A treehouse getaway...on a durian farm? Fear not, you don’t have to love the stinky fruit to fall in love with lush, eco-conscious Green Acres.
A durian farmstay that loves the earth
Green Acres Orchard and Ecolodge
THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE
Green Acres doesn’t use chemical pesticides or fertilisers on the farm, thus minimising pollution to the surrounding environment.
It is also committed to sustainable tourism, using reclaimed materials to build the facilities, and electricity generated by solar panels.
The Chongs hope to show that agritourism is a viable path forward. Every tourist visit to the farm, allows the Chongs to continue to do their work.
See what else you can do in Penang in A Weekend of Good in Penang.
Getting there
It is best to liaise with Kim on travel arrangements prior to your trip. If you have your own transport, give them a call when you arrive at the foothill of the farm; Eric will come down on a motorbike and you can follow him in.
Amenities
Good for kids
About the host
With their galoshes, wide-brimmed farmer's hats, and glowing, tanned skin, Eric and Kim Chong are unlikely to be mistaken for corporate shills.
But the cushy office life was what this couple left behind, when they returned to their hometown of Penang in search of a more environmentally-conscious future for their son.
"We wanted [our son] Aldric to grow up in a place where he could run around in the great outdoors,” says Kim.
The answer came in the form of the stinky, spiky “king of fruits” — durians. A 16-acre orchard in Penang, to be exact, painstakingly cultivated by the Chongs into Green Acres Orchard and Ecolodge, a haven for durians to thrive as nature intended.
Traveller's Notes
Wear long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing that covers your legs, as dark-coloured clothing tends to attract mosquitoes.
Yes, durians are calorie bombs, but they're also rich in potassium, iron, dietary fibre, vitamin C and vitamin B complex — and contrary to popular belief, durians are cholesterol free.
Choose shoes or sandals with good tread; some sneakers can be very slippery on dewy grass and mossy rocks.
Back in the 1970s, Balik Pulau's farmers began bud grafting to come up with "designer durians" - these are the variants with number combinations like D24, D10, etc. In the last few years, kampong durians — the original durian trees of Balik Pulau grown from seeds in the 1950s and touted for their near-alcoholic headiness — have made a comeback in popularity.
Don’t forget to bring a wide-brimmed hat as your tour takes place during midday when the sun is at its strongest!
Durians eaten on the farm usually taste better because they haven’t been picked underripe or allowed to ferment on a truck in the tropical heat. The best durians are picked and eaten on the same day.
We tell stories of everyday people doing good in Asia, to inspire action. Through The Better Traveller, you can dive into our travel stories and share ideas on how to make a difference on the go.