Growing and learning from vegetables

It was a weekend venture motivated by the desire to feed his children pesticide-free greens, but he definitely reaped more than what he expected when the farm started growing. Deng Zhangyu talks to a natural foodie.

On a bright sunny day before winter's chill arrived, two dogs and a cat are enjoying a siesta under the shade of an old peach tree with branches weighed down by fruit. The fragrant bouquet of soil, tomatoes, cucumbers and corn floats through the warm air from nearby farms.

This little farm in Beijing's suburbs is a small world far away from the city's clamor, smog and gray skies. It's also an experimental station for Tong Jia, 41, in his pursuit of a green and sustainable lifestyle, and his desire to share safe food with family and friends.