Facebook

Ada (my sissy who started as a cyber friend in the early 1990s) led me to Facebook, w/c led me to find some high school friends from Maryknoll.

Logging into Facebook is to kill time for me, in the beginning. For about 2weeks now, I find taking time to see what's happening to them while not really chatting. Karin is still the mother hen. Nenette...oh bless Nenette is still the same! Reactive, cutely naive. And of course ADA! Ada with her baliktad pic and always fidgetty about her court schedules. Yes, she is a liar!

Anyway, today....I decided to edit my status and talk about my drinking wheatgrass juice :)

Soon after, Caress Banson messages me and we chat about the benefits I was getting from wheatgrass. One thing let to the other and she was surprised I was at Market at the Hills, since she lived at Corinthian Gardens.

Ok...so she orders 10 chickens. If her kids ate one chicken each, that will be for just one meal. Yup, she has 10 beautiful children. 10! My kids had a Banson classmate always, since Caress' kids were in all batches wehehehe.

Why did I write about Facebook? Because chatting with Caress led me to a wonderful site.

Mothers/wives and if you want to understand them should read this site from a Waldorf Mom. The real reason for the blog is about conscious parenting...but depending on where you are coming from, it will surely touch you.

Unoy Rice

Upland rice is a premium for us. We like the nutty taste, the health benefits from being pesticide free, aromatic....slow development and patience does things :) They look healthy too..being pinkish, short and plump.

During meetings and trade shows, I get myself some for our use. When I was planning Organikasyon, I knew I wanted to have organic, naturally grown rice. The Kalinga lady is always pictured in my mind.

Last night, over dinner that Sen. Manny Villar hosted, good I saw my Kalinga lady! Of course she was meant to be there, as the Senator wanted inputs about Agriculture.

So tomorrow, at Market At The Hills....I have a new product. My Unoy Rice, harvested last month. We vacuumed packed it to keep freshness, and keep off the bugs.

How to cook: Use 1 cup Unoy with 2-3 cups water.

Merry...

Holiday schedule for Market At The Hills' night weekend market...I can't just be there and sell dressed Sunshines!

Elena of Manna Specialty Bakery, gave us Liver Pate that she made from my chickens' livers. It was heaven. Pure liver, no additives, no other meat ingredients. We finished our bread and 2 packs of pate, between three ladies..,and taste tests to Mary Ann and Candy. We can't get over how delicious it was, simply liver pate.

Pricing was discussed. It will be pricey compared to others. We walked over to the deli and bought a jar of what was labeled as liver pate. Just reading the label we knew already why it may be priced as such, being not pure liver. Opening it, they took a sniff and knew... we had a good product coming up from Elena. We still did a taste test among the 5 of us, and voted that we should pack some of our own :) I should tag it.. Pina-MANNA!

I want to come out too with viands from our naturally grown chicken and pork. Vacuum packed, ready to be stored, easy to pack in luggages for pasalubongs, ready to be heated and eaten!

In all the frenzy of my activities: seminars, opening Organikasyon, Christmas season...am like a merry go round! Hmmm which brings me...I want a rotisserie!

Getting several for the stores now. Excited to have a Merry Chicken wehehhehe.

FREE Seminars At MATH

Reminder: Market At The Hills, starting Nov 08, will have extended hours, to night market. Saturdays, 9am-9pm. Sundays, 9am-6pm.

Activities have been lined up to make it interesting for the customers and booth owners.

Free seminars have been lined up. To kick off the start of the night market:

Nov 08, 2-5pm, Starting An Organic Garden by Raymond Rubia of Daily Dose Farm

Nov 09, 2-5pm, Raising Grass Fed Sunshine Chicken by Rey B. Itchon, DVM

See you at Market at the Hills, Corinthian Hills Clubhouse, Temple Drive

Market At The Hills, Christmas Schedule

November 08, marks the start of the festive season at Market At The Hills. Saturdays, the market hours will be 9am-9pm. Sundays will see it at 9am-6pm.

Vendors and organizers have met and will work together to give you a pleasant marketing and dining atmosphere.

Try visit us there. Although small, it caters to the person who likes quiet shopping. I do. I guess that is the reason why I chose to sell there. I want to target the kind of consumer that I am.

