Tomato or kamatis ( Solanum lycopersicum ) is a common plant grown by many home gardeners because it is easy to care for and fast-growing. A tomato plant can grow up to three meters tall and matures within two to three months after transplanting. Tomato is a good source of lycopene, an...
The pleasure of having to scratch an itch is something that not only humans can understand, but cows, too. A study by the University of British Columbia reveals that dairy cows love scratching brushes as much as they love getting fresh feed. Cows look for trees and other rough surfaces...
Many Pinoys are fascinated by the famous cherry blossoms of Japan. Now, there is no need to travel far because there are native trees in the Philippines that are just as beautiful as the Sakura. Among thousands of native flowering trees in the country is Salinggogon ( Cratoxylum formosum ). It is...
Effective Microorganism Activated Solution (EMAS) is a fertilizer that induces the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Natural fertilizers like EMAS make the soil, plants, environment, and farmers healthy and safe from any harmful chemicals. Photo screen captured from the...
In Barangay Sicaba, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, lies a thriving 15-hectare farm called Maayo Dairy Farm. It is owned by Antoinette Begre-Lacson and her husband, Alessandro Lacson, who started with two cows that they initially nurtured as pets. Now, the farm naturally grows 40 cows in wide...
“Maayo” translates to “good” in Hiligaynon. For Antoinette Begre-Lacson, a dairy farmer, this term also comes in the form of a farm that amplifies her advocacies in animal welfare and natural farming. Maayo Dairy Farm is located in Barangay Sicaba, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, where...
Due to the pandemic, the public has become more health-conscious, making the naturally-grown products highly in demand over the past year. For this reason, more growers nowadays have also been looking for natural inputs that are safe for the people and the environment. One of their...
In celebration of World Bee Day 2021, beekeepers and enthusiasts gathered in a series of webinars on beekeeping. It was organized by the World Bee Day-Philippines together with Beekeepers’ Network Philippines Foundation Inc. (BEENET) - Luzon Chapter. To cap off the week-long event, a talk...
There’s no denying that Filipinos love chocolates. In recent years, many Filipino-owned chocolate brands have been gaining ground not only in the Philippines but also in the global scene. One such brand is Auro Chocolate. Launched in 2017, Auro Chocolate is a globally recognized bean-to-bar...
Behind healthy, successful plants is an excellent growing medium. Carbonized Rice Hull (CRH) is one of the many components that make for a good potting mix. CRH is the output of partially burnt rice hulls, or ipa in Tagalog. It is used as a fertilizer and soil conditioner for plant...
Living in a foreign country is a different experience for everyone. For Christian Facun, 41, and his wife Marilou Santos-Facun, 37, living in Rome, Italy have made them experience celebrating special occasions alone due to clashing work schedules. Sometimes, they would accidentally meet in...
Auro Chocolate is an award-winning Filipino chocolate brand that sources cacao beans from farmers in Davao. The company works directly with five cocoa-producing cooperatives and 50 individual farmers, representing over a thousand families. Read: Empowering local farmers through chocolate Ira...
