Homefarm

“Coming of age” at seniority, the heart looks back to where and what life has really been all about. It was an eye-opener, more heart-opener even, when Davao Churches prayed about our duty to care for our environment.

No finger pointing at all, yes LORD GOD, mea culpa on my environmental oversights! Retracing my life, conscience showed the times I excessively used water and light justifying that I pay for them anyway, and threw garbage carelessly since there are collectors anyway. These “anyways” contributed to how my world, the only world I have, has become. GOD never meant for me to abuse HIS gift of my living space, I needed to change if I am truly grateful.

So far these past two years, I kept planting fruit trees, ornamentals, medicinal plants and herbs in my farm. No indiscriminate cutting of trees, and no burning of plastics please! I am now a serious organic farmer. In a 100 square meter area, I now have veggies, 12 chickens for its eggs and manure, and more than 50 tilapias.

GOD always never outdone, has put people and events together to further this never-too-late apostolate.

In time for their anniversary month of July, the 16-year-old AMUMA CANCER SUPPORT GROUP FOUNDATION is initiating home farming tutorials at my UNDIVIDED HEART HOME OF MARY FOUNDATION at Mulig, Toril, Davao City. Added to its medical-allied services, spiritual counselling, cancer awareness talks, Way of The Cross events, AMUMA is now into relearning Godly wisdom on planting, harvesting, and eating organically grown food.

On July 20, from 10 am to 5 pm, the family man, cum agriculturist scholar, cum urban container gardening initiator and innovator Perfecto “Jojo” Rom, Jr. will address our present food security and waste management issues. His talk will cover organic gardening and fertilising, proper segregation and re-use of garbage, recycling of water, and frugal use of electricity, among other topics. He will show that an elementary school pupil or a retired senior citizen can comfortably do his simplified methods.

Please join us in prayer that this will become a series of talks on environmentally friendly ways to grow our food.

Credit is due my late Uncle Kiko Vilela, his late wife Tia Ester Vilela (Lola Mommy’s), and all my Vilela cousins who never failed to inspire and support me in my farming attempts in the past, to the present.

Come, see, experience and taste organic food. Truly from the farmyard to your plate.

For further details, you may contact Gen at +639232897143.

To GOD be all glory always!

(Bella A. Sarenas)