Seminar: "Urban Edible Gardens for Food Security", November 26

DATE : November 26, 2011, 8am-5pm
VENUE: Agribusiness Center, Department of Agriculture, Elliptical Road/Visayas Ave
SPEAKER: Perrine Collin of Cabiokid Foundation

Training and hands-on demonstration on vegetable planting in urban areas even with limited space. Ms. Perrine of Cabiokid will discuss and demonstrate how best to utilize your limited space to growing your vegetables and other food crops by using materials available in your kitchen and surrounding areas (used plastic containers, tires, boxes, and others). She will also demonstrate how to produce at least 40kgs of camote within one cropping time by using two to three tires piled up in a very limited space.


Training Activities/Module

Morning Session:

1) Introduction

2) Permaculture, a system to organize your garden
3) Management of Resources in Urban Areas
a) How to harvest water
b) Clay Irrigation System (how to harvest clay irrigation system
adapted to small garden)
2) Soil Management
a) Theory on soil
b) Presentation on different kinds of compost
c) Hands on preparation/making of kitchen compost
Afternoon Session:
3) Theory and discussions on concoctions
4) Lasagna bedding and square gardening (actual demonstration on the preparation of lasagna beddings and actual planting of the vegetables)
5) Discussions and/or hands-on demonstration on how to use/maximize space for planting vegetables
a) Climbing plants on structure (power point presentation)
b) Hanging pots (power point presentation)
c) Kamote tower (hands-on demonstration)
d) Bottle Tower (hands-on for participants)Training fee: PHP1500 per person, includes materials, lunch and snacks. 
Please deposit to BPI,Solraya Enterprises, C/A 3535-8057-24.  After deposit, email spreadorganicagriculture@yahoo.com so we can send you registration forms. 

EARLY BIRD RATE:  PHP1000 good for registration on or before November 18.

Notes: Training will start on time at 8:00 AM

Variagated Guava and Mama Sita Banana

Last week our Philippines for Natural Farming, Inc group had a farm tour.

1st stop was at the Teresa Orchard of Mr. Zac Sarian. Everyone's jaw dropped when we saw this Mama Sita tree. Maurie Ocampo, who's grown and traded bananas before said he never saw this big variety before. Counting it, one heart can have around thirty (30) bunches!

When we visited AANI Urban Garden in Antipolo, we walked past through fruit trees in containers.  Notice the trees behind the Mama Sita?  They were in containers too.   Good thing about these? They are mobile and transportable, since they are planted in big plastic bins. No reason for your trees to get damaged in strong winds, as you will be able to move them to sheltered areas.

Best thing?  Great as gifts...don't you think so?  For someone who has everything...almost...it will be nice to give a Sampalok Tree with all the flowers in bloom with fruits...or look, is that a Guava?

Step closer...yes  variagated Guava!

The fruit is also striped...

Sweet!  Don't think it had a variagated taste to it.  With my eyes closed, it was simply a Guava.

You know, after I took a second bite, the striped fruit fell to the ground.  I brushed it and ate it all up.  AANI Urban Farm was into organic farming anyway hahahhaha.

Going back to the fruit trees in containers...sound business idea. Thing is you need to patience to wait for it to grow to a good market size price :)

Urban Food

Another topic on the nipple drinker....hahahhaha.....but then it is really practical and thinking out of the box may not be enough. So many usage and ways to use it.

We are spending a lot more time in our urban setting and wanted to have some free ranging Sunshines in our midst. Doc Rey started with seven chicks in May and targeted to harvest it in August. Having fun brooding and planning for urban set up. This is when you get assured that when given common sense care....they survive even when left for several days during brooding. Don't ape that. Only a vet's gut feel and experience can pulloff brooding in absentia!

Before we knew it, they were big already and ready to range :) We get so excited as we get to see them only on weekends in Manila.

We thought that if the farm used nipple drinkers...then why not in the city? Very logical when no caretaker. In smaller setting, you need a smaller water receptacle too. Doc Rey was figuring out how to insert the PVC pipe at the back. I said why not remove the faucet and insert thru that hole.....two heads are better than one!

The water container was set on a hollowblock. It was the right height for now. As they grow, you adjust the height of the pedestal.

Yes, Doc Rey also has an auto feeder for them now. My fruits and vegetables are shared with the Seven Sunshines!

My neighbor saw it and thought about raising some and encouraging the community. I really hope so....Yes, people can take care of their own for food. Start with how many chickens you can consume in a month.

YM About Growing In The City

Someone messaged me yesterday, inquiring about raising Sunshines in the city.

Presuming you live in a residential area....I will say "Yes", if you were to grow your own food. Meaning, if your family consumes about 15 chickens a month, then ok, raise them in the city.

Not that they have foul odor, but do you have a large ranging area in your urban home? Presuming again no area. Supplementing with grains, you may give them your fruit and vegetable trimmings. Your neighbors might be happy that you will rid them of garbage too, if you got their kitchen trimmings.

Before long, your neighborhood might be envious and will want to grow their own food. Then, it may be a cooperative effort on a nearby empty plot.

Good luck..this may even turn to a business venture in the block.

1st At Boystown

Today we started the demo farm in Boystown in Parang, Marikina.

I wanted to kill time, so I stepped out to have a haircut.

When I came back...see how happy they are in their new garden? According to Pol Rubia, it was Mrs. Soledad Agbayano of Console Farms who opened the chicken crates to free the Sunshines. She even commented that they were happy chicks :)


Look at their improvised shed.


This is just the start, as AANI is giving us several ranging areas as demo farms.

Thank you to the management of Boystown and AANI.

Urban Farming

We are developing our rooftop to show urban farming is doable.


The project started when we wanted a demo farm. Easier to explain and show in real. It later showed us that urban farming is indeed workable. Chicken farming is possible in the city. Of course we encourage most to just raise for their own consumption. Even if you don't have a ranging area, you can do a "cut and carry" of grass, give them your fruit/vegetable kitchen/table leftovers.



So now, we are fixing it to really be a seminar area. Another office below, is being prepared for clients to be comfortable when they come to learn about the benefits of Sunshine :)

Join us through urban farming. You will find yourselves enjoying raising healthy chickens, because it is beneficial to you too...and the taste... Do you know what the taste of native chickens are?

Phase One

Several days of rain and being able to work between...this is how we partly cleared the rooftop and installed some sheds for the Sunshines

This Urban Farming Is Keeping Me Excited

We made a quick visit to the rooftop yesterday as we were checking on security risks for ourselves and damage that clogged drainage may bring.

Been toying with the idea of making the rooftop a showcase.

Everthing fell into place this time: unscheduled visit upstairs, 50+ chicks ready to range from 21July batch, need for a showcase at how Sunshines may be kept at minimal costs.

These pictures and videos will show how it looked when we first stepped "up". Hopefully we can transform it little by little into a haven for Sunshine and our tired spirits :)

Does being in the city stop you from being a farmer?

I'd like to develop urban farming. Starting with what is available and of course Sunshine :)

Will show you pictures soon of where and how I want to start.

Do you have ideas of your own?