PinoyEcoFarmer

I finally reached the river below the property on our third month. Summoning the remaining strength of my gimpy knees, I dared tread the narrow and perilous way down. Accompanied by our farmhelp and a local who knows the place well, I made my way  cautiously along the slippery and very steep slopes of the riverside. One false move would have meant a freefall. In fact I almost fell when a branch I was holding on broke but I quickly regained my balance. The snaking path going below was made difficult by the constant raining the week before. The soil was soggy and the foliage were soaked with dew. I was thinking of abandoning the descent but the excitement got the better of me.

I was not disappointed though by the sight that greeted me. What I saw was simply enchanting. There is a mini waterfalls along the stretch flowing into a wide shallow portion all the way to another drop downstream.  The green moss and ferns accent the sides of the river as if they were soft blanket coverings. From the looks of it, the locals did not go to this part often which somehow preserved the environment. There were some refuse that have been swept by the currents but otherwise the river was pristine. I would like to think so anyway. A spring also gushes out from the wall of the ravine.   We hit a valuable resource that we can surely use in our farm.

September weekends were a mix of more clearing, planting and relaxation. We planted some good planting materials that we got from different nurseries including a langka (jackfruit) from EVIARC in Leyte. They claim to have the best variety here in the Philippines. The budded calamansi seedlings were also planted in between the coconuts. Some lansones, pomelo and mangosteen that Hilda brough home from her Davao trip were also planted on the sloping areas.  We took advantage of the rainy weather which made it ideal for field planting.

We had the usual simple barbecue lunch every time we were in the farm. My kids have learned to appreciate the farm even with just the basic necessities available to us. It was the closest they have come in experiencing the simple joys that nature brings. It does remind me of what I had as a kid growing in the province. It was also the first time my son had a slingshot and he kept himself busy practicing whenever he was there.

Some of the vegetables (labanos, kangkong, sitaw) that we planted in plots have sprouted and were beginning to grow. Not as well as we expected but it was well worth a try so we were happy to see them. We also brought three chicken (1 rooster and two hens) as our initial set of poultry in the farm. A vermibed has been built as well from lumber wood scraps for our composting worms.