TLC

TLC is not an abbreviation for a natural farmer's concoction.  Yes, you know it all along...tender loving care :)

We spray our soil with IMO, our trees with FPJ and when during the turn over stage to flowering and fruiting, we use FFJ so that their fruits are large and sweet.

The last typhoon feel almost all our Mango trees.  Thought they were all gone!  But I guess our soil was good and trees were healthy :)  They didn't die on us.  We didn't prop them up anymore as we let the course of the wind tell us how we should plant in the farm.

The Chico is far from ripe.  The fruits are soooo big and still getting bigger :)

Our Duhat fruits are almost like plums and tastes so sweet :)  The Guayabanos are  juiciest I ever tasted and is a lot more sweet than sourish.

Another one we are so proud of is our Langka.  We had pruned the fruits already, to give way to better nutrient distribution, but we still got a very good yield.

In our other farm, we have just been diligent in IMO there to revive the land.  Our citrus trees have started to give us Oranges.  Not yet juicy, but over sweet....I can imagine what it will be like after we focus on those trees there.

IMO Video

Pleased to bring you the instructional video for Indigenous Micro Organisms (IMO)

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 :)

IMO

In natural farming, Indigenous Micro Organism: IMO, is most important.  It multiplies bacteria fast.  That is, good bacteria :)  It balances the ecology of the bacteria needed to hasten the decomposition of organic matter in the soil.  It helps in feeding the soil to nurture back to life.  Good bacteria kills bad bacteria.  IMO is a community of friendly and good bacteria.

Doc Rey always repeats his anecdote that in school, they were taught to fight and kill the bad bacteria.  The good bacteria wasn't emphasized as having the qualities to go against the bad.  In using chemicals to kill the bad, we also kill the good :(

We wanted to rest this piece of land for some time, to rejuvenate and prepared for natural farming.  IMO was applied at intervals...you will know it has recovered when you see molds in your soil.  That is a sign that your soil is healthy, good and alive!  Bugs and insects are all around.  Spiders and their webs are welcome sightings.

How to make your IMO:

1) Place 1kg of cooked rice in a container.  We use a plastic one, those rectangular food keepers with covers, the size of a bond paper.  Cover.  

2) Set the plastic container in a cool dry place in an area where there are a lot of trees.  The idea of placing it in the outdoors, it attracts the good bacteria in the soil, that we mean to give back to the soil.

3) After 3days, check on it.  It will have developed molds on top of the rice.  White to yellowish is acceptable.  If your molds are predominantly black, get rid of it and start all over again.

4) Place the rice with the molds in a plastic pail and add 1kg molasses.

5) Cover the plastic pail with manila paper and secure by tying around the paper.  

6) Set the container in a cool dry place.  

7) Harvest the dark brown, mudlike liquid on the 7th day.

This harvested IMO is sprayed everywhere...fields, nooks and crannies, animal cages.  Soak feeders and waterers in this solution after washing, then let the supplies dry under the sun.

To use: 2Tablespoons per 1lt of water.  Easier to think in terms of backpack sprayer in this case, use 1 can IMO, the size of sardine cans.

You will be so excited to see the changes.  It is almost like the soil smiling back at you.  And the white amags on the ground...they are meeting to gang up on the bad guys.

Small Pesterings May Lead To Eliminating Pests

About 2 weeks ago, I had been emailing or texting with someone in Qatar who'd like Sunshines for his family in Palawan. Exchange of email etc.

During Agrilink 2008, I get a call from him. Well, I was in the middle of the booth, talking to several people simultaneously, different topics...during trade shows, it might pay off for others to just listen first as 95% of discussions are FAQs :) Anyway, I may have snapped at him and directed him to my dealer in Puerto Princesa, w/c had been discussed in our emails already. Guys, most times, it is cheaper to get from our dealers :)

Yesterday, he directed me to using a map so he can spot where we are. Wehehehhe, I clicked on something wrong and looked like we own SM Fairview....I should blame myself. I jump on things, not taking time to read first. Complain before looking for EDIT buttons. Finally when I found how, it takes 3days to edit. Thankful for all those quirks....It lead to a very pleasant chat actually. He was happy he got from the Palawan dealer but can't find probiotics. I said he can just make it, but I had to go "BRB".

Next thing, he sent me this link on How To Make Your Own Probiotics.

We both would like to share this with you too :)

See, small pesterings do good. Just like GOOD BACTERIA!