By Bakri Baharom@Koboi Tunjang

So, finally you are retiring. You have hit the mandatory limit, upon turning 60. Or, you had enough of office politics, endless meetings and reports, impossible deadlines and targets, over-work, under-paid and under-appreciated. The bosses were from other planets. Or, you were in dog-eat-dog business world, undercutting and double-talks were part of the game. Or, you have already burned your hands in stock broking and crypto-currencies. Or, you have earned enough to see you through comfortably in the next phase of your life. The list seems endless. Good bye, anyway.

You spent the first week, mostly in bed and the stupid box. The phone kept ringing only the first day. Every one called, probably to make sure you had actually retired. Every one wished you all the best in whatever you would be undertaking. Then, the free time started to haunt you. You must be doing something. Anything.

Koboi Tunjang has been preparing for retirement for a long time. The first step was to acquire a piece of agricultural land. One acre is more than enough for any senior citizen. The land law stipulates that one-tenth is for house as it involves government loan. My piece is considered perfect as it has access to a river. A pump is all you need.

It is a great idea to have a fish pond – say 50 ft by 25 ft. You may start of with Talapia or Catfish fry. But, being in rice growing area like Koboi Tunjang, getting life Haruan, Puyu, Belida, Baung, Kaloi and Ubi would not be much a problem. Watering your plants from the fish pond is much better than tap water. It contains no chlorine. Further, the soluable ‘fish-waste’ provides some extra nutrients.

From the very beginning, Koboi Tunjang set the objective for growing trees and vegetable. It is for self consumption. Any extras go to friends, relatives and visitors. If you were to commercialise farming then you must concentrate on one variety; durian, mango or chilli. Choose whatever promises good return. The best Musang King and Harum Manis remain to be from Raub and Perlis respectively. You need to know why.

There are many things to learn before you become a productive farmer. Take for instance, soil – Top Soil or Peat Soil. It is the surface organic layer which consists of decomposed matter. Or, Coco Peat which is derived from coconut husk. In Kedah, many farmers use Burnt Rice Husk especially chilli growers in poly bags. Then, you may mix compost from dead leaves, cut grass, pruned branches and twigs. Otherwise, buy your Top Soil from Land Quarry operators. Nowadays, you may buy what is known as Black Soil at your local nursery. It contains a better formula for your trees and plants.

The writer’s former colleague at POLIMAS, Azimah Ghazalli and husband Abdul Halim Yusof on a visit to Koboi Tunjang’s place last year, It was a nice break for the couple’s daughters. Aisyah (left) is studying dentistry at International Islamic University of Malaysia, while Aqilah (Medicine, Mansourah University, Egypt).

They are basically two types of vegetables; namely creepers which need proper trellis. Some examples include Cucumber, Bitter Gourds, Luffa, both Long and Winged beans to name a few. Some others need no trellis but soil beds too. Examples are Okra, Chilli and Brinjal which may need supports made of bamboo or stems. Others like various Mustard (Sawi), Spinach (Kangkung / Bayam) and Bok Choy stand on their own. I have tried all.

If you are growing vegetables for hobby, you might as well build an award-winning trelling. The traditional is all made of bamboo – matured Buluh Madu is the best. It is easily available and very steady. It could last up to 3 seasons.

You need 10 (6 ft) bamboo poles for one trellis. First, construct 5 A-Shape frame using 2 poles each. You may use string, wire or bolt and nuts to secure the joints. Then, allign the frames 2 feet apart and secure them with horizontal beams. You may use 15 mm UPVC if you want to. Place your trellis on your 8’ x 3’ x 0.5’ soil bed. Look at the following picture.

Your other task is to prepare saplings. You have a few options. One is to put two or three seeds into a cup of soil which may be sourced after your friend’s wedding reception. Like Koboi Tunjang, discarded soft drinks bottle or plastic glass are recycled. Otherwise, used condensed milk pots serve the purpose. When your saplings are ready, transfer them to your soil bed. It needs watering twice a day.

Beautiful cucumber flower on a bright sunny day.

Note: The main picture shows Koboi Tunjang (left) with his uncle, Shaari Hamid, 75. Both are passionate about farming.