Transforming barren land into a farm producing clean vegetables.

A young female engineer in Ha Tinh province is both producing clean vegetables and fruits and developing her farm into an experiential destination for tourists, spreading the dream of "living green".

During the sweltering summer days, agricultural production becomes more arduous than ever. On a nearly 2-hectare field in Lien Huong village, Thach Dai commune, Thach Ha district (Ha Tinh province), female engineer Tran Thi Hang (31 years old) endures the scorching 37-38°C sun to harvest vegetables and fruits to sell to customers.

Female engineer Tran Thi Hang. Photo: TN.

Despite being a beautiful, fair-skinned girl, after years of toiling in the fields, Hang's skin has become tanned and her hands have become calloused. Even so, this young woman in her 20s always feels happy and fulfilled because she has achieved her dream of "living green" and doing good things for the world.

Hang graduated from Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry in 2015 with a major in Plant Protection Engineering (Faculty of Agriculture). After leaving university, the young woman worked for several organic vegetable farms in Da Nang and Quang Nam to gain experience. In 2017, she returned to Hue to work as an agricultural engineer for a farm. The job provided a fairly stable income. However, just one year later, Hang decided to leave Hue and return to her hometown of Ha Tinh to fulfill her dream of owning a green farm, growing a variety of clean vegetables and fruits that ensure the health of consumers.

"My decision to return to my hometown to start a business surprised my relatives. Some supported me, others didn't, because everyone thought that as a girl, working in agriculture alone would be very difficult," Hang shared.

The "Muse's Garden" farm produces clean agricultural products both indoors and outdoors. Photo: Thanh Nga.

In 2019, Hang realized her ambition by renting and reclaiming over 1 hectare of land in Dong Xuan village, Thach Xuan commune, Thach Ha district, with a friend. There, they grew vegetables, raised chickens, and farmed fish. In 2021, seeing a nearly 2-hectare plot of land in Lien Huong village, Thach Dai commune, Thach Ha district, lying fallow, Hang proposed the idea to the local authorities and rented it to create a farm.

“After receiving approval, I personally cleared the land, weeded, and planted seasonal vegetables and fruits such as kohlrabi, carrots, cabbage; various types of beans, gourds, pumpkins; watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers; and herbs… All products are produced organically, without pesticides, using only microbial fertilizers to protect the environment,” Hang said.

Besides growing organic vegetables, Hang also personally built swings, a photo-taking area for young people, a BBQ grilling spot, and a space to enjoy coffee and fruit juices amidst nature. She named her farm "The Muse's Garden".

"Street market" introduces and promotes clean agricultural products. Photo: TN.

The female engineer shared that not everything she experienced on her journey was smooth sailing. In the early days of her business, starting from scratch, she borrowed nearly 300 million VND to complete the infrastructure. During the process of growing vegetables and fruits outdoors, because she didn't use pesticides, when pests and insects damaged the crops, she had to start over from scratch...

Adding to the difficulty, during the rainy season, the land where the farm is built is often flooded. To overcome this, Hang decided that all the produce must be harvested before October each year, when the flood season arrives, so that the entire production area is submerged, taking advantage of the silt after the flood to increase soil fertility. During that time, she takes advantage of the opportunity to sow seeds in the higher areas, waiting for the flooding to subside before preparing the land for a new crop.

After more than three years of hard work, the farm has provided Hang with a stable income. The engineer didn't reveal the specific amount, but said it was a great source of comfort and encouragement for her to develop the farm step by step. Specifically, in the future, Hang wants to cultivate crops on a large scale in greenhouses and turn it into a useful tourist attraction and experience for everyone.

Fresh, organically grown vegetables and fruits produced on the farm. Photo: Thanh Nga.

Looking at the lush green "Garden of Muse," many people admire the young woman's determination. Although she is still in the process of building her agricultural product brand, Hang has created a fascinating personal brand, spreading enthusiasm, a love for nature, and a willingness to think outside the box and take action among young people.

From the initial idea of ​​combining agricultural production with tourism, Hang's model has now welcomed thousands of visitors who come to tour and harvest crops in her garden. The main visitors are young people, working-class families, and children.

According to Hang, every weekend, on holidays and days off, families in Ha Tinh City bring their children to experience the life of farmers and immerse themselves in nature. This is a very beneficial and practical recreational activity, helping tourists relax and regain their spirits for a new work week.

Tourists experience local cuisine at the farm. Photo: TN.

The leaders of Thach Dai commune People's Committee assessed that engineer Tran Thi Hang's model of clean agricultural production combined with experiential tourism has "revived" the difficult-to-cultivate, abandoned plots of land belonging to local households, transforming them into lush green vegetable, fruit, and flower beds that are safe for human health. The local government will continue to support Hang in obtaining loans to complete her future development projects.

Having access to clean agricultural products to promote, since 2023, Hang and her colleagues have organized a "Street Market" to promote and introduce clean agricultural products. It is planned that from 2024 onwards, this market will be held once a month.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/bien-dat-hoang-thanh-nong-trai-san-xuat-rau-sach-d386526.html