MY MISSION
My mission is to inspire and empower people around the world to grow food.
Hey there, aspiring farmer!
I’m Christopher Leow, the founder of The Freestyle Farmer (TFF). In my urban farming consultancy, I coach and focus on cultivating food, people, and spaces in Singapore and internationally. Over the past decade, I have undertaken numerous projects aimed at creating urban farms in Singapore.
Together with the company of passionate, like-minded people, I have successfully transformed vacant land and underutilised spaces in the heart of the city into viable agricultural spaces. I have worked hand in hand with various stakeholders to bring about sustainable food production that promotes healthier lifestyles while reducing the environmental impact of importing food.
My past projects have included rooftop gardens, vertical farms, and community gardens that have encouraged Singaporeans of all ages to participate in local food production. These gardens have brought people together, educated the community, and created a sense of shared responsibility towards building a sustainable food system for a brighter future.
Christopher Leow
Founder, author & a whole lot of other…
This is the unlikely story of a typical city kid turned urban farming pioneer in a country with no arable land. Realising that a deeper meaning was missing in my life, I travelled the world in 2013 to investigate how food is cultivated. That is where I discovered that there were people who had a strong connection and passion to their source of food. I found my mentors, Paul and Judith Collins, who were self-sufficiency practitioners and permaculture teachers. They set my world in motion in understanding that growing food sustainably was central to community building, nourishment, and well-being. It was a lifestyle.
Fast forward a decade later, I have pushed the boundaries of what is possible and created micro farms all over Singapore in obscure locations such as rooftops of skyscrapers, malls, hospitals and schools. I have travelled to spread the word about Urban Farming as far as Canada and closer to home in Thailand and the Philippines.
My mission is a simple one: to inspire and empower people around the world to grow food.
With an eclectic mind: the systems thinking approach of an Aerospace Engineer, the taste buds of a Chef, the respect for nature of a Farmer, and the business acumen of an Entrepreneur, I have combined all of my skills and expertise to help any individual, or organisation reach their goals of cultivating food for greater meaning beyond consumption.
If you want to find out how to join me on my mission, let's keep in touch.
MY BELIEFS
Harnessing collective ownership
I believe in enhancing food security in Singapore by the implementation of decentralised farms in homes and schools. This approach involves growing crops or raising livestock on a local level, within homes or school grounds, as opposed to large, centralised agricultural operations—promoting self-sufficiency, reduce the distance food travels to reach consumers, and enhancing food security by fostering local, community-based food production.
INFUSING Heart-ware
Insufficient cultural integration in agriculture usually leaves urban farms lacking both the essential human and technological components, what we like to call ‘heartware’ or ‘software’. Many urban farms are often built, and often they too become abandoned. We believe more can be done to bring the heart and soul to urban farming.
valuing local plant knowledge
I believe that embracing the opportunity to learn about cultivating more local plants, known for their remarkable climate resilience, can empower us all to thrive in our unique environmental conditions in Singapore and beyond.
MY PROCESS
The process for approaching a new project, whether it is a new urban farm build, a retrofit, or a consult, involves an entire ecosystem approach. In order for a project to be sustainable to succeed in the long term, just like a successful business, requires a strong vision to be supported by diligent execution and buy-in among all stakeholders. I will piece together the hardware, software and heartware requirements in order to build a robust and long lasting project.
With an eclectic mind: the systems thinking approach of an Aerospace Engineer, the taste buds of a Chef, the respect for nature of a Farmer, and the business acumen of an Entrepreneur, I have combined all of my skills and expertise to help any individual, or organisation reach their goals of cultivating food for greater meaning beyond consumption.
01. Context & goal setting
The first step is understanding the user and stakeholders goals, objectives and context. This is done through a hybrid method of questionnaires and interviews.
02. Feasibility study:
Diagnostics and assessment
A holistic approach is taken combining science-backed methods such as using sensors to analyse the physical site conditions, as well as considering ground to management user relationship dynamics. This allows us to get the full picture of the situation and define the problem statement better.
03. Recommendations
A multi-faceted recommendation may include the following:
Concept drawing
Final drawing
Technical plan: Irrigation and lighting plan
Maintenance plan
Estimated budget required
Programme breakdown
04. Implementation
Co-creation: Co-designing the final output with the stakeholders, getting their ownership and buy-in.
Build: Building the physical project with the help of partners.
Maintenance: Providing regular support to ensure a successful maintenance plan.
Programmes: Activating programmes to ensure continued engagement with users.
View Past Projects:
Clients I’ve worked with:
Testimonials