Natural Farming Family

After being given a column on natural farming in Agriculture Magazine, we knew we wanted to go beyond the topics of simply natural farming. We wanted to show the people behind it, what it takes to be a natural farmer, who are the ones that have the sustainability....natural farming requires dedication and patience :)

A topic that played on our minds is the family as a unit...a natural farming family. Rare time that Doc Rey and I will be on the same wavelength, but we were one on this...the Glinogas.

Mid June, after I rushed my July2011 debut column, I met the Glinogas for an interview. Gold, the younger son, was sick but he patiently obliged and quietly waited. Silver, the older one, animatedly intermediated during the interview. These are 11 and 14 year old boys. I told Doc Rey he missed the wonderful vibes of the family!

Bittie Glinoga, an airforce pilot meets a nurse, Weng Fortun, during a course for paramedics/rescue, where she was the teacher.  One had a land, the other was raised by a farming family. Years later, they wanted to revive the denuded farm and give jobs to Pitogo, Quezon folks.  Glinoga Organic Farm was born.

I won't preempt our column for August 2011, but just a preview of things:

Lubi Lubi or Niyog Niyogan cooked as guinataan

Lagikway used as anti-hypertensive in the Pitogo, Quezon community.  Cooked like Camote Tops.

The Glinoga Organic Farm has a stall at the AANI FTI Weekend Market every Saturday and Sunday.  I told them that I wish that MM of Market Manila discovers them there.  That was in June.  After two (2) weeks, read this post :)  Good things are hard not to be noticed!

Read the full story soon:)

Sunshine Chicken 101

Basic Know-how From Day1 to Harvest.

Includes advantages, brooding, feeding, housing, ranging and business opportunities.

In DVD format, Doc Rey discusses an overview on raising Sunshine Chicken.

Available at all Solraya Enterprises and AANI branches (refer to link of dealer list for dayold chicks).

PHP350 for pick up at AANI and all Solraya outlets. We may send to you by LBC, all inclusive at PHP600.

For orders that have to be sent by LBC:

1) Pay PHP600 thru BPI: Solraya Enterprises, C/A 3535-8057-24
2) Advise us my email info@solraya.com or text (0917) 847-2639 about the deposit, include name and address for our LBC details
3) We send by LBC the next day. You receive it the day after we send.

Side By SIde

Some Saturdays, see us with the group of Pol Rubia at Ofel and Panday's radio show over nationwide Radyo Natin. Pol mentioned that a grower of Sunshine had asked to market her ready to slaughter Sunshines at AANI FTI Weekend Market. Since she is a regular, Pol allowed her to set up right next to our booth.

When I passed by her Sunshines at about 10am, she said she has just sold one (1). "We haven't had ready to slaughter for sometime, so people are not expecting to find some here today..." I told her.

This morning, after our DWWW's Kaunlaran as Agrikultura, Pol Rubia says that she was so happy because she sold all that she brought. Of course, there is a market for the ready to slaughter....more so in a wet market.

Start somewhere....we always assist you in marketing...but, you have to move and initiate. We give you the road, but you have to make some padyak yourself...and the sipag and tiyaga has to come from you :)

Dressed In AANI FTI

We are going to secure our booth at AANI FTI Weekend Market (behind Sunshine Mall as you enter FTI compound) to include poultry supplies and equipments. Backyard farmers find it difficult to go to poultry supply stores for their needs and we want to make it easier for them.

Since we are fixing it, we have decided to look into our requests lists from customers and we will be setting up a freezer there to accommodate the dressed Sunshines clients.

Yes we still deliver...but people do want to shop around and walk :)

Play

It is when you are not doing anything, that you end up doing more :)

By 4:30am I was listening to Sa Kabukiran over DZMM 630khz, because a grower in Benguet, Jonathan was being interviewed. Read about a similar post the other day.

While driving, peeped on while Doc Rey was reading Bulletin and chanced upon our "ready to range" grower in Sinait, Ilocos Sur. My Tita Pilar's photo also got there because of her urban Lanzones tree. Immediately texted them about their nice smiles :)

By 6am we were off to AANI FTI to deliver chicks and man the booth. Breakfast was kambing cooked several ways and fresh Avocado shake. Before taking those calories, I had a stroll and got myself some cotton shirts that will be crumply packed in suitcases.

