Stay-at-home moms learn how to grow crops in urban setting
The workshop is an expansion of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program
Some 133 housewives recently completed a 12week training program in urban gardening, which taught these otherwise stay-athome moms how to grow their own vegetables such as eggplant, okra, lemon grass, tomatoes, lettuce, and kangkong.
While the primary objective of urban gardening is food security and self-sufficiency (which is why most of the crops that were planted were common ingredients in Filipino dishes), the program also tackled steps on how these mothers can make money from their produce.
The workshop, held in Barangay Ususan in Taguig City, is an expansion of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program, which teaches housewives how to grow their own food. Usually, these seminars are done in the
provinces, which makes this session in Taguig a bit more special. “Hanggang may itatanim,
may kakainin kami,” said one of the mothers, who spoke in front of participants and guests during a small program for their harvest festival, the culminating activity in the training program (conducted in partnership with MacPlas Academy).
Full of gratitude
The mothers, most of whom are part of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, were full of gratitude for the knowledge the training program has provided. They said it brings them peace of mind to know that they will never run out of food to put on the table.
“Bukod sa ang laki ng natitipid namin sa pansahog, nakakasiguro pa kami na mas malusog ang kinakain ng mga anak namin. Masarap sa paki-
ramdam na hindi lang kami basta umaaasa sa sahod ng mga
asawa namin,” said Lydia Jeresano, one of the mother-participants, whose husband is a construction worker.
She comes to visit their garden almost every day, making sure they are properly watered, and that no pests or stray animals have done damage overnight.
Among the things that were taught during the training program were the use of recyclable materials such as old tires, dis- carded plastic bottles, and cans, which they turned into makeshift pots. They were also taught about seed preparation and management, vermicomposting and kitchen composting, and proper harvesting.
Standing out from the pack of “graduates” is five-year-old Bennyjun Cruz, accompanied by his mom, Beneta. The kid said he has been going with his mom to help tend to their plants because he enjoys gardening.
Beneta, whose husband is also a construction worker, said: “Mabuti na po yung nag-ga-gardening kami, kaysa maubos ang oras namin sa pagku-kwentuhan at panonood lang ng TV.”