Tuesday, February 22, 2011

My Native Piggies

We had been planning and talking about having pigs in our farm. All talk no do! We need to construct a pig pen, right? Well we never got around past talking about where to locate it.

Over the weekend Doc Rey asks the staff to source native piglets. He thought that it will force him to move and get his pig pen act together if he had piglets waiting to be transferred.

The staff were able to get three (3) native piglets! The natives ones in our area are black, big and low bellies.

We had a spare brooder for emergency space that is a cage of the bed of an Elf truck. It had been designed and tried against rats when we brood chicks, so this will be a good holding pen for the new babies of the farm.

It is set under trees and very close to where we eat our breakfast and seating area in the farm. Best guage for the "no smell pigs". The bedding is soil, topped with rice hull, sprayed with Indigenous Micro Organisms (IMO) that we make for the farm as we practice natural farming.

Initially when the piglets got to the farm, they were given Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) in their drinking water. They didn't want to touch the grains offered to them. Our caretaker thought that since they were native pigs, they were used to the indigenous diet in their area. She gave them chopped kangkong and Azolla :) They loved it.

Today was the first time we will see them. Drove past the gate, inspecting the fruit trees as we drove by. Talking about the flowering Duhat and Mango trees..but wanting to wring Doc Rey to drive faster to get to my black babies!

Parked by Pen#1 of the chickens and we had to walk through the other pens to check on them before getting to my breakfast area. Now I see them!!!!!

Cutest three (3) Little Black Pigs! I named them Annie, Jojie and Sandy hahahhaha

I sniffed sniffed around....no smell :) Thanks to the workings of the IMO, sunshine, air and shade around them. Same with chickens and humans....that is also what the piggies need.

Now they have started to eat grains, but still prefer their vegetable salad, with their FPJ in their drinking water.

Now, Doc Rey is busy making the pig pens. And talks are now about getting a hospicio for native pigs :)

Friday, February 18, 2011

Intro To White Pastured Chickens: Video

Why did we go from colored to white?  Here we are introducing you to white pastured chickens.


In partnership with Mag-Agri Tayo, we will do a series of instructional videos to guide you in pasturing chickens and natural farming.

Sunshine Chicken is our branding.  Any chicken we produce from our farm is called Sunshine Chicken.  It connotes clean and healthy chicken meat on your tables :)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Oriental Herbal Nutrients - OHN: The Video

Oriental Herbal Nutrients or OHN is our natural immune system booster and natural remedy for our farm animals and plants :)

Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ): The Video

Mag-Agri Tayo's feature on Fermented Plant Juices.  Read around this blog as we had written about this base in our natural farming practice....it is our growth promotant and vitamins for our chickens and vegetable plots :)

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Azolla Videos

These were from the Mag-Agri Tayo episode of January 29.  Join us for more scheduled instructional over NBN Channel 4, every Saturday, 9am.



Sunday, February 06, 2011

Oriental Herbal Nutrients - OHN

Oriental Herbal Nutrients (OHN) is made from plants with fungicidal and pesticidal properties.  Examples are: Garlic, Ginger, Onion, Siling Labuyo etc.  We ferment these plants in order to maintain their properties.

 1) Chop 5kgs of choice of herbs.  We use a combination of the above.  An easier way instead of chopping is pressing, hammering or bayo, them to break the fibers.
2) Place in a plastic container.
3) Add beer to the level of the ingredients.
4) Cover and keep in a dark, cool place.
5) After 12hrs, add 1liter of Molasses and cover with Manila Paper.
6) Keep in a cool, dark place.  Ferment for 7days.
7) Add Gin or Coconut Vinegar, equivalent to 3x the amount of Beer that was used on day1.
8) Cover again and keep in a dark, cool place.
9) After 10days, harvest on top, the same volume of Gin or Coconut Vinegar that was added.

You may repeat from step5 onwards for 3cycles.   The sludge may be fed to your animals.

OHN keeps our pastured chickens healthy.  We use it 2x a week to strengthen their immune system.  When the chickens are sick, they are given OHN for 3days straight.  Use 2 Tablespoons for every liter of fresh water.

Simple version that you may try:

1) Use 1/2kg Ginger and 1/2kg Garlic.
2) Soak in 2lts Gin.
3) Harvest after 3 days

OHN keeps the plants healthy.  Used from the vegetative stage and continues up to fruiting stage, once a week.

Humans will benefit from OHN too :)