Organic Coffee Farm Tour with Mr. Osenio Lay-os in Sagada

When I think of Sagada before, I see me hanging for my life "spelunking" in Sumaguing Cave haha. Today, thanks to this OA (organic agri) experience with the ATI-CAR of the Philippine Department of Agriculture, I think of cold days sipping-all-you-can organic coffee and fun times walking or caving. We were given the chance to go to the organic highlands coffee farm of Mr. Osenio Lay-os - another Magsasakang Siyentista (farmer scientist, a recognition for outstanding Filipino farmers who shared successful application of science and technology based on indigenous technologies in their municipalities) awardee (2011).

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This was our first introduction to Sagada haha. Organic Sagada coffee at the Office of the Mayor. 

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There's something about the brown sugar too..

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They shared the cooperative space with us for lunch. Sagada coffee farmers are part of a cooperative and have access to the market and grinders through this organized group.

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They have a small structure near the Sagada Weaving store where they do all the coffee bean processing.

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They let us in there and made lunch for us.. :)

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This is the machinery they use as a group to grind and pack what is collectively known as organic Sagada coffee!

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This is a Sagada specialty called Pinikpikan. That's soup with smoked pork like bacon that will leave a smell and strong flavor in your mouth, chicken and sayote that balances it all.

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It was a short ride from there (~20 minutes by car) to Mr. Osenio Lay-os' farm. I don't think they put a name for their farm. It's just collectively sold as Sagada coffee for all the farmers.

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There are already lots of lush coffee trees full of fruit at the entrance of his farm. I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to organic coffee farming :D

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The variety they have here is Arabica (at least I know the taste of one variety now haha).

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We went down a narrow path for more!

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I saw these and thought of Christmas hihi.

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These will turn red when they are ripe.

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They call these Highland Coffee (well because they can only grow at a certain altitude like Sagada).

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I suggest you bring boots or rubber shoes or Mojo slippers (not slippery) if you plan to visit a farm like this.

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The place was really filled with tall coffee trees and I was at the back so I didn't get to hear more cool stuff about coffee.. Sorry about that. 

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Small coffee trees are also potted before transplanting to open field.

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Some mountain tea leaves are also planted in his property. It sells for around P10 a pack in the market and my dad actually told me I should have bought some because they were good (you can order Mountain Milk Tea in fact in some of the Sagada restaurants).

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We went down deeper his farm to check out other coffee trees.

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This is like the nursery

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and the mature ones can grow as taller than I am haha. If I remember correctly, he said they only harvest coffee once a year. He planted some Tipica Arabica (the mother of all Arabica coffee) and this is his favorite of them all!

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We found these huge calamansi / Philippine lemons that you can eat straight, not as sour 

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and are super good with the pansit they served back at the cooperative warehouse ;)

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Here's Mr. Lay-os' compost! Again, very low cost because they don't have to purchase chemicals or pesticides.

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I loved the last part because we were able to experience more of Mr. Lay-os' organic farm by eating his produce haha. Somebody bought Sagada corn in the market and said it's good (the sticky and starchy kind, less than P15). 

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We hang out around Mr. Lay-os' house and found some passionfruit, peanuts and pear!

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The violets are passionfruit. The red one is Japanese tomato!

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The Japanese tomato is for salads.

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Have you ever had passionfruit? I didn't even know we can grow it here..

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Then there's the Sagada pear which tastes a bit sour than I'm used to. The texture is also different.

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I was a big fan of the boiled mani (peanut) here! They're plump and full and red! Super yummy!!! I kept on coming back for more.. O_O

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Thank you for showing us your farm, Mr. & Mrs. Lay-os! =) It's really obvious from the fruits of your farm that going organic makes a difference!

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Mr. Osenio Lay-os
Address: Banga-an, Sagada Mountain Province
0907-4446139

To visit the different ATI-assisted projects (Organic Farming Learning Sites), you can drop by or ask the ATI Regional Training Center nearest you or inquire through:
Call -
982AGRI (982-2474) for Metro Manila calls
1-800-10-982AGRI (1-800-10-9822474) for provincial toll-free calls using PLDT landlines
Text -
For Smart and Talk & Text Subscribers, send a message to 391-DA (391-32). 
For non-Smart Subscribers, send a message to 0920-946AGRI (0920-9462474).











Check our my Sagada series: