A taste of alternative living in the UK

I woke up feeling the cold and smelling a hint of smoke from the yurt’s wood stove. I was proud of myself for being able to make the fire the previous night which, mind you, is not as easy as it seems. It was still dark but I decided to get out of bed and embrace the stillness of the morning as I await the sunrise.

I prayed for a sunny day, as everyone does, while preparing my usual breakfast of coffee and porridge. The day then came alive with farm activities which mostly consisted of harvesting potatoes, carrots, squash (of different varieties), beet root, swede, and leeks among others. These then were prepared for the CSA (community supported agriculture) members. On other days, we do some weeding, propagating, transplanting, and seed-saving. Sometimes, I’d be on animal care duty ensuring that the pigs, chickens, and ducks are fed. There was a couple of days where I helped out with wood work, installing roof planks for a round house, a communal and activity area. I was totally out of my element but I enjoyed learning how to use power tools, and how to saw and hammer and all that.

This has been my routine when I spent a month in the Stanford Hall CSA farm; living off the land, off-grid, in what could be considered an alternative lifestyle. I’ve been interested in the whole food system and is involved in food-related advocacy initiatives back in the Philippines. One of the modules I was enrolled in for my master’s was Globalized Agriculture and Food Systems. We’ve also been talking about community living in my Sustainable Consumption class. So it was interesting to experience these first hand thanks to Workaway, a platform for cultural exchange, working holidays, and volunteering.

Being in nature was one of the things I really enjoyed in the farm. Somebody said people who usually come here are lost souls looking for healing and answers. I suppose I was seeking to reconnect with the wisdom of the land. Eating healthy food, fresh from the farm, prepared by individuals with their own take on different dishes was another perk of living here. But I especially cherished the deep connections I was able to make with people I met. It helps that we have shared values and a genuine concern for the planet and humankind. We talked about climate change, capitalism, political unrest, and all the troubles of the world. This alternative way of living is definitely a path towards regeneration and climate action but I recognize that this kind of life is not for everyone. Still, it gives me hope to learn that we do have the capacity to challenge the status quo and create a future we want centered around sustainability, wellbeing, kindness, and love. A future I definitely would want to be a part of.

COP26 is officially starting today and I fear that it will simply be all talk and no result. I believe global cooperation and all sectors working together are crucial in solving climate change. Achieving that is immensely challenging, but it is possible. If only we realize early enough to go back to basics, learn from the wisdom of the land, uphold social justice, and perhaps, give alternative living a try.

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IFOAM-Asia Organic Youth Forum: Our Journey through Mindanao

Mindanao is tainted with a not so ideal reputation due to incidences of war and terrorism. A travel ban in the region is also in effect for foreigners. But this did not stop me together with 20 other advocates of the organic movement to travel around Mindanao and learn how organic agriculture is practiced there.

We represented our respective countries namely China, Taiwan, India, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Bhutan, Indonesia, Philippines, Argentina, and the UK to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)-Asia Organic Youth Forum which is part of the 3^rd Organic Asia Congress.

The pre-forum activities included field trips where we got to see firsthand the efforts being done by individuals, organizations, and local government units (LGU) in promoting the organic movement. One impressive initiative is the “From Arms to Farms” project of Mayor Rommel C. Arnado which transformed the Municipality of Kauswagan from a depressed ghost town and war zone to what it is now, a barometer of peace. A Bogota Peace Prize and Galing Pook awardee, the project trains rebel returnees to become organic farmers which Mayor Arnado believes addresses hunger, poverty, and the issue of land grabbing considered as the root causes of violence in the area.

Another simple yet impactful project is the setting up of a farmer’s market in Cagayan de Oro led by Governor Bamby Emano of the Province of Misamis Oriental. Farmers can sell their naturally grown produce every Friday at the market without paying any fee. The LGU also provides transportation support.

The farms and the organic practitioners we met were likewise very inspiring. Alomah’s Nature Farm in Dahilayan, Bukidnon managed by the couple Benjohn and Grace Mahistrado showcases beautifully landscaped vegetable gardens. They have mastered diversifying and value-adding as they sell vegetable salad, vinaigrette dressing, and herb tea on top of turning their farm into a learning site and a tourist destination.

