"Organic Agriculture in our Backyard Garden..."
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| Search for Outstanding Barangay Communal Vegetable Garden. (Nov. 05 - 09, 19 - 23, 2018) |
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Are you familiar with the Filipino phrase, "Kapag May Tinanim, May Aanihin" (If you planted something, there is also something to harvest)??? That line may be cliche, but it is actually true. If we know how to produce our own food using our available resources, then food scarcity shall not be a problem. The Philippines is primarily an agricultural country, wherein most provinces support their economy through farming. According to Wikipedia, Agriculture employs 27.7% of Filipinos as of 2017. Last 2018, the Philippines had a crisis of high inflation rate on primary goods including agricultural products. One of the suggested solutions of the Department of Agriculture, is to practice backyard gardening, wherein Filipinos can get their vegetables fresh from their backyard, free from synthetic fertilizers and pesticide. This is one of the challenge that the Albay Provincial Agricultural Office (APAO), the provincial agriculture office of the Province of Albay in Bicol Region, took. Together with the Provincial Government of Albay, they mandated a program called Albay Family-Based Food Production Program (AFBFPP), which I became a part of during the Search for the Outstanding Vegetable Garden. So let me have this opportunity to share my experience on AFBFPP and open your mind on how wonderful gardening can be... :)
But first, a quick shout out to these people that gave me this opportunity, ma'am Hilda Lopez, Assistant Provincial Agriculturist, ma'am Marlyd Pepaño, AFBFPP Coordinator, and ma'am Eleanor Daep, Organic Agriculture Focal Person. Also to these people that made this experience a rollercoaster: Mitch from PSWDO, Nolan from DILG, Ms. Mae of Provincial ENRO, ma'am Eden my co-worker, Grace of AVO, sir Aldrin and ma'am Ma-Al of DSWD, and to our videographers Mark and Doms. Yes. Haha. Hi guys!
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| Validation of Top Barangay Communal Garden per LGU. |
WHAT IS AFBFPP?
The Albay Family-Based Food Production Program (AFBFPP) was first launched last 2017. The activity aimed to provide sustainable food products, through establishment of backyard vegetable garden in the family of every barangays in Albay. To validate and give incentive mechanism to outstanding barangays that were able to implement the program in their constituents, a province-wide Search for Outstanding Barangay Communal Vegetable Garden was conducted (cause we all know that most of us work harder when there is a prize.haha). It was the 2nd year of the program, when I was able to be part of the Panel of Validators/Judges. The Search is open to all 720 barangays of the Province of Albay, wherein each barangay shall be represented by at least 100 household that will establish backyard gardens. Also, each barangays shall establish a communal garden that will serve as a source of food during feeding programs, a source of income, and a living IEC of the barangay. The program also encourage the practice of Organic Agriculture, which is cheaper, healthier and safer compared to gardening that utilizes synthetic chemicals. Another objective of the program is to validate good governance through implementation of AFBFPP, side-by-side with related activities in the Environment, Health, Social Welfare and Anti-Rabies.
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| Initial coordination of DENR - EMB V representatives regarding AFBFPP Implementation |
Last May 08, 2018, our team composed of Environmental Monitoring Officers (yep, that's my current designation in my current work) represented the Environmental Management Bureau Region V during the kick-off meeting. This is how our office began to participate in AFBFPP. Composting shall be practiced in the vegetable gardens to divert biodegradable waste, so that they won't pile up in landfills or just drift to public places. We were also given an educational tour inside the garden of APAO.
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| Who would have thought that strawberries can also grow in the Bicol Region. |
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| Can't wait for these to be yummy chocolates... |
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| ...or more like Cacao Wine. haha |
THE GARDEN-HOPPING PROPER
The initial evaluation of all Barangay Communal Garden was conducted solely by APAO, wherein the top 5 barangays in each LGUs were proclaimed. During the final evaluation, APAO requested representatives from DENR - EMB V, Provincial ENRO, PSWDO, DSWD V, DILG and AVO to judge the top 1 barangays per LGU to proclaim the over-all winner for season 2. That's when I go back to the picture again, being the representative of EMB V. The "Garden - Hopping" lasted for 10 days (Nov. 5 - 9, Nov. 19 - 23, 2018). It's like we travel around the whole Albay province and explored the world of gardening.
