By Joni Galeste We all know the importance of food choices and their effects on our bodies. We also know that the concept of eating healthy translates to higher cost purchase. But in a developing country like the Philippines, buying good and nutritious food might not be the top priority when even eating three square meals a day is already a challenge. Well, what if the solution to having sustainable, readily available, almost free, organic, non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) herbs and vegetables is right in your home? What if you and I could make a difference? I started farming in my house in Makati three years ago. We used to have trees like santol and atis, and a lot of vegetables in our old house, which had a spacious garden. But when we transferred to a smaller home, the only things we grew were little bushes, fern, ornamental plants, and a few herbs in pots. After stumbling on videos and pictures of people on Facebook farming in their own yards just about as big as mine, I wondered why I wasn’t doing the same.   Dad and the Internet Growing plants my family and I could benefit from while putting in the same amount of time and effort seemed like a great idea. I learned most of the things I know about growing food from my Dad, but since there’s nothing these days you can’t possibly look up on the Internet anymore, I was able to do further research on easy plants to start with and also connect and receive tips and tricks from a lot of individuals who also did the same thing. We started growing ginger and turmeric (luyang dilaw) to counter inflammation, pechay for soup and stir-fried dishes, calamansi for regular doses of vitamin C, gabi, basil, and mint, among others, in reused plastic containers. But soon enough, we started running out of these containers. This led us to use old plastic soda bottles, which were cut and simply stacked up or hung side by side on dead spaces and empty walls. By having a regular supply of edible plants we specifically needed in our diet, we just had to go to our small garden if we needed, say, a cup of ginger tea or some greens to turn into pesto. As with most people who grow their own food like actor Audie Gemora who only recently started putting in the work for his “underutilized garden,” and Cheska Sarausad, whose love for fresh food drove her to start her own edible plant garden, achieving good health has always been a factor and an effective motivator.   No to formalin According to John Sarinaga who started his little urban farm a year ago, his initial curiosity on vegetables we purchase and consume stemmed from watching a documentary on GMOs. Upon doing further research, he discovered a multitude of common bad practices done to produce more yield and to keep fruits and vegetables looking fresh. He also found out through his cousin, one of the many vegetable vendors at Farmer’s Market in Cubao, that dipping vegetables in formalin to retain its crisp and bright appearance for longer periods of time has been a standard practice. Because of this knowledge, he obsessed on producing his own food to ensure his and his family’s safety. Unfortunately, due to lack of space, traditional farming methods were out of the question. From the get go, he knew he had to get creative. With barely any room to work with, there was nowhere else to go but up, literally. And it worked! He now has tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, ampalaya, mustasa, and a variety of herbs within his reach. He has also learned how to make his own organic fertilizer from vermicast (African Night Crawler poop), fermented fish, and plant and fruit juice, all of which he learned and perfected, thanks to the Internet. Not only are his methods doable, they also don’t cost a lot of money. If he’s able to produce that much vegetable within a limited area, imagine how much more he (and all of us) could produce with a larger property.   Way of the future For Michael Poblete, a hobbyist turned entrepreneur, this seemed to be the case. When asked what got him into it, he replied: “First, it’s because I’m a relatively big person who eats a lot in one go. Second, I believe that organic urban food gardening is going to be one of the ways tomorrow’s mainstream urban society will feed themselves. And third, I believe that commercial and domestic food wastes can be efficiently processed into organic soil that can help communities more easily overcome the all-too-prevalent social issue of chronic hunger and dwindling sanitary landfill space.” While he has yet to sell what he harvests, his urban farm has been earning a modest profit through transplant ready seedlings, organic fertilizer, organic pesticides, and an odor control product for pets, all of which he makes in his own backyard just a kilometer away from the Greenhills Shopping Center. Whether it’s for free food, making sure vegetables are safe for consumption, or just because it’s a fun hobby, imagine if more families made use of all the free spaces in their lots and on walls. Imagine urban communities coming together to work on vertical farms, with vegetables and herbs flowing out of pots in the middle of every wall or balcony in the city, and compost bins for all the waste. Imagine the surplus of clean, nutritious, and chemical-free food and fertilizers! Now take an old plastic container, cut it, fill it with soil, and plant a seed. All the information and inspiration you need on urban and vertical farming and composting are at the tip of your fingertips. Together, let’s keep our landfills empty and our bellies full.   Joni Galeste is a ballet dancer, actress, and urban environmentalist who bikes most of the time to work and, instead of collecting seashells, gathers straws, plastic cups, bottles, and utensils to properly dispose of during her downtime at the beach.