9am went to Antipolo so deliver some chicks and used the opportunity to visit AANI Urban Farm in Antipolo. For you in the area, this farm is perfect to visit and purchase your salad greens....really organic as it can get.

12noon saw us having Shabu Shabu at Bonifacio High Street with one of the boys. It was just a short walk from the parking lot to the resto but the heat was intense and penetrating. The son wanted to get some stuff from Nike.....I thought it was spelt as Yike! After sometime there, I was glad to leave the park....as it gets hotter inside Yike.

After getting some stickers from our car dealer, now in my table doing invoices for tomorrow's deliveries. Hectic Sunday tomorrow as KSA's Agrikapihan, Anniversary of KSA, and our monthly seminar. Used opportunity today to blog and breathe....

Common Sense

Yesterday, during opening of 2nd Pinoy Organic Festival, one of the speakers was Jacqueline Alleje.

I was manning my booth, but it was just about 3 booths away from the seminar area, so my selective attention gets caught by Jacqui.

She is one person that can make you look up from what you are doing. Fresh, crisp, perky, dressed well....much like a good salad. She is Swiss by nationality, but embraced being a Filipino. Don't attempt to talk behind her back wehehehehhe...she may have baluktot Pilipino...but understands everything :)

On talking about organic farming, she went something like..."the farmer has doable scenarios and projects...and consumers have acceptable standards. When those two meet, then there is a deal".

Much later after the talk, I congratulated her for liking her speech. She asked in awe "Did you listen"? I have ears...didnt need to be seated there. She was amazed that I quoted her verbatim....led to her joining us for an enjoyable brunch.

Her muffins, my batchoy, and Doc Rey's fried fish. True to persona...she was eating healthy.

Yes, you can still seat together even if eat different things. Its the character that is the bottomline in groups.

2nd Organic Pinoy Festival

May 29,30,31 sees the 2nd Organic Pinoy Festival.

Venue will be at the AANI FTI Weekend Market grounds.

Although Sunshine has a permanent booth there, we will still set up and be part of the occassion.

As usual, we will encourage our growers to be part and market their products there.

FREE SEMINAR on Raising Sunshine Chicken at 1pm Sunday, May 31.

AANI FTI Seminar for May2009

Talked to Pol Rubia this morning and Doc Rey is scheduled to give a seminar on Raising Sunshines on May 23 at 9am.

See you there! AANI FTI Weekend Market...behind Sunshine Mall, as you enter FTI compound in Bicutan.

SIDCOR Market at the Green Street

Yes, we will be there starting next Saturday. For the whole of December, it was open Saturdays and Sundays. Starting January, it will be Saturdays at 7am-8pm.

You know the Capitol Hills Golf Clubhouse? Ayala Heights, Celebrity Sports Plaza area? The Green Street is how that area is now called . You walk down to the putting green...that is where you find the SIDCOR weekend market.

I used to play golf at Capitol at least once a week, so this venue is close to my heart.

Go and visit. Safe parking, open air, nice view, several options for eating places...a weekend market in a literally, green setting.

Scouting For A Market At The Hills

From a Pasig property which I was scouting the area for some vibes...I was just riding around the area. Passing White Plains, I headed towards Temple Drive. That is the street where you have Rustan's and Starbucks, behind Corinthian Gardens. You find Corinthian Hills on that street.

A series of signs caught my attention. I stopped by the last one and hmmmmmmm, it interested me. Am sure it is still slow now as they are still new in the area, but I like the Chef's seasoning to this market. You get to go shop around for food you can eat there or take home. Exciting flavours and blendings await you as chefs' innovative and creative juices are employed.

If plans push through, expect Sunshine Chicken to be made available there at affordable prices.

Will Be Busy Till March

Busy busy busy.....will tell you about the exciting weekend that followed the Benguet trip. That was the cooking demo yesterday :) Will save that for another posting.

