(Part 4 of five)
BUT what really is urban container gardening (UCG)?
For its developer, it is a food-production system established in a limited space to serve as a nutrition garden of the household; a household activity that utilizes containers in growing fruits, vegetables and herbs for family consumption; the cheapest and healthiest way of food production as it utilizes household bio-waste as sources of fertilizers in growing crops; and a system that facilitates the utilization of household waste (including idle time) for productive activity.
“In short, it is an advocacy to democratize agriculture and empower households to participate in food production and ecological sanitation [Ecosan],” said Perfecto “Jojo” Rom of Davao City.
UCG is also effective since it enables households to practice intensive gardening method through maximum utilization of limited space; allows for intercropping (planting a variety of plants in one container) which ensures the health of plants due to diversity; conserves both soil and water since containers prevent runoffs of soil and excessive watering; makes use of urban wasteland (vacant lots, brown fields, unused parking lots, and roof tops); provides meaningful employment for persons with limited skills and formal education; a very inexpensive way of growing food; and gives household opportunities to embark on creative ways to recycle containers that otherwise would be thrown into landfills while re-using bio-waste materials as fertilizers thus reducing material waste thrown into the garbage dump.
“Container gardening, as I see it, is the only doable strategy of democratizing agriculture where people will now have a form of control in the area of food security. Through container gardening, social enterprises flourish and more jobs are generated and lessen migration to other countries. This will also result in lower incidences of food-borne diseases or illnesses,” Rom said.
In the pursuit of UCG, Rom had developed what he called the Household Resource Dynamic Flow (HRDF), “a system I developed from my own interpretation and understanding of the Ecological Sanitation Philosophy that guided me in realizing some practical principles in Agro-ecology I learned in school. when we combine inspiration, system, innovation, philosophy, ingenuity for nature’s integrity [Isipin-“to think”] plus Go And Work Including Neighbors [Gawin-“to do”] it gives us some suggestion that everyone may follow and do as a mission.”
Rom explained that the HRDF is a system that serves as a guide in resource mobilization in the household level. “By following it, we will reduce our garbage disposal up to 80 percent. It suggests clear direction on how waste can be turned into a resource. For example, on a monthly basis, 20 kilos of my household waste volume, when segregated, comprise 60 percent biodegradable which I re-use for my compost to make organic fertilizer.”
He is currently tending a 30-square-meter container garden in his rented home in Davao City.
“Based on my recording, my garden’s average production capacity is 60 kilograms of vegetables a month. I sell some to my neighbors. Now, I deliver my lettuce to the PLDT canteen in Davao. At full production, I can earn a net income of P5,000. Since we started container gardening in 2007 our dietary appetite and the way we eat have improved. Our highest monthly saving on food was P2,000. This is because we only buy spices and few veggies that we do not have at home. We just started selling our extra harvest this year,” he added.
Like the average wage-earner, Rom works from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. But unlike the average working man, he spends two hours daily (before leaving for work, waking up at dawn) to tend to his container garden for a total of 10 hours a week. But on Saturdays, he spends four hours on his garden for a total of 14 hours a week or 56 hours a month.
“If I would put financial value to my time on a per hour basis, say P596.67 [which is my March 2011 savings] and divide it by 56 hours, it results to P10.65 an hour,” he said, adding: “The Land Equivalent Ratio on productivity would be P596.67 [which is my March 2011 savings] divided by 30 sqm [garden size], the result is P19.89/sqm. Thus, with container gardening, my 30 sqm idle lot has increased its asset value to P596.67 a month and made my idle time worth P10.65 an hour.”
Despite the promise of UCG, many Filipinos have not embraced the idea and practice it at home.
But Rom, always the positive thinker that he is, believes that many will eventually turn around and implement UCG in their own households. “They just needs to follow the law of gestation. I have already planted the seed, we will just wait for it to grow in their hearts and minds. Then in the future, we will all benefit from the harvest,” he said.
(To be concluded)
In Photo: Perfecto “Jojo” Rom shows off the carrots and radish he harvested from his garden in Davao City. (Bong D. Fabe)