*Disclaimer: Some of my photos were corrupted, here are only some that I was able to retrieve. Below are the barangays visited:
- Brgy. Gumabao (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Oas)
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| Photo Op with the comunity of Brgy. Gumabao |
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| Dragonfruit that is really yummmm... |
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| Hydrophonic that uses recycling. Eco-friendly move. |
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| Mushroom Production |
- Brgy. Muladbucad Pequeño (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Guinobatan)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. Muladbucad Pequeño |
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| Need to loan seeds? Loan with BDO. "We find ways." haha |
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| Vertical gardening using PET bottles and hardened cloth. |
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| Just in case your pants does not fit anymore... |
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| ...or your used shoes |
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| ...or even your smelly socks. Haha |
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| Organically-grown raddishes |
- Brgy. Calzada (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Jovellar)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. Calzada |
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| Who says you cannot do gardening in an urban slope? |
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| Container Gardening is the key for urban places |
- Brgy. Amtic (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the City of Ligao)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. Amtic |
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| When string beans just literally slap you in the face. Sooooo long. Haha |
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| Mr. Gardener, the caretaker of the veggies. Sooo creative. |
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| So this is how an actual Vermiculture looks like. |
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| Creative way to do backyard composting |
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| Looks so good that you just wanna eat them right now. Haha |
- Brgy. La Medalla (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Pio Duran)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. La Medalla |
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| Feeling like a celebrity, walking down the yellow carpet of rice hull |
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| Instead of throwing those noodle cups, why not recycle them into pots? :) |
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| Hanging garden of veggies |
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| Organic Concoctions. If you are interested to know how, you can aproach DA for the easy steps... :) |
- Brgy. Anislag (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Daraga)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. Anislag |
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| Ecobricks used as decorations |
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| More practice of vertical gardening |
- Brgy. Cabagnan West (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the City of Legazpi)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. Cabagnan West |
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| Piglets can grow veggies too... :) |
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| Frosty the snowman? More like Rubber Tire Men. :) |
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| "There's a plant on my boot" |
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| Safety First... :) |
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| All I need now is a good mayo dip |
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| Bottled products of their garden |
- Brgy. Buyo (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Manito)
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| Evaluation of the team, despite of the heavy rain |
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| There's a piggie on your lawn... |
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| Fresh Coco for a tiring day |
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| Soon these pechay will be of harvest |
- Brgy. Fidel Surtida (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Sto. Domingo)
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| Photo Op with the community of Fidel Surtida |
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| An organic version of a "Belen" |
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| Who would've thought that tetra packs are feasible to be pots |
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| I wanna go fishing in their mini fishpond |
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| More organic concotions |
- Brgy. Corocoro (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Tiwi)
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| Evaluation of the team on Brgy. Corocoro |
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| New experience gained: Harvesting raddishes. Haha |
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| Cause it's the year of the pig(s). Oink oink! |
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| Yes, they do love Organic Agriculture |
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| Well this is neat. :) |
- Brgy. Quinastillohan (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the City of Tabaco)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. Quinastillohan |
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| I think he got a fish in the hook |
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| Sharing your harvest |
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| Ducklings! |
- Brgy. Calbayog (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Malilipot)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. Calbayog |
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| "The Swan Lake" |
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| Shy Mayon |
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| The Holy Family |
- Brgy. 1 (Top 1 Brgy. Communal garden in the Municipality of Bacacay)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. 1 |
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| I thought these were handbags |
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| Olaf and friends... :) |
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| Colorful Nipa |
Aside from the Top 1 Brgy. Communal Gardens per LGU, APAO decided to give special awards to other Brgy. Gardens that have commendable output in their garden establishment. Here are some of them:
- Brgy. Sto. Niño (Brgy. Urban Communal garden 3rd placer from the Municipality of Jovellar)
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| Garden along the public places of Brgy. Sto Nino |
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| More more urban gardening |
- Brgy. Bacolod (Urban Brgy. Communal garden 2nd placer from the City of Tabaco)
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| Photo op with the Brgy. Officials of Brgy. Bacolod |
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| Vegetable garden on top of the barangay hall. How cool is that? |
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| Container gardening |
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| Basil Valdez.. hehe |
- Brgy. Market Site (Urban Brgy. Communal garden winner from the Municipality of Sto. Domingo)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. Market Site |
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| Concrete Garden where dreams are made of.... |
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| This garden is literally established in a concrete lot in the market site |
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| Tires used as containment |
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| Gotta love how festive this urban garden is |
- Brgy. Nagotgot (Special Awardee for Extraordinary Established Communal Garden from the City of Ligao)
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| Photo Op with the community of Brgy. Nagotgot |
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| Recycled handmade bags |
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| O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! |
...And The Most Outstanding Garden goes to
The awarding was conducted last December 17, 2018 at Albay Astrodome. All participating LGUs and barangays attended the ceremony. And here are the winners:
- 1st Placer: Brgy. Amtic of Ligao City
- 2nd Placer: Brgy. Fidel Surtida of Sto. Domingo
- 3rd Placer: Brgy. Muladbucad Pequeño of Guinobatan
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| Awarding of Certificates of Commendation to the Panel of Judges |
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| See you all on Season 3! :) |
The whole judging experience is good. It's like we did "Garden-hopping" through the entire Albay Province. Imagine if all backyards have vegetable gardens established on them, then hunger shall not be an issue. Hoping that next season, more barangays will participate until the program reach 100% participation of barangays in Albay.
Gardening is not as easy at it seems, especially starting from an empty land, transforming it into a haven of veggies. During our interviews, these are important lessons I gained:
- A garden will not grow by itself. Plants need TLC too just like us.
- Organic Agriculture is indeed powerful. It's cheaper and produces safer products.
- A communal garden will have a better output if participated by more people in the community.
- Dedicate yourself in gardening, and the garden will dedicate giving you food back.
- If we will not start establishing our own backyard garden, are we going to wait for the time that food is scarce and expensive?
I may not an "Agri-hero", but I hope was able to share my experience and convince you that it is needed for us to establish our own garden. Who knows how much treasures we can harvest from our own backyard?
Hope this helps! Have fun gardening guys and I'm excited for you to have your very own harvest, just like we did.
Have fun gardening Future Backyardigans!
- pauledwrd-
Instagram: @pauledwrd
Twitter: @pauledwrd
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