Our weekend visit to the University of the Philippines Los Banos to attend an activity at the Boy Scouts Campsite gave us a reason to finally drop-by the Herb Republic Restaurant for lunch. The heavy traffic (it took us 3 hours to get to Los Banos from Cavite) did not dampen our moods. It was already past 12 when we got there. The place was a oasis considering the searing heat of the midday sun.

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Green is definitely in. But do most of us really understand what green is and what it represents? Sadly, there are still those who have so many misconceptions that sometimes border on the hilarious.

Take this as an example. A friend (Jenny Bonto of Green Babes*) who is a very engaging speaker/writer/artist/entrepreneur related some rather awkward encounters with customers while selling “green” chicken in tiangges (bazaars). The most common would be “kulay green ba ang chicken? patingin nga…“  (is the chicken green, let me see).  – as if they were really expecting Incredible Hulkish-chickens inside the coolers only to be disappointed to see “typical” dressed chicken. Others would ask:   eh bakit daw mahal??? pareho naman ng timbang.? (why is it more expensive? it weighs the same as ordinary chicken?). To which she would patiently explain that ordinary chicken is TINIMBANG KA NGUNIT KULANG (loosely translated as “you were weighed but found lacking”) in protein.. antioxidants.. sobra ng (too much of) hormones.

They are called “GREEN” chicken because they “are raised outside on pasture rather than in crowded poultry houses. They have constant access to a natural diet and enjoy plenty of fresh air and sunshine. It does not use artificial growth promotants; does not feed meat or bone meal; and does not use antibiotics”.

Sometimes it frustrates her realizing that it is indeed hard to sell the truth (mahirap magbenta ng katotohanan!). Stories like these  made me realize that we still have a long way to go in educating most of the consumers. We must keep on patiently pushing though. If it is any consolation,  some corporations are now actively helping spread the sensibility of truly living the “green” way of life.

If you have a choice, would you rather have “green” chicken for your family knowing that it is safer? Or you’d rather go for the usual factory-raised, hormone-pumped and antibiotic-injected chicken we have grown accustomed to? You decide.

*Green Babes is a group of women entrepreneurs who are into the green advocacy. They are marketing/selling organically/naturally produced items. These women participate in various small bazaars to bring these products closer to the consumers. They will be at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center (Filinvest, Alabang) bazaar on May 3-6, 2010.

Jenny Bonto gets the “green” chicken from the Herb Republic at Los Banos, Laguna. She told me that Herb Republic is already selling “green” pork.

Note: The green chicken glassware image was lifted from www.allaboutnature.org

open source video, online video platform, video solution Most people use herbs to give food a bit of extra taste and flavour, but in this episode, ethnobotanist James Wong explores their more traditional use in helping treat a range of minor everyday ailments, from cold sores and insect bites to bad breath. Sufferers try them out to see if these natural remedies help relieve their symptoms.

James also uses peppermint to whip up a fragrant homemade body scrub.

The comics starts with questions to serve as GUIDE TO CONSCIENTIOUS FARMING:

What happens to the land?
What happens to the food it produces?
What happens to the people who eat it?
What will eventually happen to the communities?

The publication explains to farmers the Difference Between Chemical and Organic Farming, Crop Differences Between Chemical Farming and Organic Farming, Health and Social Differences, Economic Differences and the Myths and Realities of Organic Farming. This comics also serves as an educational material to promote the benefits of organic farming compared to the synthetic chemical-based farming. The publication was supported by the Australian Government (AusAID) and the Foundation for Sustainable Society Inc.

Click on Cover Page to download.

open source video, online video platform, video solution Third episode of the six-part series exploring plant-based natural remedies and beauty treatments.

Ethnobotanist James Wong focuses on trees. His recipes for natural tree remedies include a soothing gel for varicose veins made from conkers, a fragrant cologne made from pine, a lotion to tackle head lice and a traditional tea which could help improve memory function.

An unplanned weekend trip to Lipa, Batangas to see a friend provided us an opportunity to visit the often talked about Casa Rap Restaurant in San Jose (a neighboring town of Lipa). The restaurant cum garden can be reached by exiting Lipa (Tambo) exit from the Star Expressway and turning left after the toll booth going to San Jose town direction. Just go straight until the kilometer marker (km 90/ SJ 0). The place is on the right side.

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In the second episode of this six-part series exploring plant-based natural remedies and beauty treatments, ethnobotanist James Wong turns the spotlight on flowers.

He reveals the historical use of marigolds, violas and elderflowers as ways to help relieve the symptoms of everyday ailments such as sore throats, acne and eczema. Sufferers of each of these, who are keen to find a natural solution to their health problems, try out James’s remedies.

I got hold of this publication “Likas-Kaya at Organikong Pagsasaka ng Palay” (Sustainable and Organic Rice Agriculture) by University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) Professor Oscar B. Zamora and his team. The Go-Organic! Philippines Movement and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) helped launch the manual.

I think the manual is a very authoritative reference for farmers who want to venture into sustainable and organic rice production. The book is written in Filipino.

Ma Ceres P. Doyo wrote about it on her column the Human Face in the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated May 21, 2009. The title of the article is “Human Face : Free book on sustainable rice agriculture”. She wrote a general summary of what the manual is about.

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Our trip to the University of the Philippines Los Banos  (UPLB) to attend the Centennial Celebrations gave a me a chance to meet two ladies who are into organic products. Melda Pantua of Herb Republic (which I wrote about in “A Herb Republic Rises”) and Adelfa M. Nuestro of Delfa’s Organic Products. Aling Delfa sells a variety of organic products including instant ginger tea (a personal favorite), peanut butter (creamy and chunky varieties), Tsokolate Alfonso (tablea de cacao), cafe barako/ coffee alamid, Luyang Dilaw Tea (turmeric), assorted pastillas, ube/ coco/ coco-pili / pineapple jams and black ground pepper.

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