Drying Up

The news on the radio and TV, well at least the news we get over regional channels, are scary and alarming. The water levels shown at Magat Dam yesterday was almost no where. You can see rocks on the sides already, when before what you see is just a huge basin of water. They say water to the lands for irrigation will be shut off March 20.

The line of priority is water supply for the pipelines, electricity and lastly, water to irrigate farmlands.

As we were discussing the plight of the farmers around us, over breakfast at the farm, it looks bleak. 99% around us are ricefields. A few have fish ponds. Both will be highly affected. We have a crew in the farm, fencing for us. They are assured of work for the coming days from us, but what about the others?

At the start of the news of the El Nino, which was months ago (so let's not pretend that we got caught on the heels), we had slowly installed deep wells, water pumps and drip hoses for the plants and of course our free ranging chickens.

Looking around the fields...you think "what will they do" in this trying times?

1) Plant vegetables to feed themselves and to sell to neighbors. Vegetables are easier to water as they are in plots or containers. You can fetch water to quench the thirst :)

2) Forced to good! Why did I say that? You are forced to dry up your fishponds and ricefields for several months. That will be your most natural way of disinfecting and time to rejuvenate the area.

Time to think out of your plots!

I Love The Start Of 2008

How are you starting your 2008?

I hanged some chimes for the driveway in Fairvew. I tell you...they are chiming, humming, dinging, donging, whistling and surfing the cool breeze this morning. Looks like a great year ahead!

At about 7am, I was on the phone with a client from Tagaytay who wishes to have her order delivered later tonight. I felt jumpy about this transaction as her farm, plans for a wellness center/spa has good vibes to me. The wild unkept look of the surroundings are very ME :) She is a gardener by profession and that makes conversation with her exciting to me. So, off we go to Tagaytay later.

A little after 7am, phoned Pol Rubia of AANI to see if Circle will be open (I believe in visiting my store sites at the start of the year). YES! He will be there. Indeed, likes, work togther :) I need some herbs too, for my gardener client.

Visit mother.

Eating my defrosted fresh Durian. My last pack from 2007 harvest. Wonder if the freezer at AANI still has some treasures frozen for me. Great way to start my year...Durian!

Doc Rey has been doing the rooftop since yesterday. Fixing nets, propping up my plants, feeding the Sunshines with corn, bonding with the chickens :) Still at his power washer disinfecting today. He had to wash my car as he hits it accidentally. Easier to wash it, rather than avoid the car.

Happy New Year! Thank you so much to the people who supported us, clients who stayed through the years, new found friends and customers brought by Sunshine, organizations who believe, radio audiences who stay tuned and people in the sidelines just reading and listening. This circle props us up.

How Do You Disinfect Feeders & Waterers?

Biosecurity is important. Just like in our lives, we have to focus on what we want around us and nurture what is of importance.

31 December, gave us time to inspect our surroundings and relate it to our lives in retrospect.

We are brooding a batch for a client and moved them outdoors. Time also to upgrade to auto feeders for them. What is shown is an automatic feeder. You fill that with feeds and they are dispensed to the basin at the bottom. We hang them and adjust according to height of chicks, so they can't scratch them.

This is how we disinfect feeders, waterers, shoes, boots, brooders, screens, walls, driveways etc. We find the power washer effective as it gets to the nooks and cranny.... ..in simple terms, mga sulok sulok :)

I find it easy also that you have a big drum or pail, with water and chlorox, much like how you keep a pail to catch the dirty diapers of a baby. Dump everything there until you find the time to wash them. Then dry them under the sun.

Periodic disinfection need not be expensive. We use chlorox and let it sit under the sun. Best and free disinfectant is solar power!