The model farm in Laguna, Philippines was a month-old operation when I visited it with the directors of Goducate in August. Its purpose is to demonstrate to the poor to produce vegetables for their own consumption. The first thought that came to mind, as I listened to the Goducate farm worker who showed me around, was that this place is a living lab. I noticed that each vegetable plot and tray of earthworms in the vermi-composting project has been tagged and labeled with information. The purpose for doing this is to improve the production yields at the farm.
The farm is now looking at ways to improve the yields of organic fertilizers by experimenting with cow manure, decaying vegetables and banana stalks, or as a blended mixture, in the vermi-composting project. Vegetables such as pek chye, long beans, okra (also known as lady’s fingers) have been planted. It will take a few weeks more for the harvest. I was told that a friend of Goducate, who is a plant pathologist, had also recommended that lemon grass – a natural pest repellant – be planted along the perimeter of the vegetable plots. Mini controlled experiments will also be carried out to determine the optimal amount of organic fertilizer to be used on each kind of vegetable. Also, the vegetables will be living proof of the organic fertilizer’s benefits to buyers.
The launch of these livelihood projects at the model farm is encouraging. To me, the demonstration of what works is important as it will benefit the poor when they produce vegetables in their own backyard. In my limited understanding, I believe the poor would often like to see results quicker than the rich because survival can often be a daily challenge. So, there is simply no room for them to take on what-does-not work. And this is why the demonstration of what works at the farm becomes important.
From the 11th to the 23rd of January, I ate, slept, worked, and chatted with the children at the Goducate Children’s Home in Preyop, Cambodia. A typical day for a child in the home would go along something like this—wake up at crack of dawn to do assigned tasks or chores, have breakfast, attend school (in English) and Khmer classes, then back to doing assigned tasks in various part of… Continue reading
A nursing school that came to know about Goducate’s community work has chosen the Goducate Learning Center in Mabakan, Calaun, to be a center for practical training for their students. Hence 10 nursing students spent January training the locals in basic health awareness and doing health screenings.
Training session
Some 30 people, mostly mothers, attended… Continue reading
A fortnight ago parents of the children attending the Goducate Learning Center in Lalao, Laguna, were brought together to attend a session with their children. The session, called Mama and Me, was intended to emphasize to the parents the importance of good communication with their children and of teaching their children and supervising them while they do their homework and assignments. For the children, the intention was to impress on… Continue reading
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