A visit to the biodynamic family farm of Vic Tagupa located at Dumarait, Balingasag gave us a glimpse of a philosophical and spiritual approach to organic farming. Considered as a model of a climate-resilient farm, the 1.44-hectare land is surrounded by a perimeter buffer dike planted with nitrogen-fixing trees, banana, and fruit trees which serve as defense against flooding and contamination from synthetic fertilizers being applied in nearby farms.

In the Municipality of Talisayan, Maristella Rallos wants to make farming sexy. Her passion towards nature motivated her to start organic farming which in two years’ time has turned the bare land into what she calls now as VS Project, a space where she gets to try out good practices in farming.

School gardens in Bislig City was a delight to see especially knowing how children are exposed to organic agriculture at an early age. Interestingly, a lot of the youth from the cities and municipalities we’ve been to are motivated to practice farming the organic way.

During the forum proper, we learned about best practices and experiences of young farmers, advocates, and organic pioneers. We also had the chance to interact with the local youth of Bislig.

The whole experience has been wonderful. I gained so much insights and is encouraged by all the brilliant stories and sharing. All I have is gratitude for the heartwarming hospitality of the LGUs, the hard work demonstrated by the organizers, and the friendship gained from like-minded people.

Cheers to a bright future for the organic movement in the country and in Asia!

Musings on the ALGOA Organic Foundation Course

With people becoming more concerned of the state of the environment, who are also clamoring for safe and healthy food, the organic movement is slowly gaining attraction worldwide.

I got to learn more about the movement when I participated in the 2018 Asian Local Governments for Organic Agriculture (ALGOA) Organic Foundation Course. ALGOA is a project initiated by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)- Asia.

This year, there were 27 participants from 12 countries namely Korea, India, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Bhutan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

The course participants with the LGU officials of Goesan  County (Photo from IFOAM-Asia).

Goesan County in Chungbuk Province, Korea was the perfect place to have the training program with its natural and beautiful environment. It is one of the birthplaces of organic farming in Korea. It is almost isolated that not so many Koreans themselves know of the place but it turns out that this could be an advantage for the preservation of nature and for organic agriculture to thrive.

Goesan County, Chungbuk Province, Korea

During the Welcome Ceremony, the Mayor of Goesan said that he had three presents for us – the fresh air, organic food, and sticky corn. We, the participants gladly enjoyed these three.

Organic agriculture, as defined by IFOAM, is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. In its core are the principles of health, ecology, fairness, and care. These principles were evident when we talked to local farmers, visited farms, and went to Hansalim, a cooperative established by both producers and consumers. One farmer we talked to said that they provide safe and healthy food for consumers and in turn, the consumers ensure that the producers can continue to make a living through farming. It was truly inspiring to see this sense of community built on mutual trust. It was also equally inspiring to meet young farmers. Young people would not normally choose to go into farming and prefer to work in offices in the city but it’s amazing how these individuals chose a road less traveled, so to speak.

During the training, we learned about JADAM organic farming (low cost agriculture); biodynamic farming (farming that follows the rhythms and cycles of nature); Organic Guarantee Systems; value chain; innovations; and marketing methods among others. Our minds were fed and our bodies, too – with organic produce that is local, fresh, and diverse.

Local, fresh, and diverse organic food.

To cap off the course, we attended the 4th ALGOA Summit, which brought together local governments and the private sector to discuss policies and ways to promote organic agriculture.

David Gould of IFOAM Organics International said that all of the Sustainable Development Goals can be linked to food. We must then realize the connections between healthy people, healthy food, and healthy farms. It’s still a long way to go for the organic movement to be truly embraced but through our collective efforts, we can work together towards a more sustainable future.

 

 

 

Tech for Agri, Tech for Good

Black Mirror showed us the scary, dark side of technology. But with SenseTech, a global mobilization initiative of MakeSense, the power of technology can be harnessed to achieve the sustainable development goals.

In the Philippines, the related event held on February 22, 2018 at Penbrothers Makati focused on sustainable agriculture. The speakers were Jim Cano of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) Philippines; Rodolfo Ramirez of 8layer Technologies; and Jericho Arellano and Ian Mia from the start-ups, LakbayAnihan and Lungtian, respectively.

The discussion highlighted some of the issues of the agriculture sector such as lack of government support, uninterested youth, and technology not being maximized due to limited internet connectivity. However, it was noted how SMS or text messaging in itself can already be a helpful tool in providing critical information. This access to relevant information paired with collaboration can magnify the positive impact of technology.