Its at Corinthian Hills, Temple Drive.

Let's Take You Near To Organic Pigs

You may have read how I raved about being able to eat pigs that ate forages, grass, fruits etc. Those heavenly opportunities were whenever we were at Tere and Armand's Earthkeepers in Tiaong, Quezon.

We can't have it often because of distance. Harder when you can't purchase..then you can't lug enough to keep in storage :(

Aside from the exposure and contacts made during the last show we were at, the best thing was I met a couple who raised their pigs the way Earthkeepers did. They had the same mentor :)

Much nearer for me to avail of...also, so many clients who come to Market At The Hills for the Sunshines ask for pork.

Starting next week.....we will carry them too at MATH.

After Sunset

Rare that I get to see our small farm during the day, moreso after sunset.

I normally get to shut down my computer when I get to hear the Angelus, w/c marks 6pm. Yesterday, I saw the car outside parked a tad earlier than usual so I quickly cleared my desk.

"Let's go to the farm"..... even if we knew there was hardly anything we can see as we are surrounded by ricefields.

We inched our way till the clearing where we park. I wear my ever dependable and favorite feet covers, rubber boots...w/ it you can walk anywhere :)

Greeted by the site of perched grass fed hens. The human feeder must have passed already to give them their grains. Quite late feeding, but the hens here are quite self sufficient and their bantay also has a day job at the store. So they are lucky to eat before he does his own dinner.


We walk further down and some of them are running to us for food? The boots maybe trigger food time :)


Walk more to the next pens, and you witness them getting their grains for the day. Quite unmindful of us already.


Glad I decided to take the camera. I didn't think I can get pictures in the dark. There is a sort of sepia, backward look to the effect that dusk has.


Those were how our own grass fed hens look after 6pm :) The same Sunshines that give you the eggs we sell at Market At The Hills every weekend.

Le Club's Announcement For Agrilink 2008

Have you read Agri Plain Talk in the Business Section of Manila Bulletin Today?

French firms join Agrilink trade show
Eight big European firms are joining the Philippines’ biggest and most prestigious international trade show on agribusiness, food and aquaculture.

This was announced by Le Club, the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, which confirmed the setting up of a French pavilion at the Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink 2008 slated at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on October 9-11.

Le Club vice president Michel Hermelin said the French Pavilion would thus feature eight diverse agricultural and food innovations – from the basic water supply and wind power technologies to the more intricate genealogical genetic selection machineries.

Such technologies will be showcased by Bayle SA, Dosatron, Grimaud Freres Selection, Richel, Sasso, Solraya, Vergnet Hydro, and Stolz, which will join the hundreds of other foreign and local firms at this year’s 15th Agrilink, 9th Foodlink and 4th Aqualink.

These triple events will have Bayle SA presenting its latest state-of-the art bird handling and cut up equipment, spanning various phases of poultry preparations – from defeathering to eviscerating, chilling, grading and washing. An industry leader since 1931, Bayle SA is known across Europe, Africa and Asia for its expertise in duck and geese processing.

Similarly, Dosatron is Europe’s undisputed leader in water-powered proportional dosing technology and ISO 9001-certified by the AFAQ (French Quality Assurance Organization). Dosatron recently launched its new Hygiene System, equipped with all D25 series proportioners.

In animal genetic technology, the Grimaud Freres Selection tops in the research and development work that have ensured the sustained improvement of its products, which include colored geese, rabbits, pigeons, chickens and guinea fowls.

Sasso, on the other hand, is the leading French label poultry producer, providing the best sanitary conditions and high-quality productive strains.

Likewise, Solraya is the local breder and distributor of Solraya’s Sunshine free-range chicken (bonafide F1 day-old-chicks from parent stocks imported from France), specializing in dressed Sunshine chickens and eggs from grass-fed hens. Its produce are also available at the Market at the Hills, a weekend market at Temple Drive, Corinthian Hills (Corinthian Gardens, White Plains, Green Meadows area).

In the field of greenhouses and garden centers, the Richel Group has a track record of more than 50 years, using either glass for maximum luminosity, or plastic for optimum reliability, both making the company the leading manufacturer in Europe.

