Must Room for Mushrooms

(must have room for mushrooms)

Heaven is in the mood for watering the earth.. It has been pouring hard and profusely this weekend -- a nice break from the scorching heat of the sun the whole week.

A friend said, when there is a rainbow after a rain, sure there is a rain after the heat (seems to be the pattern these past weeks).  When there is heat, there is the dad who is honored today.. Huh? Honored with much warmth =)

As Paul Lewis puts it, "A Father's words are like a thermostat that sets the temperature in the house."  HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!  Especially to the best father in the world, MY DAD :)  You Rock Dad!! [READ: Rock is one that is similar to or suggestive of a mass of stone in stability, firmness, or dependability; as in "The Father has been the family's ROCK during difficult times"]

http://www.care2.com/send/pickup/116/869/200/212/873/195

What about mushrooms?  What do I need to make room for mushrooms?

Sustainable Culinary Tour in an Organic Farm

With the modern lifestyle of eating low quality, non-nutritious "fast" food or drinking soft drink, humans have lost their connection with the natural food and its value in their lives.  People have redefined that what is refined or processed is the new food.  We are caught up in the trap of commercial food which resulted to wrapping Mother Earth with toxin.  What we have not realized, it is taking its toll on our health and speeding human's extinction.

Kasama Ka Organik Koop has designed a Sustainable Culinary Tour with the line of emphasis on the role of organic and sustainable agriculture in ensuring the supply of safe and affordable food (free from agrochemical contamination of the soil, air and water), halting global warming/climate change, and reducing the detrimental environmental impacts of conventional agriculture that depends largely on toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

At the end of the tour, the participants are expected to:

• Understand sustainability and how it affects human body and earth body
• Understand the basic principles of sustainable agriculture
• Appreciate sustainability in the human, environmental, economical, societal and global context
• Learn values of care, health, ecology, fairness
• Experience (and taste) organic traditional cooking
• How to start a backyard organic garden or herb pots
• Enjoin the community in advocating for better nourishment for a better earth

We Care for your Health, We Nurture the Earth!!

CALL +632.774.8472   SMS +63.9088.858656   EMAIL activeculture@Ymail.com

In simple terms . . . 

Do you know somebody who wants to own an organic farm in CALABARZON? 
Contact ActiveCulture@Ymail.com  for the Open House schedule 

Study Tour "Lakbay-Aral" in an Organic Farm

for Hospitality (HRM), Culinary Arts (any food service course)

At the top of the food chain are the Chefs and Restaurateurs who the Hospitality, Culinary Arts students are aspiring for. 

In the school community, which is their training ground, they are in the forefront in food preparation and quality service to diners.  They design new food products, explore ways to process food with the right packaging, plan and create menus, supervise the work in the kitchen and setup in the dining.  They ensure safety and quality.  With safety and quality vis a vis sustainability, food is ensure availability today and tomorrow.

Gardening for Kids

in the tune of Magtanim Ay Di Biro, all together let's sing...

Magtanim ay di biro, maghapong nakayuko,
Di naman makatayo, di naman makaupo.
Sa umaga pagkagising, ay agad iisipin,
Kung saan may patanim, may masarap na pagkain.
Bisig ko'y namamanhid, baywang ko'y nangangawit,
Binti ko'y namimitig, sa pagkababad sa tubig.

Koro:
Halina, halina, mga kaliyag, tayo'y magsipag-unat-unat,
Magpanibago tayo ng lakas, para sa araw ng bukas.

Children's version | Rock version | Choral version | Instrumental with English lyrics

Sustainable Organic Agriculture - Apprenticeship

RATIONALE

• Sustainable and organic agriculture is the ultimate answer to the worsening problems of environmental degradation, increasing health risks due to contaminated farm produce and unstable food production supply.
• The Green Revolution farming technology which is chemical-based and input- intensive has been proven destructive to the environment and unsustainable in providing food security.
• It is in response to these scenarios that the Villegas Organic and Hobby Farms in collaboration with the Kalipunan ng Sustenableng Agrikultura at Magsasakang Organiko (Kasama Ka Organik Koop) and the Sagip Environment Foundation, Inc. has designed this Apprenticeship Training program on Sustainable and Organic Agriculture.
• Our training design caters three levels of manpower capacity building: namely; the labor force who are the front line implementors, the supervisors and the technicians.
• The program provides maximum experiential learning on sustainableand organic farming under the natural farm environment where the concepts, principles and practices of sustainable organic agriculture and zero waste management is demonstrated and practiced with focus on hands-on practicum.

OBJECTIVE

• To equip the participants the basic knowledge and positive attitudes on sustainable and organic agriculture and zero wastes management , and transfer the science-based and indigenous organic farming technologies including the production of organic farm inputs and practices, and their ultimate adoption by the participants.
• To promote and propagate the sustainable and organic agriculture at all levels from the farm, community and the country.

IMMEDIATE OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

• Well informed, enlightened and hands-on trained participants who will serve as core promotors, trainors and adoptors of sustainable and organic agriculture.

METHODOLOGY

• Lecture and experiential sharing on the concepts, principles and practices of Sustainable and Organic Agriculture and down-to-earth hands-on practicum of science-based and indigenous organic technologies and practices , production of organic farm inputs and their applications.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• EMAIL  activeculture@Ymail.com
• CALL  +632.774.8472
• SMS  +63.9088.858656
• WEB  http://villegasfarmcomplex.multiply.com/
• OTHER Services & Offerings click here for more 

Aktong OA

Better known as Organic Agriculture (OA) Act of 2010

IT states that it is the "Policy of the State to promote, propagate, develop further, and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines that will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of farmers, consumers, and the general public, and save on imported farm inputs."

As well as, "Undertake a comprehensive program for the promotion of community-based organic agriculture systems which include, among others, farmer-produced purely organic fertilizers such as compost, pesticides and other farm inputs together with a nationwide educational and promotional campaign for their use and processing, as well as the adoption of organic agricultural system as a viable alternative."

KASAMA KA Organik Koop has a series of seminar on Organic Agriculture Act (OAA) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. Email Us for more details. Other course offerings are as follows:

1]Lakbay Aral sa Bukid Organiko (Study Tour in an Organic Farm)
This is a one-day activity designed to educate and enrich the level of awareness and appreciation of the participants on the principles and practical applications of sustainable organic farming cum zero waste management systems and their impact to the environment, human health and food security as showcased and demonstrated in the crop-poultry-fish production system in the Villegas Organic farms. INCLUSION: 2 snacks, lunch, farm entrance, facilitators, electronic training materials.

2]Three-Day Apprenticeship Training on Sustainable Organic Agriculture
The program is designed for farm caretakers and laborers, technicians and farm managers, with respective modules, to equip them with basic know-how and skills on organic vegetables, herbs, medicinal plants and free-range animal production including chicken, pigs and goats.

This training includes production of organic materials and farm inputs, demonstration of zero waste management, showcasing of livelihood and employment opportunities within the supply and value added chain.  INCLUSION for 3-days: meals, on-farm lodging, farm entrance, facilitators, electronic training materials.

3]Three to Four Months On-The-Job Training
This is an extensive theoretical and hands-on training covering the whole crop cycle on organic vegetables, production of organic materials and farm inputs, farm record keeping and farm management.

The participants should have at least reached high school. They will be given a living allowance by donors/sponsors, potential employers while on apprenticeship training. Successful trainees are for placement on satellite farms and organic agriculture practitioners under the network of the KASAMA KA Organik Koop.

4] Environment, Health, and Food Security Awareness Study Tour for Students of ALL Levels
OPEN as HALF-DAY or WHOLE DAY SESSION
This study tour is mainly designed to increase the level of awareness of students on the role of sustainable and organic agriculture in:
-addressing environmental issues and health hazards;
-ensuring the supply of, and access to, safe and affordable food;
-sustaining the agricultural production and the ecological systems;
-ensuring food safety and security;
-and poverty reduction.

5] Specialized Training tailored according to the Client’s Needs
Specialized training on either (or all desired) of the following: free-range poultry production, vermiculture and vermicomposting, organic agriculture conversion for rice, corn, sugarcane, whichever is required by the participants.

PREVIOUS - What is KASAMA KA Organik Koop?

KASAMA KA!!

Kalipunan ng Sustenableng Agrikultura at Magsasakang Organikong Kooperatiba (KASAMA KA) 

The KASAMA KA Organik Koop with it's mission to promote, demonstrate and popularize the nucleus and satellite organic farm clusters and its value chain optimization is open to non-members to avail of the following services:

TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING
Being accredited by Agriculture Technical Institute as ESP on Sustainable Organic Ecological Agriculture,  it is conducting training programs for students, health afficionados, farmers, farm managers and owners:

• Lakbay Aral Program and Tours
• Apprenticeship SOEA Training Program
• Organic Conversion
• Organic Inspection and certification
• Practicum Students/OJT Program
• Other specialized training program

SALE OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS

• Vegetables ie lettuce, brassicas
• Culinary herbs
• Plotted plants and fruit trees
• Vermi & Vermicompost
• Organic fertilizers
• Brooded layers and meat type of free range chicken

FARM CONSULTANCY which includes, but not limited to, research and development, management of farm lots.

Please help us support our Organic Farmers.  Should you be interested in becoming a member, please send us a shout.
Want to know the benefits of a KASAMA KA koop member? Click here.

Will you spare us 5 minutes to complete a survey to help us identify the means to empower cooperatives and stop poverty in the Philippines? 
Yes, I want to be instrumental in the growth of the cooperatives!

NEXT - Philippine Organic Agriculture (OA) Act of 2010

No to GMO: Organic Agriculture Act to be signed by GMA

Organic Agriculture is the production of crops and livestock that relies on the ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of chemical inputs and in-organic fertilizers.

It fosters the principles of Care, Health, Ecology and Fairness.  Care for this generation and the future; promote a truly Healthy food (albeit: free of pesticides, hormones, chemicals); preserve Ecological balance; Fair in giving equal opportunity to non-conventional farmers.  These principles and more are learned from our Study Tour in an Organic Farm (Lakbay-Aral sa Bukid Organiko) which is facilitated by a professional pool of resource persons/specialists who provides lecture on organic agriculture, farming practices and hands-on technology demonstration. The study tour is tailored according to the level of the audience and requirements of the group.  Study Tour is for everybody just as the protection of earth is by everybody. 

Some of the Organizations that have been to the farm are CFA Homeschoolers with parents and teachers; De La Salle Lipa faculty and students; United Nations Filipino Consultants and Expatriate Staff; Medical doctors and practitioners of Alternative medicine; Agricultural Development and Marketing Officers from Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Japan and Philippines.

We support and assist farmers who would like to switch to Organic Farming!  The real farmers are those who have taken on the vital role in the health of people, economy of nation and balance of ecosystem.  They deserve to be rewarded with increased income, lower cost of capital, higher production yield and empowered network of supporting components.  For non-agriculturists, be informed of the benefits to you and family of going organic. 

Let's do our share in protecting our Mother Earth, join us tomorrow as we switch off our lights from 8:30PM to 9:30PM!  As one people, we are united in raising awareness and taking action to fight climate change.

Chef with a green CAP (Chef Apprenticeship Program)

It's no joke that there is this moniker, "Green Chef," floating around the Culinary industry.   Like everyone else on earth, everybody is trying to do their share in the green revolution, moreso, the chefs and restaurateurs who are at fist to fist with food quality and safety, poverty reduction, zero-waste management (average of 260 kg per person or 676 kg of waste to landfill, much of it coming from the kitchen).

The Chefs and Restaurateurs are faced with greening responsibilities  from cooking technologies, real-fresh produce, hormone-free meat, energy-efficient kitchen equipment and appliances, environment-friendly cleaning aids.  The Villegas Organic and Hobby Farms SAGE Learning Center, with it's expertise on sustainable agriculture and zero-waste management, has cooked-up a special program to produce a culinary leader who embraces a healthy lifestyle and cares for the environment.

Dubbed as Green Chef Apprenticeship Program, it's objective is to imbibe the values of CHEF (Care, Health, Ecology, Fairness) in becoming a responsible chef, experiencing food first hand from its origins and gain understanding of how it affects the environment, thus, show respect to the ecology of life.

This whole day orientation and forum is set on May 29, 2010 Saturday at Malvar, Batangas City (approximately an hour from Magallanes). 

We can only accomodate 50 persons so get your slots early :
Reserve by April 20 avail of the discounted rate Php1,200.00
Reserve by May 10 avail of the discounted rate Php1,400.00
Last day of reservation  (if there are available slots) May 27 with rate Php1,800.00

For group discounts:
EMAIL  activeculture@Ymail.com  activeculture.club@Gmail.com
CALL  774.84.72    SMS 9088.858.656

Educational Field Trip: Organic Farm in Batangas, Philippines

Catholic Filipino Academy students, parents and teachers participated in Lakbay-Aral sa Kalikasan (Study Tour with Nature) at Villegas Organic and Hobby Farm Complex, Batangas, Philippines

The Villegas Organic and Hobby (VOHO) Farms hosted almost 80 participants from the Catholic Filipino Academy – consisting mainly of grade school kids including their parents, seven high school students and some pre-school kids – who actively took part in the one-day "Lakbay-Aral sa Kalikasan" on 27 February 2010.

The "Lakbay-Aral sa Kalikasan" was purposely designed to immerse young students on living things, sustainable environment and organic agriculture (which they have limited exposure to in the city) and to make their learning experience fun, memorable and exciting.

Mr. Pablito Villegas, Dr. Isagani Catedral and Ms. Dinah Rose Pizarro facilitated the study tour program, providing outdoor hands-on learning on earthworms and their value in promoting sustainable environment, soil and its types, culinary and medicinal plants, and the inter-relationships of worms-soil-plants, demonstrated in a sustainable/environment-friendly farm and ecological balance through the maintenance of biodiversity and employment of zero waste management practices, as exemplified by the VOHO Farms. The students also enjoyed hands-on fishing, running after free-range chickens and playing in the tree house and "bahay-kubo" (indigenous Filipino house), thereby enriching their eco-experience and enhancing their appreciation for nature.

After the educational field tour, as part of their commencement activity, high school students were introduced to Organic Gardening 101. On the other hand, grade school kids planted fruit tree seedlings and prepared dedication cards to their tree. A five-year old girl wrote on her tree: "I will save papers so you can live long." This concluding session intended to instill in the students their valuable role in protecting the environment and to leave in them a memorable experience to share with their friends and family.

The recently passed Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 clearly mandates the inclusion of organic agriculture curriculum in all levels of the Philippine educational system. The remarkable success of the study tour program (educational field trip) last Saturday was a step toward promoting the sustainable environment and organic agriculture in the schools and its community or constituents.