farmer are many. For one, you get to eat the fruits of your labour! How many of us can actually claim that we grow our own food, right? Not to mention that it's as organic as they come since your crops will most likely be pesticide-free. Interested in growing your own food? Then read on as we guide you step-by-step to becoming a true blue HDB farmer!

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2573" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Become-a-HDB-Farmer-in-4-Simple-Steps.jpg" alt="Become-a-HDB-Farmer-in-4-Simple-Steps" width="1000" height="1500" />

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<h3>Step 1: Research</h3>
Before you embark on your great gardening adventure, be sure to read up on HDB gardening. Here are a few interesting blogs where people have already experienced the joys of growing their own food:
<ul>
	<li><a href="https://plantmyveggies.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">I plant my own veggies</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://compostinginsingapore.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Composting in Singapore</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://hdbgreens.blogspot.sg/" target="_blank">HDB Greens</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.greenculturesg.com/" target="_blank">Green Culture SG</a></li>
</ul>
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<h3>Step 2: Here comes the Sun</h3>
Find out which part of your home is exposed to sunlight for most part of the day. For others, that part is the corridor outside their flat. But before you set up a garden, do make sure that it doesn't block the passageway or encroach on your neighbour's space. I'm sure you don't want to get embroiled in an unnecessary neighbourly dispute! If possible, inform your neighbours of your gardening intentions. Who knows? They might decide to join you on your quest to be self-sustaining farmers!

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<h3>Step 3: Buy your seeds and planter boxes</h3>
Perhaps the most important question is: where do you buy the seeds to plant? A few places like NTUC, <a href="http://www.banleehuatseed.com/" target="_blank">Ban Lee Huat Seed Pte Ltd</a>, and <a href="http://www.ecocityhydroponics.com/known-you-chinese-chives-vegetable-seeds-v-015.html" target="_blank">Eco City Hydroponics Online Store</a> may be good places to start from. As for planter boxes, you can simply grab a few Styrofoam boxes from the nearby wet market or look around to see if there are any wooden boxes being disposed outside supermarkets. Just remember to ask if you can take them beforehand! And don't forget to drill some holes at the bottom of the boxes to create handy drainage holes, so that the soil doesn't get too wet and cause the roots of your plants to rot.

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<h3>Step 4: Compost your food waste</h3>
Recycle your food scraps like fruit peelings or unwanted vegetable parts by composting them. It's a natural process in which raw food scraps (plant or animal) are transformed into nutrients-rich fertiliser. This essentially cuts down on the amount of waste you throw away every day and lessen the burden on landfills, which are getting filled up at an alarming rate. Recycling also means doing a part in decreasing methane emissions that contribute to global warming.

Keen to find out more about how to start composting? Check out <a href="http://compostinginsingapore.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/compostbinforhdb/" target="_blank">Composting in Singapore</a> for their easy-to-follow guide to start your very own compost bin!

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Now this is by no means an exhaustive guide, but if you have more tips that you'll like to share with aspiring HDB farmers, then do drop a comment in our Facebook fan page! Happy planting!

Become a HDB Farmer in 4 Simple Steps

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