The Tech for Agri event also featured the special performance of artist Jean Paul Zialcita who uses unconventional musical instruments such as water container, goat horns, pieces of wood, and others.

MakeSense is a growing community that is mainly run by volunteers with about 22,000 members worldwide. They empower people to engage in projects and help social entrepreneurs solve concrete challenges to contribute to solutions for some of the biggest problems we face today.

 

You are what you eat

If you’re an environmentalist, it would be expected or assumed that you’re a vegetarian considering the fact that eating less meat helps the environment. The meat industry requires massive amount of land, food, energy, and water; in short, it has a huge carbon footprint. Add to that the issue of animal cruelty. So vegetarianism seems to be an ideal diet option.

You can also choose to be vegan (no animal byproducts), pescetarian (no meat but eats fish), or a flexitarian (occasional meat eater). People have different reasons for their diet whether it’s for the environment, health, or just a matter of preference. But choosing to be a vegetarian in the Philippines is a challenge where Filipinos are practically carnivores who love lechon (roasted pig), crispy pata (pork knuckle), bulalo (beef soup of shank with bone marrow), kare-kare (stewed oxtail with peanut sauce), and the list just goes on. Our idea of a vegetarian dish is vegetable with meat bits in it.

I haven’t been mindful of what I eat in the past but as I became immersed in sustainable consumption especially as a volunteer for the ecological agriculture campaign of Greenpeace, I began to make an effort in eating fresh, local, healthy food. I still eat fast food but I try to choose the “healthier” option. I also avoid softdrinks and junkfood.

Watching different documentaries on food made me realize how broken the food system is. Food, Inc. (2008) examined the inhumane and environmentally unsustainable food production in the US and the control of big corporations on our food. Super Size Me (2004) showed how a daily fast-food/McDonald’s diet can be detrimental to health. And there are more movies and documentaries revealing the truth behind our food.

We’ve heard news about how processed meat can cause cancer, the “pink slime” (meat-based product with ammonium hydroxide) being added to ground beef, chicken being pumped with growth hormones, and fruits and vegetables contaminated with cancer-causing pesticides.

Aside from food safety, food security is also being threatened due to climate change.

Where does that leave us? We’re encouraged to cook and grow our own food. And that may be difficult if you live in a big city where it’s all about fast and convenient way of doing things. However, there is a decline in fast food sales and a growing demand for organic and healthy food. Some farmers are now transitioning to organic or sustainable agriculture. And urban and container gardening is being promoted in schools and in communities.

Food safety and food security are complex issues. We have a broken food system and we can start fixing it by choosing and demanding for healthy, affordable food. As has been said, you are what you eat so don’t be fast, cheap, easy or fake.

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The Reaping

You reap what you sow. And reap we did as we harvested the rice we helped plant three months ago.

Taking an early morning bus trip from Manila to Capas, Tarlac, I got re-acquainted to the rice farm as my two feet plunged into the mud and started cutting rice stalks using a sickle. This didn’t entail much leg bending compared to our rice planting experience and I easily got into the grab-cut-toss rhythm.

The overly bright sun was up so sweat trickled down my forehead the whole time. I didn’t mind the itchy scratch of the plant as I gained some “battle scars.” Frogs, grasshoppers, and snails were everywhere as I trudged through the cool mud. I quietly, with serious concentration, I might add, worked on five lines or so of rice stalks. It took me around an hour to complete that. Typically, the 200-square meter area would be harvested by a farmer for two hours.

We then had to haul the harvested rice stalks, dry them up, and remove the grains from the stalks. These later on would still have to undergo the de-hulling process before they can be ready for cooking.

I asked how much rice we would be able to produce and was a bit surprised to learn that it’s just a cavan or roughly 60 kilos which would cost about P1,600. All that time, work, effort, and sweat for that amount of money!

Bawat butil ay mahalaga (Every grain is important). This line resonates with me even more as I got to see the behind-the-scenes of rice production. In a culture of excess such as ours where food is taken for granted and is thrown away or wasted, I wish everyone would be required to grow their own food so we could realize how difficult it is.

In a culture of excess such as ours where food is taken for granted and is thrown away or wasted, I wish everyone would be required to grow their own food so we could realize how difficult it is.

