Maawi Farms Gaining Ground

We are very pleased with the development of Maawi Farms in her Sunshines.

To date, they are delivering dressed Sunshines to Manila Peninsula, Intercon, Manila Pavilion, Bizu and Green Daisy. For the table eggs, they are supplying Santi's, Bizu, Green Daisy, Camp Farm (when they can't meet demand of their client) and the stall at Legaspi Village Weekend Market.

They have several other delis and restaurants lined up to add to their roster of clients.

Marketing never ceases. We, as supplier gives full support to our Sunshine growers.

Simply A Favorite

There are days when you don't know where to start, because you left off some errands last night and have a million to do today.

I get two emails that made it easier for me:

1) My recipes from my old website. I had to ask my webmaster for the old files (he promised new site will be up before September 2007 ends). Rianne of Camp Farm wanted ideas. She wanted Relleno and Hamonado. I said I will send her my simple recipes. I realized I had a new favorite as it wasn't on that list. Below I will share my new found taste which I picked up from Market Manila site.

2) I got an email from Christopher. We met in a sabong site sometime ago. Small world that his childhood buddies in the neighborhood and now his buddies in Toronto are also good friends of mine in high school and when I am in Toronto. How can I not be glad when his email was inquiring if I knew about free ranged chickens :)

Tinola idea from MM blog

• 1 SUNSHINE chicken, serving sizes
• Water
• 3 stalks lemongrass, tied together
• Ginger
• Fresh ground black pepper
• Fish sauce
• Fresh ampalaya, malunggay or sili leaves

Boil the Sunshine Chicken, lemongrass, ginger and black pepper in enough water to cover. Lower heat when boiling point is reached. Remove the brown film that stays on the top of the water. Cook over low fire. Season with fish sauce. Put the fresh leaves and turn off heat. Cover pot for another 5 mins to steam the fresh leaves. Serve hot.

Camp Farm's Batch#2

We were scheduled to visit a dealer in Pangasinan yesterday when the news of a typhoon in Northern Luzon made as decide to head back to Isabela.

Decided to take a quick peek at Camp Farm's 21Jul and 11Aug batch.

The 21Jul batch looks sad that they are not being let out to play in the rains :)

The 2day old chicks looked happy :)

Sunshine in Camp Farm, Palayan, Nueva Ecija

Yesterday we had a quick visit to our booth at AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center and were set to visit the breeders and a client's farm, on the way back to Isabela.

The visit to Camp Farm turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Client described their farm as small and a weekend activity for them when I started communicating with her over the phone and when we met the couple when they picked up their Sunshine Chicks. OK...so I know they were supplying the S&R chain, but the visit didn't prepare us for what we were to see :)

A dirt road guides you through fields where you see goats, sheeps, cows etc. You see an arc that says "CAMP FARM"....soon after you see a man who steps out of his shed and asks who you are and your purpose. While he radios and several different voices reply, he gets a knapsack and sprays your tires with disinfectant.

As you are asked to park along side other parked vehicles, near a cozy looking structure that turns out as the dining area, you notice that the farm employees all sport colorful yellow uniforms. Soon after, the farm manager and the poultry caretaker run to you from different directions (I guess everyone heard the guard's radio inquiries). They took us to one of the Suzuki Minicabs parked, to be shuttled to where the owners of the farm was.

More dirt roads, and climbing mountains. I even said I didn't know the Suzuki was capable of climbing. We ended up beside parked vehicles again and walked to see people taking pictures and discussing about a future house.

That was the start of a warm afternoon with the family....after you get a cold feeling from the security at the gate :)

This was like a Safari! You forget that we are problematic with a drought, as you see happy and healthy animals. The ostrich pens showed majestic looking big birds. Peacocks were free to to roam around. You can tour on horse back. And your guide was a pleasant family. Take note, as a group, they were all nice. No wonder everyone looks forward to doing family weekends together in the farm.

It was capped w/ merienda. We hated to leave, but we had to make a long trip yet and so did they, as we all had to head back home.

I almost forgot...their Sunshines are doing great :) And will go the route of unmedicated feeds too to supplement foraging. This time, they will be able to offer healthier eggs to S&R clients.