BACKYARD GARDENING
Sometime in September 2010, I sent the following letter to DSWD:
Greetings - from Loyola Heights, Quezon City!
While browsing the Internet, I came upon VERMICULTURE or VERMICOMPOSTING applications and realized what these can do for a community, such as ours.
Vermicomposting refers to the process of using earthworms to turn organic waste into vermicompost -- also known as vermicast, worm compost, worm castings, worm humus or worm manure -- a high quality natural fertilizer and soil conditioner, especially fitted for organic vegetable production.
Loyola Heights is host to a big number of informal settlers living under the high tension lines of Meralco and along government-owned “parks”, situated along a creek that runs through Ateneo and across Katipunan Ave. One of these so-called parks, Park 8, is leased by Our Lady of Pentecost Parish, which set up a multi-purpose foundation, The foundation is hampered by the presence of some informal settlers in Park 8. Park 7 is fully occupied by squatters. Park 9 is occupied by Barangay Loyola Heights facilities.
With the application of Vermiculture and use of water from the creek, Park 8 can be gainfully developed into a vegetable garden that can achieve the following:
With the application of Vermiculture and use of water from the creek, Park 8 can be gainfully developed into a vegetable garden that can achieve the following:
• Livelihood for the informal settlers legitimizing their stay in the park.
• Inexpensive supply of fresh organic vegetables and fruits for the community.
• Disposal of the community’s food and kitchen waste
• Flood alleviation in the area because of proper waste disposal.
• Funding source for the foundation and the Parish’s other social projects.
• It can also be a pilot project for wider networking applications that may rightfully involve Barangay Loyola Heights and the Quezon City government.
Start up capital is small. Technology is available nearby - Ateneo has already started on vermicomposting, but not on vegetable gardening. Miriam College, aside from vermicomposting, has also started vegetable gardening and ecology projects.
All that we need are organization and leadership, which only your office can facilitate!
I hope to hear from you.
Thanks.
Constancio de Leon
The letter suggests backyard vegetable production to which I got the following response from Mr. Camilo Gudmalin of the KALAHI-CIDSS Project:
October 2, 2010, 3:12 PM
Dear Mr. De Leon,
Thank you for referring to us your proposal for Vermiculture in behalf of the informal settlers in Loyola Heights. Indeed, KALAHI-CIDSS Project will be expanded and in 2011 will start the pilot implementation of an URBAN community-driven development (CDD). At present we are still consulting with major stakeholders and developing the targeting mechanism and the design of the project. As the project is community-driven, all development intervention proposals shall also emanate from the community themselves following participatory processes. Thus, until such time that Loyola Heights is selected for coverage under KALAHI-CIDSS, the Project can not act on the referred Vermiculture proposal.
However, DSWD, aside from KALAHI-CIDSS, is also implementing another anti-poverty project called Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran. This is a project where individual or groups can avail of capacity building and seed fund assistance for entrepreneurial activities.
If you or your group is interested to know more of this assistance, you may visit DSWD central office and see Dir Restituto Macuto of the Program Management Bureau.
If you need further assistance, feel free to communicate with us.
Very truly yours,
CAMILO G. GUDMALIN
Asst Secretary and National Project Manager, KALAHI-CIDSS
Thank you for referring to us your proposal for Vermiculture in behalf of the informal settlers in Loyola Heights. Indeed, KALAHI-CIDSS Project will be expanded and in 2011 will start the pilot implementation of an URBAN community-driven development (CDD). At present we are still consulting with major stakeholders and developing the targeting mechanism and the design of the project. As the project is community-driven, all development intervention proposals shall also emanate from the community themselves following participatory processes. Thus, until such time that Loyola Heights is selected for coverage under KALAHI-CIDSS, the Project can not act on the referred Vermiculture proposal.
However, DSWD, aside from KALAHI-CIDSS, is also implementing another anti-poverty project called Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran. This is a project where individual or groups can avail of capacity building and seed fund assistance for entrepreneurial activities.
If you or your group is interested to know more of this assistance, you may visit DSWD central office and see Dir Restituto Macuto of the Program Management Bureau.
If you need further assistance, feel free to communicate with us.
Very truly yours,
CAMILO G. GUDMALIN
Asst Secretary and National Project Manager, KALAHI-CIDSS
Encouraged by this response, I forwarded the file on the matter to OLPP Foundation, which is leasing the said Park, the prospective project site. I have not heard anything from the foundation to signify interest, although I understand that the said Park 8 is earmarked to be used for something else.
A few days ago, I came across a presentation of Mr. Roger Doiron of Kitchen Garden International enthusiastically expounding on a similar campaign, which drew the attention and interest of US President Barack Obama and his First Lady, Michelle, who initiated vegetable gardening at the back of the White House.
We all know that while population grows, food prices tend to grow. It is foreseen that the world will need to produce more food in the next 50 years than it was able to produce in the last 10,000 years combined. If our grandchildren cannot produce food in their own backyards, people will need to migrate to another planet to keep up. Mr. Doiron says that this campaign can change the balance of power in the area of operation because it will localize food supply in the community, reducing food prices in effect. It would bring people together.
Considering the benefits that can be derived from such a venture, I am therefore restating above original proposal that may be applied to other organizations managing similar sites such as Park 8 of Loyola Heights or one’s own backyard.
It is however prayed that our government can pick it up from here.