Today, visiting dealers and AANI booths. We even missed our radio appearance as the alarm kept quiet, or our ears fell deaf. Tomorrow is off to some growers. Tuesday is an interview for a cover feature of a magazine. Wednesday is breeder farm visit....etc.....Sunday is Agri Kapihan at DWWW 774.

Anyway, see the picture above? That is a teaser for our 2nd INAHGEN booth....see you there!

AANI & Solraya's Sunshine

Effective today, our outlets at AANI FTI and AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center will be managed and manned by the AANI Boys under Raymond Rubia of Daily Dose Farm.

AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center


AANI FTI Weekend Market


Note that our contact list now carries the AANI telephone numbers, so you may contact them directly. At times when Raymond is not around, please just say you want to speak about the Sunshines.

The AANI Boys had attended the seminar last week. Since we are around weekends, they will learn more.

Doc Rey and I will still be at the AANI booths on weekends, to entertain questions, meet up with you and explain things in person. AANI will provide logistics, personnel and accept bookings.

Best thing is you are now able to go visit AANI at Quezon Memorial Circle, EVERYDAY. AANI FTI is open Saturdays and Sundays. Stocks will be available. Pricing for Metro Manila will be followed.

Raymond wants to experiment. I have full trust on his creativity :)

I kept on nagging him to fix up the landscape....

We should drink to a glass of herb juice...its organic anyway.

Biosecurity

We get requests to visit our breeder farm. Sorry, but for biosecurity reason, we do now allow visitors. It will be to your utmost interest, our clients, that we are able to maintain our breeders in top health. Even amongst us partners, we refrain from doing so, as we have one assigned to breeding anyway, while others are assigned to finance and marketing.

That is the main reason why we maintain our booths at AANI FTI, AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center and our demo on urban farming at the rooftop of our Fairview outlet.

You will see us there and able to get one on one pointers in raising our Sunshine Chickens.

Periodically, we have our free seminars. If you want seminars in your area, coordinate with your local DA, Municipal officers etc and advise them that we may be contacted for FREE SEMINARS in your area.

Recent dispersals have been in CAR, Bicol and Batangas.

Let's work hand in hand with government to give us all, Sunshines on our tables and to help us in livelihood.

We didn't decide to call it Sunshine for nothing. Sunshine gives us freshness and hope...it doesn't cost a lot to raise Sunshines... let's not forget the health benefits and of course the taste. Lasang native!

Traffic Of December

My first stop today was to visit the dealer in Alabang. Pleasant chitchat because we haven't seen each other in a long time.

Destined to exit Bicutan, I missed it and ended up in the Skyway! That brought me to Magallanes. I ended up using SLEX because of the traffic and excited Bicutan again from Southbound this time :)

Did some chatting at AANI FTI with women who bought ready to slaughter Sunshines, exchanging recipes and cooking times. I could have stayed the whole day.

Had to run to Cainta as we ran out of some injectables for our stores.

Traffic was terrible!!! From Cainta, I opted to go to Antipolo and pass thru Marcos Hway, rather than go back the route of Ortigas.

No cause of traffic, but it is everywhere.....I guess last days of BER.

1st Day Of The Month

We are more relaxed when we moved hatchings to Fridays. That means, the invoicing and preparation are done late Friday while the Sunshines are being transported from hatchery to our base in Manila. Drivers are off to destinations and airport all at one time and pick up of growers and dealers are set for Friday night.

We get to have a comfortable sleep and wake up well for our separate AANI assignments. Rested again for the Sunday, early Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura of DWWW 774.

Today as usual, saw me at AANI FTI. It could have been a regular day for me, except that I had a very interesting talk with a group of three men who bought 10 chicks, 2weeks ago.

As you will gather eventually after knowing me more, numbers is not an issue to me. I get more passionate on a 10chick sale from an interested group rather than a sale of 3000 from a disinterested party.

They were so eager to learn and discuss "what ifs and what may bes". Our conversation went from politics to religion (AANI FTI is neighbor to the Maharlika Village of the Muslim Community) and led to Halal Chicken.

