Around the World with Felicidad Orchard & Garden Organics Farm - Agri Tourism and Innovations in GenSan!

I'd like to take you on a virtual farm tour of Felicidad Orchard & Garden Organics Farm in Gensan! Captain James Reamon has a wealth of experiences in aviation (former commercial pilot), technological inventions (inventor and winner of numerous awards here and abroad for 6 products) and farming (organic) so if you have time to spare, I suggest you spend a few days here to immerse yourself in agriculture and to chillax at the same time =) This farm, not only is a pioneer of vermiculture in Mindanao, it is also the first to be accredited as a Farm Tourism Site by the Department of Tourism in Soccsksargen (SOX Region 12) and a School for Practical Agriculture accredited by the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Reamon is also the president of the SOX Farm Tourism Association! When you go here, you'll see and hear technology-based natural farming - science in convergence with agriculture and tourism! Imagine the DOST, DA and DOT all working together with farmers living in a region filled with culture, bountiful harvest of fruits and natural resources ;)

How to Make Vermicast, Simple Vermicomposting Tips, Itik Pinas Housing and Planting Rice at Felicidad Organic Farm in Mindanao

Let’s learn how to make vermicast fresh off African night crawlers from the pioneer of vermiculture in Mindanao! Captain James Reamon was kind enough to do a demo for us at his ATI-accredited School for Practical Agriculture - the Felicidad Orchard and Garden Organics in GenSan. He also showed us his new project that will make easier feeding of Itik Pinas ducks. And, we were in for a surprise when he let us experience planting black rice first hand in his paddies! No hard work, no dinner! Hahaha.

Farm Tourism: GerNil's Organic Farm in Koronadal City, South Cotabato

I wish we had more time to spend at GerNil's Farm for this year's 10th Organic Agriculture Trip with ATI (Agricultural Training Institute). Gawad Saka Awardee Mr. Gerardo "Boy" Cordero is a wonderful host and conversationalist perhaps due to his wealth of experiences in organic farming. His farm is an accredited School for Practical Agriculture under ATI-RTC XII in SOCCSKSARGEN (SOX). We were here in SOX for 4 days to learn about more agricultural practices and farm tourism activities straight from the farmers. I highly recommend passing by this farm to eat, walk around and let Mr. Cordero impart some of his learnings, experiments and wisdom, especially if you have that dream to plant someday even in an urban setting like Manila! He loves coconuts, mangosteen, cacao, palay, isdaan, pigs and other farm animals. But first, let me tell you about the food there! Hehe.

Sebul Organic Farm in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

I returned to the Land of Dreamweavers this week in Mindanao. Recently, Lake Sebu and the indigenous people of South Cotabato the Tboli was put in the spotlight again after Ms. Universe Catriona Gray's promotional video but still, people are apprehensive to go there. I remember being a novice blogger in 2011, I bravely went to Davao first then went back to GenSan for The Soccsksargen Experience Tour. We went to Gensan, South Cotabato and I even hopped on a bike to Sarangani. That time, it was always fish, as the highlights were the the tuna festival, the salmon tour and the fish port tour. This time around, I came back for the 10th season of the Organic Agriculture experience hosted by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) of the Philippine Department of Agriculture! These experiences slowly endear me to this often feared southern part of the Philippines. We specifically went to SOX or SOCCSKSARGEN, which is part of Region 12 and comprises of South Cotabato, (North) Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos or Gensan. The region is rich in tradition, cultural assets, natural resources and farmers who are very passionate about organic farming like Mr. William Enriquez Sy and Ms. Mayette Sy of Sebul Farm in Lake Sebu! By visiting ATI-accredited organic farms, you get to see different farming methods and even get lots of tips and best practices from the owners ;)

Some of you may not know yet but the ATI is a very important branch of the Department of Agriculture. They reach out to farmers and equip them with technical know-how (farming, skills, marketing and even communication) so that these farmers may help out other struggling farmers in their community. ATI also helps in identifying and accrediting outstanding farms to Learning Sites, Extension Service Providers, Schools for Practical Agriculture and Farm Tourism Sites so that other people can go there and learn first hand. Like me, you can also tour around the Philippines and visit organic farms (read all the way to know how, check out my label Organic Journey to see where I've been since 2012)! Wouldn't you want to have this view?

Overnight Itinerary at the GK Enchanted Farm in Bulacan - a Farm Village University and a Disneyland for Social Tourism

If you're looking for a farm activity near Manila, why don't you head on over to the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan? Here's a sample overnight itinerary that includes a mix of experiences involving white cheese, chocolates, eggs, plushies, farm animals, veggies, bamboo, locally produced products and many more. The Social Business Summit will be held there on October 2 to 4 if you're interested =)

Meeting Pinoy Social Entrepreneurs at the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Bulacan - a Silicon Valley for Social Entrepreneurship in the Philippines!

