We made a brief stopover at the Fresh Start Organic Farm in Silay City near Bacolod. I spent this time just going around and playing with my camera while expanding my plant knowledge =) After that, we headed over to the Fresh Start Organic & Natural Store at the Central Citywalk in Robinsons Bacolod for some organic Artisan Piaya and bruschetta. Fresh Start is owned by Mr. Uy's family (second generation) - check out our stay at May's Organic Garden and our RU Foundry intro ;)
The farm was around 25 minutes by car from Mr. Penalosa's farm in Victoria's City, Negros Occidental.
They're into vermiculture and they sell organic fertilizers and many more aside from produce.
They plant highly valued crops and I was told that they supply Robinsons for organic veggies.
Green House hihi =)
I asked about the material they use for the ground because it was softer to walk on than what I was used to seeing in farms. They said ipa (rice hull) so that it's not muddy =)
This was my first time to see a tea tree (from which the tea tree oil is extracted, very expensive they said) =)
Look at what they did to the bottles ;)
I'm always attracted to basil haha.
Workers in the field =)
Sunflowers!
If I'm not mistaken, these are kamote leaves! While shooting then, I thought of maple leaves =D
Aloe Vera or Cacti?
Potted seedlings for sale...
30 minutes more and we're already in Robinsons Bacolod.
The store has the final products from the farmers they support. I think it's great that they buy produce from the farmers at a fair price then make them into higher value goods before they pack them.
I saw the insect repellant they gave us here - made of citronella and lemongrass =)
I was looking at the menu and the prices seemed affordable enough (unlike the super exorbitant prices here in Manila) for people who are looking to eat something organic instead of usual fast food in the mall.
I had a mini Piaya (popular in Bacolod) and yumyum bruschetta =D
I didn't see the bignay-filled piaya there... Next time haha.
Farm Details:
Ramon Uy and Francine Uy
Hacienda Maquina, Brgy. Rizal, 6100 Silay City, Negros Occidental
(034)4411490 - Office
freshstartorganic@yahoo.com
Store Details:
Fresh Start Organic and Natural Store
Robinsons Place, Central Citywalk, Mandalagan,
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
(034)4410814
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).
