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! :-)

Opting Organics Will Soon Turn 2!

Opting Organics will soon turn 2 this November! Expect more stories to share on organic and natural products! I have been opting organics by using only products through a brand that I trust the moment it was introduced to me way back 2009 since I knew the owners and the integrity they have built for themselves as partners in nation building. For the past year that I started this blog, I have written and shared the following in Opting Organics:

 * experiences as I disciplined myself in opting organics even in the food I ate (honestly, I'm still working my way on it..any suggestions? :D)   

* Organic products in the Philippines and outside the country that I chanced upon 

 * related articles from experts such as Dr. Mercola to remind us the advantages of using organic products and natural products! 

* Organic and Natural seals were also introduced to assure that what we buy are genuinely organic (although there are still genuine ones who don't carry the certified organic seals) 

 * Essentials of plants and herbs such as moringa (malunggay), cucumber and turmeric were also featured 

 * people here and abroad who are opting organics for a healthier lifestyle. 

In addition to that, we will soon feature recipes using organic produce and from scratch every month and a lot more stories! Want to be updated on the latest organic bits? Feel free to click on the RSS Feed Burner on the upper right corner of this blog or click below: 

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and you may share it away through facebook, twitter and other social media sites. In the mean time, enjoy reading our previous articles and contact us for comments and suggestions!

Cheers to Organics! :)

Organic Blowout

Celebrations in Cebu seem unstoppable even after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Last week, we celebrated the Sinulog and perhaps the grandest annual celebration ever in honor of the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino de Cebu as we call it) with a procession, mardi gras and awarding ceremonies to cap everything!

This coming Saturday, the Human Nature branches of Metro Cebu (Mandaue, Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu) as well as some branches in Visayas and Mindanao still have reasons to celebrate for the launching of new organic products only from Human Nature! There's a big organic blow out too for the old products we love!

Invite loved ones and friends now! Registration is free! Of course, for the schedule of  the Magalogue Turnover of your nearest Human Nature branch, read here!

We offer Only the Good! 

That is enough reason for us to celebrate for allowing yourself to use 100% no harmful chemicals and Philippine made products from Human Nature.

Cheers to Organics! :-)

THE TRUTH ABOUT MALUNGGAY SEEDS AND TREE

I will be talking about the so-called Miracle tree- Moringa Tree or here in the Philippines, it's simply called Malunggay! Although I have mentioned it in one of previous articles (Organic Plants in the Hood), I have not really elaborated it much. Before that, I have already been having a daily dose of Malunggay seed intake courtesy of our generous neighbors who gave a whole jar of seeds. They told me it helped inhibit their rheumatism and athritis as well as other ailments like diminishing hyperacidity! But lately, my mom and I seldom take it anymore since we became doubtful about the essence of the seeds. We promised to take it faithfully again after I have done my research on Malunggay seeds. Anyway, I have just done it tonight and indeed, everything in the Moringa or Malunggay is consumable from seeds to pods, leaves of course and even the flowers (Oh, but I don't know with the roots though)! The best part? Everything as well are nutritious! Let me quote the Nutritional Information from MoringaTreeOfLife.com:

"· One half cup of cooked leaves will meet your daily recommendation for Vitamins A and C

· One half cup of pods (raw) will supply your Vitamin C requirement for a day

· One ounce of raw leaves contains the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C

· Ounce per ounce it contains 6 to 7 times the amount of Vitamin C in orange juice

· Moringa leaves contain 3 to 5 times more beta-carotene than carrots

· 3 oz of moringa powder contains more than 10 times the recommended daily amount of Vitamin E

· Ounce per ounce Moringa leaves contain over 3 times the iron as found in spinach or roast beef

· Moringa leaves contain 3 times the amount of potassium as bananas
· Ounce per ounce Moringa leaves contain 4 times the amount of calcium found in milk"

By the way, the seeds also can be taken in raw just like we did! So, I'm ready to take malunggay seeds again as an alternative to supplement! Still, everything should be taken in moderation because according to Medical Healthguide:  "Although malunggay consumption is generally accepted as safe. But according to Indian traditional usage, Malunggay may have an abortificient effects.(Ref: Nath D, N Sethi, et al. (1997) Survey on indigenous medicinal plants used for abortion in some districts of Uttar Pradesh. Fitoterapia 68(3): 223-225)"

I suggest that if someone wants to eat healthy and organic, they should start with the Moringa or Malunggay especially for Filipinos since you can just buy it or even ask one from your kind neighbors! It makes their plant organic since rarely do people (just like our neighbors) plant such crops infesting it with chemical pesticides.

