Who might think that farming is not possible in a highly urbanised and congested city like Metro Manila let alone if you have little space or don’t have access to land for growing herbs and vegetables? But it is possible through hydroponic farming.
Hydroponic comes from a Greek word meaning water and sweat which simply means hardly any soil is needed to produce vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, cucumber. Most of all size and location of the property are immaterial because it can be designed into vertical farming or roof farming.
Recycled Styrofoam boxes
Sowing tray with 10 day old lettuce ready to be transplanted individually into cups. In the middle is irrigation
To be harvested in 3 weeks
Take for example this urban allotment farm in Pasig City (lies east of Metro Manila), which uses hydroponic method for some of its lettuce, taps into the latent resources in that community – they transformed an abandoned property into an excellent regeneration project , involving youths not in education and employment by giving them a fresh start in life through urban farming. These kids learn new skills and appreciate resources around them and how to be productive – having a stake in the outcome of this community project gives them hope and confidence to take ownership of their own situation. So buying their produce enables them and their families to put their feet on the ladder of development, and our local community safer while you keep yourself and our planet healthy.
All their produce can be found at The VillageGreenShop, food social enterprise with strong social ethos, champions urban farming and eating local and seasonal and buying collaboratively, and campaigns against the use of pesticides, fungicides, hormones, GMO and antibiotic in food.
If you would like to know more about our community projects, get in touch with us at villagegreenshop@btinternet.com or call us at 0927 6755 199.