What do you do on your weekends? For some of us, we cherish this moment away from work and spend it on a getaway. For me, it is usually a day for blogging and more things to be done because I love scheduling my solo trips on weekdays ;) These young social entrepreneurs at the GK Enchanted Farm spend their days working on their dream projects and being with the community they now consider as family. 

It was a great overnight experience in a sense (except for the lodging...but you can just do a day tour) because I got to meet some of them (and we're more or less in the same age group) and they chose a career path that they are passionate about like me.

Farm near Manila Less Than 2 Hours Away - Activities at the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Bulacan! - Part 2 of 2

These were the activities I had fun doing on our second day at the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan. This is already Part 2 so I suggest you read Part 1 first of my favorite spots at this Gawad Kalinga Farm Village University ;)

My Favorite Places and Things to Do at the GK Enchanted Farm Village University in Angat, Bulacan! - Part 1 of 2

I believe that when you're silent and you just take in what's around you, the place will speak for itself and unravel its uniqueness to you at its own time. I cherish these moments and have several conversations with myself while there's a tour going on ;) Let me take you through my favorite spots at the GK Enchanted Farm in Bulacan before I go into what this farm village university is all about. =) Given the chance and more time here, I would guiltlessly revisit these places and do the same things at my own pace. I've decided to make this into two posts and you can read Part 2 of my Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm picks in this link ;)

Organic Detox Recipe Suited to Philippines from Dr. Albert Jo of Negros Occidental - Some Realizations and Lessons I Learned

As I may have hinted on my Facebook page, I am now on an Organic Detox Journey following my most recent trip with the Agricultural Training Institute of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (the same agency who showed me the way to organic agriculture in Costales Farms, La Trinidad and Sagada). The years of traveling and blogging has taken a toll me, physically and emotionally on some days, and going on food trips, events, binging moments & having junk food readily available naturally took me to an alarming weight gain. Just compare my old blog photos and the newest ones haha. Well, Today is my last day of the detox and I'd like to share with you some of my experiences and thoughts about the past 4 days.

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).

 

Organic Farm for Medicinal Herbs Philippines - The Garden of Life in La Trinidad, Benguet!

Our last farm stop in La Trinidad, Benguet is owned by Mr. Felix Tan - once a Manileño with a Commerce background (he moved to Benguet) and still a practitioner of alternative medicine. This is one of the farms that adopted the methods of Mr. Pat Acosta's The Master's Garden. Mr. Tan trained with him and converted his idle land to a very prosperous organic farm called Garden of Life. He was able to replicate the process and of course, started to plant herbs and medicinal plants according to his own profession and interest :) I told you each farm we visited has its own charm! ;)

Lunch and Organic Farm Tour at The Master's Garden in La Trinidad, Benguet!

Honestly, lunch at The Master's Garden was unusual haha. It wasn't anything like our organic retreat at Costales Nature Farms with the ATI the year before. There was beef, pasta and fish along with an unthinkable mix of veggies and herbs from the drink to soup to main course to dessert. After lunch, we were shown the awesome all organic vegetable terraces (which a family of four can easily handle and earns them quite enough to send all their children to college). I was so impressed with their healthy plants and superb organizing (how they made the terraces and arranged the farm) skills.

Organic Farming Made Easy & Organized, Popular Agri Myths Debunked at The Master's Garden, Benguet

Let's continue the organic farm journey! We went to The Master's Garden in La Trinidad after the Lily of the Valley Organic Farm (LOV, around 20 minutes by van). Here we learned that a healthy organic garden starts with the perfect farmer's compost. This farm is different from the LOV because it uses a very small piece of land, "micro-eco farm", yet the owner Mr. Pat Acosta was able to maximize it to support his family. So if you have thoughts on wanting to make an organic farm/garden and your stop is that your land is not very big or you think organic farming is laborious and costly or you don't know where to start, this may be the farm and post for you =D Personally, I liked that everything was explained in basic terms and that Mr. Acosta was a professor at UP so he was able to express himself and explain more about his thoughts on OA (organic agri) to us.

My Victory Liner First Class Deluxe Experience to Baguio, Cafe by the Ruins Stopover and the Road to the Benguet State University in La Trinidad, ATI-CAR Dormitory & Canteen

I was invited once again for an Organic Agriculture (OA) tour experience this year and this time, I made my way to the north on my own! It was also my first time to try the Victory Liner First Class (Deluxe) going to Baguio. I'm so excited to share about this because it was super worth it to add-on just a little to the regular fare. hehe. Because my tour mates were still in Manila, I managed to sqeeze in a little "me time" in Baguio at Cafe by the Ruins while staying on route to get to the Benguet State University - where our host the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI-CAR) of the Department of Agriculture is based and where we were supposed to stay for the night.