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! :-)

Healing Present Nature and Wellness Farm

Free tastes get better if it's organic! Free demos are quite popular in department stores and supermarkets. Although they pretty much catch every one's attention, I am not really a major fan of those except if a free taste is offered! But this time, I intentionally went to the Rustan's Supermarket at Ayala Center Cebu yesterday afternoon to witness a free demo from Healing Present Nature and Wellness Farm's Ms. Eleonor A. Rivera who does the free demonstration herself on preparing organic food! 

Eleonor explaining to us the essential of the veggie before
putting it to the blender for the green smoothie

There she was, already demonstrating how to prepare an organic and vegan lumpia (wrap). The wrap itself is gluten free with organic lettuce. 

Then, the best part came as she showed us how to make a green smoothie! One doesn't really need milk to make such creamy smoothies. 

Most if not all of Healing Present Nature and Wellness Farm's food are prepared raw to preserve the food enzymes of the veggies and fruits that could help it work in our body more. 

Since, it is raw, it is best eaten organic because it will be like eating pesticides if it isn't and might as well cook it but there's a great chance of getting bad cholesterol as well. As what she said that afternoon, whatever oil even as healthy as EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), once heated could still produce bad cholesterol. 

My share of the Green Smoothie. Yum!

Now, that reminds me of one of our leaders also in Gawad Kalinga who is into healthy eating when he gave a small lecture on my gaining weight to try raw fruits and veggies in one month and see the difference ,"raw,raw,raw!" he reiterated  so that perhaps made sense! ;-) 

There are numerous plants, herbs and fruits used in the concoctions such as the smoothie but just to name a few, it includes oregano, turmeric, lemongrass, calamansi, basil, ginger, passion fruit and soursop or guyabano.All of which have been known to have its own essential uses to the body take for example guyabano that has been greatly related to killing  cancer 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy! Amazing huh!

My personal favorites are the Green Smoothie, Herbal Tonic (a good alternative for tea) and the Green and Tomato Pesto which is perfect for dips and pasta (yes, with my favorite pasta!).

Two of the concoctions on display:
Organic Herbal Tonic and
 Organic Tomato Pesto

I am thankful that I attended Human Nature's Magalogue Turnover and Product Launch at the Mandaue branch where I first saw Ms. Rivera last Saturday as she was introduced and awarded the Pinay and Proud of Human Nature Mandaue Branch at the Orchard Hotel. She is indeed  Pinay and Proud because aside from her advocacy on natural healing, indigenous and integrative medicine, she is also a social entrepreneur in the Healing Present Nature and Wellness Farm since proceeds from these endeavors goes back to the farming community who are assisting with the farm. The Healing Present 4-day Wellness Retreat,  which is a program that helps you detox, rejuvenate and start a healthier lifestyle with Yoga sessions, scrubs and more! I have always wondered if there will be a local organic farm here in Cebu that somehow is similar in some ways to the Gawad Kalinga's Enchanted Farm in Bulacan and imagine how excited I was to hear about Healing Present Nature and Wellness Farm last Saturday which led me to visit Rustan's Grocery the next day to witness the demo! Now, I can't help but spread the word!

receiving the Pinay and Proud Award at the
Human Nature Mandaue's  Magalogue  Turnover
and Product Launch last Saturday 
with two of the branch owners 
(from left: Rina , Eleonor and Josine)

Can't get enough of Healing Present Nature and Wellness Farm? Check out their website and you can also catch Ms. Eleonor Rivera and taste the concoctions and see for yourself the demo at Rustan's Supermaket in Ayala Center Cebu (lucky this mall!) every weekend at 3:00pm-to 4:00pm. Looking forward to see you there! 

Cheers! :-)


Rosette