Be Practical! Fight inflation at home: Convert your backyard or idle lot into a food garden. (Part 9)

Convert your backyard or idle lot into a food garden

The garden supplies food for the family and immediate community. It provides a healthy environment for growing up and for spending the golden years of life.  It is a workshop, a place to learn, enjoy, reflect and meditate with nature.   

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Golden Homesite Plan was submitted by Mr Ed Nanquil to Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School on Air) as an assignment.  Its vivid presentation touches six (6) interrelated lessons, namely:

 

1. Homesite 1000 sq m area or equivalent to 1 mu, average farm size in China extensively cultivated to sustain more than the needs of the family, but for the market as well. Recommended particularly for those preparing to retire, and retirees, thus the name - Golden Homesite. 

2. Integration - horizontal (crops by season spread year round), and vertical (multi-storey cropping, thus a 1000 sq m area is equivalent to 2000 up to 5000 sq m effective area, depending on the "layers" of crops raised at a given time. Depends greatly on multiple cropping and crop rotation technology, and non-cash inputs.  Tri-commodity approach (crops, animals and fish) .

3. Self-sufficiency target in food of farm products (fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry and livestock), as well as garden products (flowers and herbals). Model applies to both urban and rural setting. 

4. Agro-ecology - unity and harmony of farming and environmental conservation,  underlying principle of sustainable productivity. Include recycling (composting), natural farming (least use of chemical-based input, and non-GMO plants and animals), optimum, instead of maximum utilization of the land, thus allowing it to fallow or rest.  

5. Bahay Kubo concept functionally modified to meet present conditions. Reliance on local resources (bamboo, nipa, coco lumber), homesite and house design (trees as windbreak and shade, pond cools the surroundings, natural ventilation).  Homesite is also a wildlife sanctuary, helps restore threatened and endangered species of plants, birds, others. 

6. Strengthen family bond, restrains migration to the city, upholds Filipino dignity and promotes indigenous culture. The homesite provides a healthy environment for growing up and for spending the golden years of life, it is a workshop, a place to learn, enjoy, reflect and meditate.   

Acknowledgement: Mr Ed Nanquil. (Sorry for misspelled name in earlier publication.)   More power to you, Ed!

Bahay Kubo is an enduring symbol of food self-sufficiency,

 indigenous biodiversity, simplicity and quaintness of living and natural beauty.

Bahay Kubo, an old painting by the author

                                     

Bahay Kubo (My Nipa Hut) is one of the most loved traditional songs. All kids in my generation learned it by heart in the elementary. Not so many kids today are familiar with it. It is good to rediscover the beauty and lesson of the song.

Bahay kubo, hahit munti, ang halaman doon ay sari-sari. Singkamas at talong, sigidillas at mani, sitao, batao, patani. Kondol, patola, upo, kalabasa, at sa ka mayroon pa, labanos, mustasa. Sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya, at ang paligidligid ay linga.

These are main features of the song.

· There are eighteen (18) plants, which are indigenous, mostly native varieties. (biodiversity)

· Many of the plants have medicinal values and are effective home remedies for common ailments (luya, sibuyas, bawang).

· The four kinds of vegetables are represented: leafy (mustasa), fruit (kamatis, talong, kalabasa), root (labanos, singkamas), seed (linga, patani, mani).

· Spices and condiments are included in the list (linga, luya, bawang)

· The plants have different planting and harvesting schedules, thus enhancing whole year round supply of vegetables, and the use of resources and family labor.

· The plants have different growing types or habits which means they occupy specific places and have space allocations. (viny, herb, bush).

· Nutrition-wise they provide the basic requirements for growing up and good health.

· The ambiance projected by the scene is green, tranquil, clean, shady and cool (environment-friendly).

· The garden exudes a feeling of self-sufficiency and offers a potential for livelihood.

· Simplicity is the key to a contented life (with least energy consumption, and amenities).

· Such a scene expands the imagination to include a backyard fishpond, chicken coop, orchard trees and ornamental plants, among others – all of these contribute to the enrichment of the Bahay Kubo, without modifying its basic concept and structure.

Folk wisdom tells us how good it is to live simply and naturally, eat properly, stay young, healthy and active, save and earn money, depend less on energy and imported goods, and enjoy being at home with the family. Bahay Kubo takes us closer to nature, to appreciate our culture, and leads us to the inner calling for peace, quiet and joy.

Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) Dr Abe V Rotor and Ms Melly C Tenorio 738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday