ORCHARD VALLEY - This is a 33-hectare organic farm in Pavia, Iloilo owned by Johnny Que, vice president of the Panay Organic Producers Association (POPA). Soon upon entering the farm, you will notice a lot of malunggay trees, thousands of them, that are pruned to about five feet tall, each with many leafy sprouts.
Growing so many malunggay trees makes sense at Orchard Valley. For one, it is very easy to culture. Once established, it is simply fertilized with organic fertilizer like animal manure from organic dairy cattle, chickens, and other fowl. The malunggay trees are not attacked by insects, hence are perfect for organic malunggay production. The malunggay leaves are sold as fresh organic vegetables in eight supermarkets in Iloilo City owned by Johnny Que’s family. The leaves are also fed to milking cows to promote higher milk production. The powdered leaves, on the other hand, are used by a sister in her bakeshop to produce malunggay pandesal.
A big space is used for growing lettuce, upland kangkong, and culinary herbs, which all find their way to their own supermarkets. Orchard Valley has a resident chef who concocts salads and other food preparations using the products produced in the farm like white cheese and leafy greens. Aside from salads, they serve fried mushrooms, deep fried root crops, camote leaves ala tempura, organic yoghurt, various desserts, and more.
Orchard Valley is an accredited tourism destination as well as a TESDA learning site where students go to train in organic agriculture. There they learn to produce fermented plant and fruit juices as plant growth promotant and protection from pests and diseases. They also learn to take care of free range chickens for eggs and meat, native pigs sans foul smell, rabbits for meat, and manure for vermicomposting.
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Agriculture.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Agriculture.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TAKING THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED PROMPTED A COUPLE TO BUY A LOT AND START THEIR OWN FILIPINO DREAM OF FARMING
ED AND CECILE GABATAN have been working in the corporate world for years. Like many other Fllipinos who have spent their work days dealing with paperwork and facing a computer, they too, dream of retiring on a farm someday where they can enjoy the fresh breeze and grow their own food.
URBAN GARDENER GROWS FOOD IN PLASTIC DRUMS AMID THE QUARANTINE FOR THEIR FAMILY'S FOOD SECURITY
IN QUEZON CITY, Daisy Cu, 46, began growing vegetables in their residence as an attempt at food security and self-sufficiency. Cu has been tending ornamental plants and fruit-bearing trees for years now. Her free time during the quarantine allowed her not only to focus on cultivating her existing plants, but also to produce vegetables at home using plastic drums. Cu's goal to provide food for their family is what urged her to establish a decorative, yet an edible garden incorporating ornamental and food crops. "With the use of the blue drums, I was able to achieve my intention of creating an edible but decorative garden plus I was able to repurpose the drums as well,” Cu explained.
YOUNG SEAFARER GROWS GRAPES TO GET BACK ON HIS FEET
BEING A SEAFARER is one of the most arduous jobs that one can engage in. Not only does it require a good amount of physical strength and endurance, but it also calls for a sound mental and emotional capacity. These qualities help them survive for months on end at sea, far from their family and the usual comforts they are accustomed to.
SOFTWARE ENGINEERS ESTABLISH FARM TO EARN PROFIT AND FOSTER FOOD SECURITY
PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE has had its highs and lows over the years. Some examples of its low points include oversupply in farmers' crops, and land grabbing. Meanwhile, it has also seen some success through the rise of farm tourism destinations, the establishment of farm to market roads, and programs aimed to help out the Filipino farmer.
SENIOR CITIZEN'S QUEZON FARM IS THE PRODUCT OF HARD WORK
ROMULO B. AYAG , or Ka Mulong as he is fondly called, owner of Ka Mulong’s Farm, had to go through a tough life to obtain the hard-earned achievements that he and his family now savor.
RETIRED CORPORATE EMPLOYEE IS NOW A FULL-TIME FARMER
A LOT OF PEOPLE become farmers in retirement. One of them is Thelma Murillo, a retiree who is now a full-time farmer after working in the corporate world for more than 30 years.
MANILENO FAMILY WHO MOVED TO ALBAY FINDS SUCCESS IN FARMING AND EARNS OVER P60,000 A MONTH
LIVING IN THE CITY means convenience and other benefits, but it also entails bearing with traffic, noise, and pollution. For this reason, others may find urban life exhausting, making them yearn for a peaceful and healthy environment.
REMOTE FOREST FARM IN RIZAL BOASTS AN ALL-NATURAL FARM EXPERIENCE
IN HINDUISM, Vaikuntha is the name of the celestial abode of Vishnu, one of the three main gods of the religion who is responsible for protecting and maintaining life on earth.
FORMER OFW RUNS INTEGRATED NATURAL FARM IN ORIENTAL MINDORO, DONATES FARM PRODUCTS AMID PANDEMIC
LOVE AND PASSION are the two things that spurred Ramona M. Pastor, owner of HN Organic Farm, to fully devote her time to farming after working in various fields abroad for over 10 years.
FARMERS' DAUGHTER DEVELOPS A FARM RESORT THAT EARNS PROFIT AND PRESERVES THE ENVIRONMENT
PEOPLE sometimes have the false notion that farmers would not wish for their children to follow in their footsteps, or that the youth have no interest in farming like their ancestors.