That's all for now and Cheers to health! :-)

Sources: 

MoringaTreeOfLife.com

MedicalHealthGuide.com

Imges courtesy of : 

fyi09.wordpress.com

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Malungay.html

MY FAVE WOMAN OF GOD FEATURED IN HUMAN (HEART) NATURE

I have just opened my monthly Human Nature Newsletter today and on the right side bar were mini articles about the Read the Label Challenge, How to-Home Remedies and before you can find the contact details of Gandang Kalikasan, is the Featured Personality of the Month which is no other than..(drum roll please....) Rissa Singson-Kawpeng! I don't know her personally but I have always look up to her even when she was still a Full time servant of the Elim Community and up to now that she's already the Editor-in-Chief of Shepherd's Voice Publication, founded by the country's best selling author and motivational speaker and Catholic leader Bo Sanchez. For those who are not familiar with her, grab a Kerygma magazine (Shepherd Voice's flagship magazine) where you can check out her articles in the Just Breathe section. I know that this is supposed to be an article related to organic stuff but I guess I am overwhelmed by the fact that my favorite woman of God and character is also into natural and organic products specifically using Human Nature! I have always been wondering too if Bo Sanchez ever tried Human Nature since he has been conscious on his body and health. Perhaps Rissa should ask him to try it or maybe in the future! So, I look forward to the time (that is if it ain't happening yet) that Bo will also testify the goodness of using HHN products.

Now, without further ado..read Human Nature's Newsletter and the article about Rissa and be inspired to use Only the Good! Of course, you can browse or download the Magalogue too!

Cheers to health! :-)

My Short Trip to the GK Expo 2011 featuring the GK Enchanted Farm

Batang Bayani Park where Team Cebu
also helped in manning
the activities for the kids

Oh well, this story is sooo way past but better late than never!.. I bet some of those who went to the Global Summit and in my case, it's still the GK Expo especially the GK Enchanted Farm!

It's only my 2nd year that I have not missed the Gawad Kalinga since the time that I was no longer working full time for GK. Even if I had limited time due to work, at least I had the weekend to attend it. I almost gave up when I discovered that the plane schedule was a bit limited already when I decided to book my flight. Good thing, I acted upon it and moved on! At least, there was still ample time for me to prepare everything after my shift ended at that time for the flight! My plane finally left for Manila after being a few minutes late of its scheduled time. I missed more than half of the activities when I arrived that Saturday at the University of Santo Tomas almost 5pm already. My plane arrived almost 2pm then I have to battle my way through the venue by commuting only (it's a good decision or else I might not get back to Cebu by Monday). Students as well as volunteers and full time workers alike still gathered regardless of the heavy rain. I was too sleepy to pay attention to all details but still managed to bond and say HI to friends who were also volunteers from different parts of the country.

Indeed true to its name,
the Clean Ice Cream boasts
12 different flavors all made from
organic plants at the farm!

The Human Nature Marker with
HN President Anna's eldest Ariel

So, fast forward to Sunday, I don't know if I slept much but what matters was I slept! I was excited to see the Enchanted farm since it was still my first time to be there. What was I thinking! It was huge! I thought it was just a small parcel of land or maybe it was already vast for me. Really, it was a site to behold and it almost felt like heaven as we walk through the road and path walks seeing everything green and some flowers too. A mass was held to start the day at the farm and there were displays of different world class Filipino products and of course, food that were also grown from the farm. For me, a lot of eye-catching stuffs were there such as the Clean Ice Cream which boasts of 12 flavors and ingredients grown from the farm. I should say, there's another name for it: Organic Ice Cream. The two flavors I could not forget were the malunggay (which I believe still boasts of  the key nutrients it gives) and the choco chili which was surprisingly hot! I think I have tried each flavor but I just cannot forget the distinctive spicy flavor of the choco chili. Everything grown in the farm were as much as possible organic and that includes livestock like pig, goat, etc.  The Enchantea (a bottled iced tea also made of ingredients from the farm) refreshed me after taking lunch!  Since, most of our time (Cebu Team esp. youth ) were spent manning the Batang Bayani Park, where the kids were free to do kiddie stuff such as coloring, hearing stories from Ate's and Kuya's, pot planting, etc., we get to take a tour the farm just right on time before we are about to leave for Manila. It was then that I noticed the Human Nature marker and the store where it sits perfectly enough for the visitors to see and shop.

 I reckon there is still a lot of farming development to do yet over and beyond its entrepreneurial potential, the GK Enchanted farm not only makes visitors and volunteers get a glimpse of hope for nature and our nation but most importantly, giving its home owners productive and uplifting lives.

