Organic Farming and Gardening

Organic farming has long been introduced since the birth of Gawad Kalinga and as it moves forward to a phase of self-sustainability for its home owners, it was all the more encouraged.

Organic farming and gardening in between homes of GK Dumanjug (JP Garcia GK Village)

There's a lot of work to do in rehabilitating the
GK Dumanjug  organic farm

Cebu GK Villages have been on a trial and error when it comes to organic farming. This time, home owners have been very cooperative in rehabilitating their organic farms as well as in other livelihood initiatives. People nowadays are getting more health conscious than ever to the point of getting more meticulous on what and how every food landing on their plates were prepared. Thus, a portion of the society are making efforts to eat healthy and careful on how their food is prepared or produced. Now, 

that starts with preparing it with organically produced food! Although using organics has become a growing trend, a lot of people still find it expensive to regularly use such food and products. This is why one has to begin with a small organic farming or gardening right at their homes if financial constraint is the reason for not opting organic products. This means planting or farming right at your backyard or even in a small garden plot or pot only needs simple watering of the herbs or plants you want to grow without the necessary pesticides and other chemicals to mix with it. Of course, we have to consider though the place or location and if the plants and herbs you want to grow are feasible to live in your area. Anyway, there's a lot of websites to start with on what to plant and grow which depends on where you live. So, better try organic farming and gardening and see what it  takes! :)

Cheers! :-)

Organic Plants and Products as Souvenirs

I just came from a Silver Anniversary celebration last night and knowing that this couple has been trying to eat and grow healthy and organic plants, I was quite excited since I could only imagine a feast of organic salads and the likes! Although I wasn't that surprised even if I did not find any single salad (yet) on the buffet table, I  couldn't help but asked the groom why there was no trace of any veggie salad and he jokingly said, "We're on leave right now!" and laughed with him. So, I moved on and savored laughing moments with friends while waiting for the long queue. When it was our turn, I have to eat what's there and still minding on what's not allergic for me. While, waiting for our turn earlier, the emcee who happens to be the couple's daughter announced that they are giving away organic plants for souvenirs and Human Nature products for the games!  Yay, I can't wait to grab my souvenir but got to eat first! Hehehe!

After munching a few of the food on my plate, I glanced at the buffet table again when I caught a glimpse of lettuce with a dip, then, tomatoes, carrots and cucumber also with a dip! Oh, never mind the dip I'm not really a big fan of dips unless it is paired with chips! Anyway, I checked my plate and it was quite full ( I was hungry, ok?! ) I asked for a paper plate and filled it with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and carrots! I felt then that my meal was already complete knowing that I got veggies to eat. 

As the program transpired, the emcee announced again that guests can get more than one of the organic plants since they have prepared more than enough. What's more exciting was that in every plant, there is a small paper that guides us the essentials of each herb and one of the couple's daughter will explain further as well. Now, that got me more excited because at home, we were actually planning to grow organic plants and herbs. What I will get then will be a good start!

In the end, most of us brought home two or three organic plant souvenirs as we were amazed by the benefits of each herb presented to us and which we felt we needed to take in our daily activities.

I would like to end this article by honoring and greeting the couple who has been like my parents also to me ever since i started serving in Gawad Kalinga, To Tito Rey and Tita Neneng Balatayo, happy 25th anniversary to you and thank you for continuing to inspire us in your service as well as in having to live a healthy lifestyle through using and eating organic food and products!

Enjoy and live healthy through opting organics! :-)

Rosette