Farm Log No. 1

After trips to two inspiring farms, Joy and Kerry’s in Bulacan and Toby and Marissa’s in La Union, I finally made my way to Calatagan last Saturday with my Mom, maximizing the use of the last days my boys are still in China.  

To jump start this year-long hiatus from active involvement in the land, my last project being the mobile beach house, Ben a local contractor introduced me to some people.  First we met Resty, the prawn farm technician from another barangay to see what can be done with our unused fishpond.  Second, we went to a dealer of trees coming from Talisay.  Third, we checked out some vegetable farms on the other side of the mountain passing through some gorgeous views of Balayan Bay.

I returned to my Mom’s farm with ideas ready to be put into action.

This is the initial list of trees we’d like to plant: narra, acacia, caballero, lauan, molave, kakawate, eucalyptus, mahogany, gmelina, yakal, kamagong, anahaw, santol, langka, suha, calamansi, duhat, kasoy, guyabano, bayabas, rambutan, mangosteen, kaimito, sineguelas, chico, sampaloc, atis, yellowbell, gumamela, kupang, passion fruit, bignay, pili, antipolo, apitong, papaya, aratilis, banana, lemon, cacao, flame tree, rubber tree, balete, calachuchi, kaimito, banaba, agoho, lumbang, tanguile, bagtikan, sampaloc, balimbing, kamias, bignay, bagras, champaca, malunggay, dayap, ad infinitum, to be continued, etc.

This is the draft plan that I intend to show Toby and ask for his advice and suggestions:

January

1. Tree nursery – collect seedlings from the farm and nearby areas
2. Start composting to make our own fertilizer (continuous throughout the year)
3. Charcoal making (continuous throughout the year)
4. Repair and revival of fishpond – experiment first with tilapia and bangus
5. Study what are the good vegetables to plant – decide on 3 to 5 types of vegetables to plant
6. Make a plan for the trees for lumber area – what trees and which areas
7. Prepare for the harvesting of mangoes

 February

1. Harvest and sell the mangoes
2. Study prawn farming
3. Study vermicomposting and using enzymes to make fertilizer

 March

1. Continue harvest and selling of mangoes
2. Introduce vermicomposting and use enzymes to make fertilizer
3. Study raising goats and free range organic chicken
4. Prepare the designated area for planting vegetables

 April - May

1. If prawn farming is viable to get into and there is already electricity, prepare the ponds for prawn farming
2. Prepare the designated areas for tree planting
3. Prepare area for raising goats and free range organic chicken
4. Plant the vegetables

 June

1.  Plant the collected tree seedlings at the start of the rainy season