Experience the tranquility at Lá Mây Farm.

Located in Thach That District, Hanoi, La May Farm is an ecological forest garden that grows herbs to produce green, clean, and healthy products for distribution to consumers. La May Farm also serves as the "farm" for Maya Farm School, which guides students in learning and practicing agricultural projects.

A place for developing clean and sustainable agricultural systems.

Lá Mây Farm builds a sustainable supply chain to produce and develop green products, while nurturing and caring for the plant ecosystem in a "forest garden" style.

Ms. Nguyen Le Mai Trinh - Co-founder of La May Farm, said: “La May creates an ecosystem that simulates a forest using Syntropic Agroforestry - a sustainable agricultural farming method that helps regenerate and preserve the ecosystem of Maya village and Thach That forest. As the trees grow thanks to nutrients from the soil and energy from the sun, humans use a portion, animals share a portion, and the rest is returned as green manure to the soil, continuing to provide nutrients for subsequent generations of trees.”

With a perspective that respects the workings of nature, Lá Mây emphasizes the balanced existence of the entire system, including plants and harmful agents such as pests and diseases. Instead of using pesticides, the farm builds a sustainable ecosystem where all components thrive harmoniously and support each other. Therefore, the plants here grow in fertile soil, nourished by gentle sunlight, and absorb the cool dew of the mountain forests in the morning without any "brutal" intervention from humans.

Although adopting this farming method results in significantly lower yields compared to traditional farming methods, and the supply of products is seasonal and therefore unstable, Lá Mây still accepts this trade-off in the hope of developing a clean and sustainable agricultural model.

"It takes 10 years to restore the ecosystem to its original state. Lá Mây has been working on this for three years now and will continue to persevere," Ms. Trinh shared.

At Lá Mây, one can find a variety of carefully cultivated plants and agricultural products: there are hibiscus trees scattered across terraced fields, bamboo forests with tender shoots, and gardens with many kinds of green vegetables such as sweet cabbage, tomatoes, and cabbage interspersed with yellow chrysanthemums... This simple and tranquil beauty exists amidst the mountains and forests as a peaceful haven, a refuge for souls seeking the solace of nature.

All farming and production activities at Lá Mây are carried out responsibly, using energy, natural and safe materials, and easily recyclable materials, while avoiding the creation of harmful waste that damages the environment. In particular, to contribute to enriching the forest ecosystem in the Thạch Thất mountain region, Lá Mây also promotes the "Sowing Seeds for the Forest" initiative, giving small seed packets to trekking groups passing through the area, encouraging them to help scatter seeds along their trails.

A place that nurtures a peaceful childhood.

Built alongside Maya Farm School amidst lush green mountains, Lá Mây is a place where students can observe the development and impact of humans on the ecosystem, learn how to plant and care for trees and agricultural products, and acquire knowledge about geography, zoology, and botany.

The children here grow up, study, and work amidst vast, lush green nature, filled with the fragrance of flowers and plants—something that generations raised in crowded cities can hardly imagine. The tranquility of life close to nature, along with hands-on experiences on the farm, provides them with knowledge of the world around them and fosters an awareness of sustainable development.

At Maya School, there are seven workshops: the Leafy Farm, the agricultural processing workshop, the carpentry and automation workshop, the art workshop, the sewing and embroidery workshop, the pottery workshop, and Maya Kitchen. At the beginning of each term, students choose a workshop to participate in projects that suit their interests and personalities.

Ms. Trinh shared that last autumn, the children participating in the Lá Mây agricultural products workshop practiced the "Tea Making" project. Under the guidance of Mr. Tuan Linh from the Dong Lai tea house, the children understood how tea leaves absorb the essence of nature, how to personally select clear water from mountain springs or morning dew on flower petals to make tea, and how to calm their minds to prepare and enjoy a perfect pot of tea.

The project concluded on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival with a Tea Ceremony, attended by both parents and students. Dressed in brocade ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) and seated on floral mats, the children applied the knowledge and techniques they had learned to leisurely brew fragrant pots of white lotus tea to offer to their parents.

A lush green farm full of fruit trees, a peaceful community filled with the joyful laughter of children, and the sweet, fresh air of nature are the first achievements that Lá Mây has attained. The road ahead is long, but the love and appreciation for nature will be a great driving force on the journey towards sustainable development that Lá Mây farm continues to pursue every day.

Ha Thu (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)