France’s only manufacturer of wind turbines, Vergnet Hydro is the market leader in mid-range wind power generation with its original technology of twin-bladed aerogenerators that can be tilted down in less than an hour in case of cyclone alert.

Meanwhile, Stolz which specializes in feed and food processing technologies, is the European leader in powder and granules handling and processing.

The participation of these companies in Agrilink 2008 was arranged by Le Club to help them find their niche markets in the Philippines.

Participation in Agrilink 2008 is the best way to help introduce French companies to Philippine business, according to Hermelin.

Their products will thus be exhibited alongside those of many other foreign and local exhibitors involved in agribusiness, food and aquaculture.

Aside from the exhibits, the event includes seminars, live animal and plant display, and other special activities that create business opportunities and generate sales, marketing tie-ups, joint ventures and other productive and lucrative transactions. Email frld@pldtd sl.net for more details.

Read the online version here.

A FREE seminar had been alloted for Benefits Of Raising Sunshine Chickens, October 11, Saturday, 1-3pm

A Circle Is Good

I had been texting with this person who plans to raise Sunshines in Baras.

Next thing I knew , he shows up at Market at the Hills to purchase some dressed Sunshines. Introduced me to the obvious apple of the eye, the baby girl who has to be given good food :) There was something about him that I can't figure out.... Conversation led to our being based in Santiago City and he had an uncle there. OMG...he looked exactly like his uncle Tony. The pleasant kulit I guess is in the genes :)

Next day, he attends the seminar of Doc Rey at AANI Herbal Garden at the Quezon Memorial Circle. Few days after we go visit the future site.


Go visit what La Ferme Organique is all about. BTW, I love the logo!

Alorible Day At MATH

I set up real early every weekend at Market At The Hills (MATH), that by the time I am ready to have breakfast, the others are still working on their tables.

Today was just like that, and I was engaging in small talk w/ Elena of Manna Specialty Bakery, as I was deliberating on a Banana Muffin or a Poppsyseed Bagel from her baskets of freshly baked goodies. Our talk drifted to blogging, bloggers etc...and as we both love desserts...of course we touched on Lori of Dessert Comes First.

I was telling Elena about how I was speaking to this couple with a daughter in tow during IFEX...then I noticed this MOLE! THE MOLE that is Lori's signature avatar :)...then I went... "Lori"? See...that was her!

Today was such a breeze. I finished all my stock real early and was eating and relaxing as I was killing time. Someone needed some smaller bills and I went to the faucet to wash my hands. From the corner of my eye...I see a MOLE....hmmmmmmmmmmmm...."Lori"???? Well yes, it was her! After some short talk about her being tampo that I indicated another food blog as a favorite...I told her not bagay to her to get tampororot :) Lori, you are my favorite for desserts! Food is not dessert :)

...she goes around the tables.

Then, I saw her get some bread from Manna...I didn't let this pass. I needed to take her pic for Elena :)

AANI + Sunshine = MATH

The organic production of vegetables, fruits and herbs from the AANI Urban Farm in Antipolo, will be sharing our booth at Market at the Hills every Saturday and Sunday.

This will be a welcome move as it is very hard to refer to organic shops when you do not really know the source. We are always being asked for organic produce...now we are together in one stop.

We hope you find that our equation works :)

Passed One Month At MATH

Why do I like Market At The Hills?

1) Small place, small crowds
2) I see friends from way back in elementary and high school all the time
3) The consumers take time to really know what the products are all about
4) The repeat customers are very appreciative and refer a lot
5) Stall holders are warm and help one another
6) I get to interact with the blog readers here

They want longer hours till 4pm. I'd say, why not open real early for the Breakfast crowd?

Come and visit....Saturdays and Sundays, opens at 7am, Corinthian Hills Clubhouse, along Temple Drive.

Took A Sandy Break

Was I quiet?

I missed interacting with you, but when you have your hands with wet polished nails, masque on your face and my "you can't open your eyes while at it" eyelashes being done..you can't type with wet polish nor when you can't see :) - well, that was Tuesday, yesterday.