The rice harvest farm trip organized by Good Food Community was participated in by more than 20 individuals. It was refreshing to see kids joining in the fun.

After the day’s hard work, we rewarded ourselves with a boodle fight style lunch of rice, fish, and fresh organic vegetables. Rice couldn’t be tastier at that time. And of course, there was no rice or food wasted at all.

The Farm Trip participants.

Photos by Marvin Almonte

Of planting rice and the broken food system

Since childhood, we’ve been hearing the folk song, “Magtanim ay di biro” roughly translated as planting rice is not a joke and I was able to confirm this when I joined a farm trip last weekend at Capas, Tarlac.

The farm trip is an activity of Good Food Community that allows participants to do farm work and get to appreciate and understand where our food comes from. Good Food Community is an organization that promotes Community Shared Agriculture and aims to bridge the gap between producers and consumers.

It’s always refreshing to get away from the buzz of urban living and be re-acquainted to the land and attempt to once again find that connection which we seem to have lost. My grandparents were vegetable farmers in Benguet and my childhood summer days would entail me and my brother going to the mountains to help out in the work – tilling the soil and watering the plants. Kids in the area would taunt how us, the city boys, didn’t know what we were doing. They couldn’t any more be right.

These were my thoughts while we traversed through dirt mounds to get to the rice field. Once we got to the field, we couldn’t wait to plunge into the mud. Time to get dirty, although soil is not dirt or dirty for that matter. And apparently, soil has anti-depressant microbes. No wonder it was fun walking around the mud barefooted while we applied carbonized rice hull to the soil (this helps retain moisture). It could just be the novelty of doing something new but it could also be the “happy” microbes working its magic.

Applying carbonized rice hull with glee. (c) Ernest Barreiro

Using a tilling machine, our farmer guide plowed the soil effortlessly then we started planting. There were 11 of us who worked on an area which is around 200 square meters and it took us almost an hour to finish. Typically, a single farmer can do the work for two hours and gets paid P80.

I already knew that 57 is the average age of farmers in the Philippines. That despite being an agricultural country, our farmers don’t get much support from the government. And farming is looked down upon. The farmers themselves wouldn’t want their children to follow the same path as they don’t see any hope in it. I couldn’t blame them but the problem now is who would feed us in the future?

Time to work those knees! (c)Charlene Tan

It was a good workout after all the bending under the scorching heat of the sun. We rewarded ourselves after with snacks of corn and freshly harvested bananas. While munching, we talked about food and how broken the system is. We don’t exactly know where our food comes from, how it’s produced, what’s in season. We rely on junk food and fast food which are readily available. However, the farm trip participants make an effort to eat healthy, organic food mainly due to health and environmental reasons. As a challenge though, organic food tends to be more expensive. But if you factor in the production process plus benefits of eating healthy, the price is actually reasonable.

Food conversation over corn and bananas. (c) Marvin Almonte

It was a nice experience overall. Waking up the following day to sore legs reminded me that indeed planting rice is not a joke. So the least we could do is to show appreciation to food and the people who grow it.

#IAmHampasLupa Youth Campaigners in Action

We, the #IAmHampasLupa Youth Campaigners wish to change the way people see food and farming. Hampas-Lupa, usually used as a derogatory term referring to people in poverty, translates to “tilling the land” and there’s nothing wrong about that.

We call on the next president to include food security, nutrition, and ecological agriculture in their political agenda.

We want concrete action on issues of food security exacerbated by the effects of climate change and El Nino.

Join us in pushing for a safe, sustainable, and climate resilient way of farming.

#IAmHampasLupa Youth Campaigners join the Tinig ng 10 Milyon para sa Kalikasan Green Thumb Coalition Earth Day March on April 22, 2016. (c) Marvin Almonte

“If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change.” The campaigners dancing to Man in the Mirror on Earth Day. (c) Virginia Benosa

We are one with the fisher folks on their call for presidential candidates to address issues involving coastal communities and deteriorating fishing grounds (April 24, 2016). (c) Marvin Almonte

Unity bike for Kidapawan farmers on April 23, 2016, organized by campaigners in Mindanao.

Silent protest asking the presidentiables what they can do to address food security issues (April 24, 2016). (c) Manila Bulletin

Join us this 27th of April for the National Solidarity Dance Mob for food security, farmers, and ecological agriculture happening simultaneously in Baguio, Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, and Davao.