I was given an opportunity to write an assignment related to the theme " The Joy of Urban Farming".
At first, I was hesitant to write but upon hearing the words from the outside, I whispered to myself, " I am no writer and my grammar is short. How could it be ? ". But my inner voice told me, " Just pick-up the pen and write ". Without making another single thought, I started to write.
There are three words apparent from the theme, " Joy". " Urban " and " Farming ". By scrambling the three to form a question, it is visible to ask,"What joy I may get from urban farming ?". The question that open my senses as I handled the classic Panda pen.
As I dip-down my thinking to the question, I started seeing myself standing inside the farm with plots forming in circular manner. At the center of the farm, I can see a small open nipa hut made of light wooden materials and bamboos. And this is where visitors can rest for - a- while after watching the smiley green leafy vegetables growing. Vegetables acting like nightingale when the full moon's bright.
Around the open nipa hut are marigold plants in yellow blooms that served as attractant to useful insects. Insects hosting in are predators to other harmful insects and are good pollinators. These insects sing lullaby in the late afternoon.
Beside the farm is a Bahay Kubo made of same light materials. This served as resting place for caretakers of the farm during increment weather and at night. It can be occupied by two to three persons inside.
As I kept roaming around the farm, the scenery of the gardens with vegetables growing, open my eyes to the answers. Alas, the hot wind of summer blowing the leaves of the corn that sip down my skin boils my creativity to the brim.
I asked again, this time pertaining to the caretakers. " What these gardeners got from urban farming?". Another breeze of hot wind seems pinching my face. Then, an AHA moment came from a race. Striking my face.
And the reasons inked-out from my pen and visible to read the following in a white paper plain.And these are the bundles of joy that deep-sink in my brain.
First, urban farming is a way of raising vegetables in a populated area with limited space. After less than two months after sowing the seeds, we may able to harvest leafy-vegetables in the like of lettuce, pechay, amaranth and mustasa. Meaning, we may able to have a fresh ready to serve lettuce for salad after seven weeks. That's highly nutritious food for the family. Nutritious, rich in vitamins and mineral foods urban farming can provide. That's the first bundle of joy. Urban farming is for food production.
Urban farming leads a way to increase income by selling the excess produce to your neighbor or directly to the market. It generates income for the family in the form of savings instead of buying vegetable for consumption. Urban farming is income generator. It is for money-making. Another bundles of joy.
Urban farming practices organic way of raising crops, meaning urban gardeners does not used synthetic chemical for fertilization and insect control. Urban farming is environmentally-friendly and does not poison the soil, air and water. Therefore, mitigate climate-change and protector of Mother Nature. Another bundles of joy. Urban farming is a good environment preserver.
Since, urban gardeners does not eat chemically contaminated fresh produce from the garden, he/she is sure that vegetables are not carcinogenic foods. Consumers of organically-produced vegetables are health and wellness conscious. Urban gardeners love his fellow consumers or neighbors. Free from eating fresh and free chemically soaked vegetables is a joy in itself. That's another bundles of joy. Urban farming is a good health provider.
Urban farming is a way for a deep meditation and prayer. As urban gardeners are doing their routine every day, touching the soil, feel the breeze of wind and smell the flows of water, he/she is always in contact with creations. The more constant, we get in touch with creations, the more nearer and clearer to us the word Creator. And the longer the time we used during gardening, the bigger the opportunity to set our mind to the words Creations and Creator. Thinking of Creator is another form of prayer. And in a split second, our mind will deep dive to the soil. Realizing that what our well being needs has connection to the soil. Then, our being well be enlightened that what we are touching daily are us. Suddenly, with that realization, an AHA moment will enter to our being, saying " from the soil, Yahweh, Allah, You Almighty, Divine Providence created me and by the soil you sustain me and at the end of my day, I will be backed again from the dust of the soil. My Creator, You are amazing. You are wonderful. You are powerful. You are full of awe !" then as you keep focusing your mind to that instance, Allah, Yahweh up there will sense what's at the back of your brain. Then, Allah, Yahweh will say to your being, " now you come to your senses, what do you want ? " And in abject surrender, you will speak, " that I may see of my instant healing". Urban farming promotes psycho-human and spiritual integration.
That's the Joy of Urban Farming in Quezon City, Philippines.