Today I was early at AANI Circle....greeting "Good morning"! Flashing my neon colored nails (honestly, I get headaches..might be from the glare of this polish) and showing my close/open eyes weheheheh. I was telling Tita, the better half of Pol Rubia that yesterday was "MY DAY".

After AANI I went to two other suppliers to get what we needed...then headed again to the mall to get a display medium for my dressed Sunshines at Market at the Hills...shhh then I shopped a little for myself.

Well, half work/half play....

Let's see tomorrow...looks like I will be back to work. Get a copy of Manila Bulletin for Agri Plain Talk page, going to Hobbies of Asia, oh of course, it is hatching day so invoices to prepare. Have to remember to get to my printer for the working designs on the two trade shows coming up.

I really look forward to Saturdays and Sundays for MATH...Market at the Hills! Oh yes, I get Sandy weekends too.

MILK STAR DAIRY PLANT

I am not comfortable going to parties, events....I guess am not sociable :) Thought about what I can do while Zac and Doc Rey were learning about the plant....

We got there at 11am...parking was full, save for a lone spot near the caterer's place (good, it means a short hop to the registration). But it means walking into a tent full of visitors...


The Almedas were such pleasant hosts! They led us around, making us feel at home and welcome. First table had a familiar smile but I am so bad with names and faces...but this one was a really so familiar face. He said we met during Agrilink. Oh well, yeah right, very helpful info. Next table, I heard "PCARRD" being mentioned. Then I recognized Doc Synan, then I immediately looked again at the "familar face" and of course..the boss of Doc Synan. I am terrible with names...was that Doc Edwin?

Next table was the Goat Federation members, let by Ben Rara. I've been bumping into him in several web sites already...from gamefowls, to everywhere wehehhehe.

By the time we were walking to the blessing proper....I saw our grower in Tuy, Batangas! We were just texting on our schedules on visiting the Sunshines in Tuy, Batangas. Not knowing we were both enroute to Alaminos Goat Farm!

The blessing proper of the first dairy plant for goat's milk went smoothly. Credit it to relatives and friends who cared. You don't drive a distance just to be there :) It was so cute to see adults pick up the coins from the "pasabog".

Going back to the tent...we were taking pictures of the lechon kambing - perfect excuse to make kurot! Take another picture...kurot again!

During lunch...I see a brother in law! Geez, we don't even see each other in Isabela for ages, and here we are about 500kms from were we both stay.

Thankful that Doc Synan came over to our group...it started a very interesting talk on genetics in several species up to show biz denizens. Guess Doc Synan, Zac, Doc Rey and I looked we were enjoying ourselves as several others came over and joined the table :)

Doc Synan of PCARRD, and who moderates the poultry forum of the PCARRD message boards - does make an interesting specimen for an interview and information gathering.

I learned a lot today....Alaminos was the 2nd in the iterinary for this morning! Before I share what I learned earlier.... Let me relish first the feast called lunch today. From the buffet I had two servings of the lechon goat, several too for the ice cream...and yes two huge slices of the Leche Flan made from Goat's milk. Didn't they say "better to walk in pairs"?

You can feel that the preparations was a family affair event. Everyone looked like an Almeda. Hey Doc Synan...what did we talk again about producing good looking offsprings? wehehhehe

Good night for now....have to go to the Market tomorrow.

Come End Of May

Or Start of June?

Depends of you see the glass half full or half empty :)

What am I saying? We had our 1st egg drop from the 2nd batch of our Parent Stocks, now from SASSO (thank God!). The Parent Stocks from SASSO of France had been good from the day it arrived as day old chicks. No mortality at the airport, packed well, alive and chirpy. Hardly any mortality during the grow out period and gave a 38g 1st egg drop. Very good sign, in comparison to our initial batch of Parent Stocks from another company. Really glad that we made the switch.

2nd weekend at Market at the Hills. Enjoyable, relaxing. Good venue for consumer awareness and developing the niche market some of the growers are targeting. This also serves as my respite....as I have encountered numerous friends from way back, and not too distant past. I guess that is why I don't find MATH weekends as work, its like throwing a duck into a pond.

