Let me take you back to our most recent organic farm trip in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas) sometime in September. The provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Batangas are top travel destinations outside Metro Manila.
We woke up very early and left Manila around nine in the morning to avoid the rush hour. By lunch time, we're already at the ATI Region 4A in Trece Martires, Cavite and warmly welcomed by Rolando Maningas of ATI-Region 4A.
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| Organic Agriculture Bloggers at ATI Region 4A |
It was in 2016 when I first visited ATI Calabarzon before traveling to Terra Verde and Bangkong Kahoy Organic Farm. Aside from the ATI e-hub, ATI Region 4-A has a new building, a training hall, a nice veranda or waiting area and a dormitory. Before I share about the highlight of this farm tour, allow me to tour you at ATI Region 4-A with these photos.
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| a new building |
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| ATI 4-A Dormitory |
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| ATI 4-A Dormitory, each room can occupy 3 guests |
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| Veranda and waiting area |
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| ATI 4-A Extension Hub |
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| Learning materials. Tablets, books and leaflets on agriculture |
After a quick tour, our group left region 4-A office for our usual farm visit. As mentioned earlier, the highlight of this trip is to witness the unveiling of two books - Agriculturally Awesome, a regional farm tourism travel guide and Sariling ATIn featuring 25 Philippine Promising Native Plants. Ready to learn more about organic farming? Let's begin!
S A N C T U A R I O N A T U R E F A R M S
Located in Indang, Cavite, Sanctuario Nature Farm is a training organic farm accredited by the Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Training Institute Region 4A. It's a 2.5 hectare organic farm that produces various organic vegetables and fruits. Sanctuario Nature Farm offers a camp site, production area and an activity area for travelers and people who are interested in agriculture.
We were welcomed by Michelle Razo of Sanctuario Nature Farms. Our group went around the farm to learn about their organic farming practices of Sanctuario. They showed us their wide and huge vermi composting area. She also shared how to make organic fertilizers. Later on I will share the ingredients and step by step procedure in making a fertilizer using molasses and vegetables.
As welcome drink comprises of herbal teas. I love the tea corner where you can make your own tea concoction. I made tarragon, blueternate with stevia. I opted not to add mint after reading that mint is not good for people with hyperacidity. Not sure about it, I'm still doing my research but if you also experienced abdominal discomfort after drinking beverages with mint, please share your experience in the comment section below.
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| tea, anyone? |
Let's have a review of the benefits of these herbs. Tarragon is an aromatic leaves and very flavorful. Tarragon is a kind of herb with lots of health benefits including improving sleep, increase appetite and treat some digestive problem.
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| How to make herbal tea |
Stevia gives natural sweetness to your food. Stevia also helps lowers blood cholesterol and prevents certain forms of cancer.
Blueternate contains an antioxidant called proanthocyanidin. It helps improves eyesight, hair growth, improves skin problems just to name a few. It also adds color to food and is great for making juices. I personally like blueternate with lemongrass, calamansi and honey, taste good and refreshing.
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| with Michelle and Melody |
One of the things I got interested more during our farm tour in Sanctuario is the urban gardening they made in one corner of the farm. Look at this square foot garden surrounded with plants that grows in container. It only proves that even if we have small space at home, we can start growing our own food organically. She also shared how you can make compost and grow vegetable in just one plot. Watch the video below for better understanding.
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| Urban Gardening Ideas |
Some new plants I learned today includes talinum, popularly called Philippine Spinach also known as fameflower or flameflower. Talinum is a herbal medicine and are given to patients with cancer. Freshly picked talium leaves can be added to salad which we had in Terra Verde Eco Farm. Talinum or Philippine Spinach is high in antioxidant. When I learned about it, I asked for some cuttings and grow in my garden. I'm happy that my talinum cuttings are thriving and growing well in containers; watering them every other day or as needed.
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| Sanctuario Nature Farms |
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| Talinum or Philippine Spinach |
Another interesting find in the farm is this rain water reservoir that directly goes to these huge, closed containers. By the way, did you know that it's best to use rain or deep well water in watering plants?
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| rain water reservoir |
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| at the nursery |
How to make Fermented plant juice as plant fertilizer: 2kg mayana plant + oregano + camote tops + alugbati + malunggay mix with 1 kg molasses then ferment for 2 weeks.
We were not able to see other parts of the farm due to bad weather. Back at the training hall, Michelle continued her talk about the organic farming and answered some or I must say, a lot of my questions on urban gardening. We went home with free seeds such as roselle and beans.
Sanctuario Nature Farms
Indang-Mendez Road, Sitio Italaro,
Brgy Kayquit, Indang, Cavite
Read our recent organic farm tours in General Santos and Sox
Agricultural Training Institute Central Office
ATI Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman
Quezon City 1100 Philippines
Trunkline: (63-2) 9298541 to 49
Fax no. (63-2) 9209792
WOw ang ganda ng garden nila miss marj ang luwang ang aliwas tignan sarap magtanim.
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