New Products From Human Nature

All New Products to be Launched at your nearest Human Nature Outlet!  Check out their schedules at www.humanheartnature.com

'Just came last weekend from the Gawad Kalinga Expo..It was worth it despite having not so much sleep as I get to see old friends especially those I've met from other provinces and even partners from different parts of the world! Anyway, I wanted to write about the event especially the Sunday event at the GK Enchanted Farm. However, I wanted to pair it with significant pictures. Good thing, I  checked the website of Human Heart Nature and discovered the pictures of the products to be launched probably simultaneously this Saturday at a nearest Human Nature outlet in your place. To be sure, check out the schedules on the website. When I read about the new products through the newsletter last week, I got excited 'coz I know it's going to be better than ever! Natural and/or organic with no harmful chemicals? Who wouldn't want it?! Here are the new products: Mineral Lip Gloss in 2 shades, Two new shades of the Tinted Lip balm and reformulated Strengthening Shampoo and conditioner! As if it's not enough to pamper you with these new additions, there will also be exciting promotions during THE MAGALOGUE TURNOVER ONLY. So, it is imperative for me to attend this Saturday so I can check on the surprise for that day!

For more details, check out the website!

Cheers! :-)

Human Heart Nature Magalogue Turnover August 2011

It's been a quite while that I have written on this blog. Even if I was not working the whole week last week, because I got sick plus internet connection has not been too cooperative as well. Anyway, I feel better after a  week's rest and of course, taking some medications (sigh, still cannot escape chemical prescriptions though). 

What I am going to write today is yesterday's Dealer Assembly and Catalogue Turnover at Human Heart Nature Mandaue Branch. It's another quarter to turn over with a new catalogue and exciting products and campaign for every dealer and user! Due to "Still not feeling well" mode, I was late but was able to catch up especially with the   "only for today" promo and discount. The venue was at the lobby of The Orchard Hotel and Suites in Mandaue City where the branch sits for almost 2-3 years already. 

With the dynamism of the Branch Operators (Pam, Josine, Gem and Reyna) they made us feel at home as snacks were served while listening to them talk about the benefits of using Human Nature products which is made of all natural products with no harmful chemicals, it also boasts of Cruelty-free Seal which means that its products are free from testing on animals not only that, ingredients usually come from plants and not from animals or insects (such as Carmine which is made of crushed insects).

Aside from that, new products with new packaging were introduced such as: Kids Natural Shampoo and Body Wash with Protein Care system which is available in two variants: Tangerine Tarsier and Pineapple Pawikan;

Lip balm that comes still in 3 yummylicious flavors: Tutti Frutti, Peppermint and Choco Fudge!

For the mineral eye shadow, Enchanted Evening in wearable purple shades is the latest addition which is perfect for soft smoky look on a party night out. 

Tips were also given on how to promote our products more and share its advocacy. One dealer shares that she gets customers as she applies a certain HHN product and people in her office would notice the pleasant smell. When they asked her what it was, that's the time she pitches about what she's using and voila, she gets orders! Prizes were also given to dealers who brought new recruits or non-dealers and few names were raffled as well.

Almost 50 participants joined yesterday and they had the biggest surprise of their lives as exclusive discounts and promos were given only that day! As for me, I only availed the Passion Fruit lipstick which I bought for Php99 only and it normally costs Php225! So, I saved a lot! Another promo was the 27.5% discount on purchase of new products but if a dealer' s purchase would reach Php1,500 he/she could add up and take advantage of the 30% discount on new products as well! Awesome, right? There were still more but that was only exclusive for yesterday's activity. We better be vigilant for more discounts and updates (wink!). Yet, there is nothing to lose since the products are so affordable compared to other organic goods with or without a discount!

Let me reiterate that the most important thing regardless of the price is our health that could actually save us in the long run if we continue to use these products. In the same way, we also help our local farming communities!

Excited? Visit your local Human Heart Nature branch now!

Cheers to Health! :-) 

My First Purchase of Certified Organic Food

I am not so sure if it has been my first purchase of a certified organic food but let me still consider it as my first since it is truly the first organic food that I have consciously bought two weeks ago in a supermarket with the certified USDA Organic Seal. It's an organic oatmeal. Yeah, I eat it usually before going to work or first thing in the morning. I don't get conscious if there are visible results happening to my body when taking it but one thing's for sure, it will do a lot of benefits in the future. Of course, I would still buy with due diligence and at the same time I will buy what's within the budget or only those that I need the most for now. But I believe I also have a responsibility spread the advocacy of using organic and natural products as a major option if you want to have a better healthy lifestyle!

It would probably cost us dearer when purchasing it but it'll cost less in the future! Here are the
pictures that I took:

    Take note of the USDA Organic seal! Here's the 3rd photo courtesy of http://www.countrychoiceorganic.com for a clear view of the packaging... :)

Cheers to Health!

Another Ally in the Natural and Organic World

I just found another ally in the natural and organic world. As I was looking for resources for my last blog about raw and organic milk, I chanced upon Organic Grocery Deals which of course deals with organic products that we can find at our supermarkets or better yet help us find organic stores to shop! I just joined them so that I get updated with the latest news pertaining to all organic deals. There are several forums we can join with and you can choose whatever suits you! For more info on how to join, register here.

Enjoy and Cheers to Health! :-)

www.organicgrocerydeals.com