That scenario about starting with 10chicks, brooding them like babies, practicing before going on a bigger scale made me remember Farmer TJ's beginnings :)

Yes, that is the way to go. Start with a comfortable number and learn from the small mistakes.

Gave me another reason to credit Sunshine talk for the educating morning I had.

Sun Shines in Rosario, Batangas

Hi Sandy,

I got the 2nd batch of Sunshines Sunday (Nov.18) at FTI-AANI. Arrived there early
at 5:50A - maybe earlier than some of the stall owners. It was drizzling and a bit
chilly that morning. While waiting for your crew, I did some "walking" and
"browsing" inside the market to while away the time. Just a few buyers here and
there. Maybe because of the rain and it was still early, anyway.

The delivery van arrived at around 6:20A, coming from the domestic airport to drop
some orders for airfreight, I was told.

Before I left AANI, I bought some "kakanin"- puto, bibingka, suman, etc. For an
amount equivalent to something like 20 USD, I could feed a barangay already! "Mura
talaga sa AANI weekend market".

I arrived back at Lipa before 8:00A with a stop along the way to check the
Sunshines, had a quick breakfast at my in-law's house then picked up my farm
manager and onward to Rosario, Batangas where this 2nd batch will be reared.

At Rosario, there were three chicks that were acting "groggy" when I transferred
the batch to the brooder. The rest were okay and as soon as they were heated,
already running and jumping. Gave them some feeds in the afternoon when I figured
they were already rested and some drinking water before sunset.

Some of them even took a bath in the waterer! I was worried they would get sick!
But they seemed to be happy doing that! And as soon as they wet themselves they
laid close to the light bulbs to heat and dry up. A tad crazy, I thought...

The following day, on the 19th, the 3 weak ones died. But those that took a bath
were just as sprite as everyone. Well, I could not really pinpoint which ones but
they were all robust and cheerful so I just assumed, you know.

Sending you some photos of this second batch. The first batch I don't have any at
all, I forgot to bring my camera. The first batch is in another location by the
Taal lake in Lipa. Next time I will not forget to bring my camera. Karen did not
take photos last time.

I will order another batch next December when I go home for the Christmas
holidays. Most probably the following Saturday right after Christmas so that I can
pick it up myself. Anyway, I will e-mail confirmation.

Thanks a lot and best regards,
Gene

Relaxing Saturday

My assignment today was AANI FTI:) We are right across a fruit stand that sells native Durian, so I like being assigned there. We are next to the annex entrance so parking is just a hop away.

Midday saw me checking on the hatch.

I sneaked out to finalize artwork for the truck wrap as they were printing today and installing Monday. Small world! I saw Stephane of Le Club. We were using the same printers, Orange Segment. He was there for the Beaujolais 2007 printing. I am going to the Beaujolais with my groupmates from High School...looking forward to having a fun with good old friends :)

Found extra time to get a heavy duty juicer. Did those in 2hrs flat..then went back to hatchery.

Meeting going on now outside as I am posting. But, I'd rather leave that talks amongst the vets.

Looking forward to tomorrow's seminar in Angeles City, Monday's truck wrapping, and Tuesday's Beaujolais!

I Can't Attend The Seminar, Can I Speak With You?

We are reachable by phone, email, YM.

On Saturdays and Sunday, we are at AANI FTI Weekend Market and AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center. We are able to speak up close with you and tackle your concerns about raising.

The AANI people are also equipped to assist you in your queries and are able to accept bookings directly.

Every 4th Sunday of the month, we are at the Agri Kapihan.

If you can't attend seminars because of distance, form a group of interested people. Let's talk. We might be able to do the seminar at your convenience.

AANI FTI Weekend Market

Due to inquiries and requests from clients in the South, we have made arrangements with AANI FTI Weekend Market for a booth.

We are very accessible, beside the parking area and right beside the gate of the AANI FTI Annex.

The booth will be manned every Saturday and Sunday from 6am-3pm.

Seminars will be conducted there too.

Check out AANI FTI Weekend Market as posted in my favorite food blog