Cultivating Life through ADHD and Urban Farming
Christopher Leow is the founder of The Freestyle Farmers, a pioneer in Singapore’s urban farming movement. His journey with ADHD has shaped his strong connection to food, farming, and hands-on creativity. From building systems and farms to teaching communities about sustainability, he has turned what once felt like struggles in traditional classrooms into strengths that fuel innovation, adaptability, and resilience, carving out a life uniquely his own.
Quotes
“My ADHD strength is in being so adaptable and resilient to whatever scenario is thrown at me. I can solve problems and figure things out, no matter how complicated it may be.”
“I was able to combine all my different experiences, even when they didn’t seem relevant at the time, and turn them into something uniquely mine.”
Epiphany
Growing up, I felt like I saw the world very differently from my peers. From a very young age, the classroom was a place of boredom. Numbers and words just flew by me. Maths, science, and languages were a big struggle. However, I loved any opportunity to work with my hands: Home Economics, Design and Technology, and Art were where I excelled. I could spend hours just working away, extremely focused.
I struggled to get through formal education, all the way through doing engineering in university. The struggle was real. I felt like a dumb kid but I couldn’t point a finger to why. It was only through seeing patterns and reading more about ADHD in my 30s, that I realised I might have the condition. I went to get diagnosed at 35.
The key challenges I faced were societal and family pressures to be good at a ‘regular’, corporate-styled job. Though I was great at working with my hands, doing trades was not a respected thing in Singapore.
I had to take a backpacking trip around the world to mentally remove that baggage and rediscover my interests and passions which are in food and farming.
Strategies for Success
I am great at being spontaneous and figuring out things by doing practical, hands-on activities. I try to be in environments for work or play where I can do that for most of the time, such as farming or cooking. These allow me to be very focused. Being physically active also helps – exercising consistently by hiking, running, and swimming, keeps my energy levels up.
As I have time blindness, setting alarms and reminders on my calendar, and having time visuals like watches and clocks everywhere around me does help me stay on task.
My Proudest Achievements
I’ve created a life that’s uniquely my own, as one of the pioneers of urban farming in Singapore — a path that didn’t exist just a decade ago. By drawing on diverse experiences in work and life, from engineering to food, I’ve shaped them into something distinctly mine. This journey has allowed me to build systems and farms, collaborate with chefs, and educate people across all walks of life — all driven by a deep passion and belief in what I do.
My ADHD strength is in being so adaptable and resilient to whatever scenario is thrown at me. I can solve problems and figure things out, no matter how complicated it may be.
Advice to Younger Self
I would focus on my abilities and strengths and double down on the areas of the arts and crafts and wholeheartedly pursue what I enjoy. I would be kind to myself in areas I’m weak in, such as in academics.
My Current Life
I run a company called The Freestyle Farmers. We engage and educate people about growing food, and food sustainability. We also create practical activities they can learn from in their homes, schools and workplaces.
Recently, I have relocated to Canada to be with my wife. I’m a Chef-In-Residence in a non-profit called Growing Chefs where I work to teach the youth about food.
I have a great relationship with my family. My parents and sisters are very supportive of me and have been great advocates for me and my skills. Overall, I am content with where I am in life.
Support the ADHD Community
If you’d like to read more stories like these, consider donating $150 or more to receive a copy of our book, Differently Wired Minds as a thank-you. Limited quantities available.
Your donation helps Unlocking ADHD provide counselling, psychoeducation, and other vital support services to those affected by ADHD.
Special thanks to our sponsors whose generous support made this book possible:
MINDSET, Singapore Pools, Chua Foundation, Hyphens Pharma
Leave a Reply