You have to go try the native chocolate drink at Manna Specialty Bakery. It was really good. Just right. Not too sweet nor thick. Sarap to dip your bread from Manna :)

If you care to gift your parents, grandparents or yourself some exotic fruit trees, go to Market at the Hills on Saturdays. Teresa Orchard will have their miniature Macopas from Indonesia and Abiu available. Free taste test of the produce...it will make you want to grow your own trees.

MATH

Yours truly had always been talking about Market at the Hills. When I discuss or text someone, I can't simply say Market as there are so any weekend markets.

Have to find an acronym....lo and behold.... MATH! That was coincidentally my favorite subject in school :)

Today someone texted me and already used the term MATH....hmmmmm...hope it catches on everyone.

Ubod Ng Sarap

Yesterday was my 2nd day at Market at the Hills. As we had to leave after lunch, I was more sociable this time as I am no longer a newbie there :)

Great to see a visitor I met during IFEX...she also had a booth there. I had to get her bottled atsarang Ubod with Bignay and her bottled Bangus (not fed with commercial feeds). They should go together.

Whenever I walk around Salcedo Weekend Market, the flavored yogurt drinks catch my attention but when I make another round, I can't find them! Well, I found them here this time and didn't lose them. Blueberry and Strawberry please! At PHP140 per liter, its a bargain. It is healthy dessert for me. Now down to my last 500ml...have to stock on those next weekend.

That is what I like with small shopping areas, whose products are focused towards a certain market. Hmmmm, what I bought next without any need to taste test was a proclaimed real pannacotta, and not the gelatins calling themselves the real thing. Got the Mango and Caramel Sauce...good...but I will try next the plain.

First Day At The Market

Yes, Sunshine dressed chickens are now at Market At The Hills.

I was up early to be at Market At The Hills by 5:30am, w/c was the time given by the organizers to set up your table.

Since I don't really need to set up anything, I was done in a few minutes. 2 roll up tarps, 1 cooler w/ wheels, 1 smaller one that acted as my utility table top, some brochures on the table and of course...my forever attention getter decors. Never failed! Not even in this foodie place.

People are asking why I got a booth. Its relaxing to just retail your baby product. My sister who visited me there asked also why I was alone..wehehehe I wanted to be by myself, any and all mistakes will be mine and won't be bothered by others' booboos. Toti Almeda of Milk Star Goat's Milk came by to check out the place. My friend Mitos was there too.

Product awareness was what I wanted to achieve in this booth. I didn't make a mistake as I was explaining to interested ears about the Sunshines. Happy with my day.....now looking forward to tomorrow, but I will miss so much the guys at Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura, moreso the Agri Kapihan at DWWW.

See You At The Market

During IFEX, I met a lady who also started a booth selling Goat's milk at Market At The Hills last weekend. I told her how excited I am to start next week.

She said she was happy there, it was a different crowd, people are inquisitive and want to learn. Asked how I decided to get a booth there? I told her the story about passing by Temple Drive one morning. The succession of tarpaulin flag signs can't help but attract. The name got me...I like simple names :) , the clincher was the chefs' seasoning to the event. It gave a different twist that I am sure that young crop will give innovations and constantly moving.

What cemented my theory about getting there? 95% of the people I mentioned our new site to, knew exactly where it was. The location is central. See you at the Market At The Hills.

BTW, we will be selling dressed chickens, eggs from grass fed Sunshines and taking orders for the Sunshine capons....all from our growers.

Sunrise To Sundown

The schedule today was packed and went as expected. Full of activities, but looked forward because it didn't look like work at all as it will end with working friends.

7am saw us at Market At The Hills. I went by that site early in the week, but I wanted to see it in action. Liked what I saw so booked a space, to start after IFEX as we will be very busy for next weekend.

Doc Rey gave a seminar in conjunction w/ the Atovi gang. I did my "relax time" from 11am-3pm. We just met up at Araneta Gateway for Sunshine Capon's inihaw. Great timing as Zac Sarian gave a seminar so the gang was there, to have light chitchat over the really tasty capons.

After seminar, we still continued the kwentos at Cafe Bola. Meals capped by the great fruit shakes of Langka for them and Chico for me. We didn't miss having the Bola Flan too :)

Here I am now....waiting for the IFEX booth tarps....good thing I always have my laptop and my reliable Globe Visibility.