Our 4-day trip to Soccsksargen with the Agricultural Training Institute Central Office, Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) X11 and OABloggers brought so much fun, cultural immersion and new insights about the organic agricultural practices in Mindanao.
Time flies so much, I can't believe this trip in Region X11 is the 10th OABlogger Farm Tour since it started in 2011. The goal of #OABloggerAko is to explore and promote organic agricultural practices and farm tourism in the country. Personally, these travel experiences made a great influence in changing my lifestyle. Read my confession of a picky eater here.
Our PAL flight from Manila to General Santos International Airport was on-time and comfortable. We arrived at GenSan airport, the gateway to Koronadal and South Cotabato early morning of Monday. Travel tip, make sure to arrive at the airport ahead of your flight schedule to avoid delays and rushing to the gates especially when leaving Sox. From the airport, we traveled almost two hours to reach the summer capital of South Cotabato, Lake Sebu where Sebul Farm, our first organic farm destination is located.
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| From Sebul Farm overlooking Lake Sebu |
The weather was hot when we arrived in General Santos City. On our way to Lake Sebu, the cool breeze touched my cheeks every time we would open the van's window to take photos. Not too long, we arrived at the beautiful laid-back municipality of Lake Sebu.
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Sebul Farm, Organic Farm in Lake Sebu
Sebul farm is a 4 hectares organic farm and a Certified Learning Site of the Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) X11. As a learning site, farmers are most welcome to come here to learn from William and his farmers. The farm teaches organic agricultural practices within the barangay and municipalities.
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| Farmcation at Sebul Farm |
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| our home in Lake Sebu |
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| overlooking Sebul Farm |
Our lunch comprises of fish, nilagang baka, and shrimp. Ending our good lunch is a cup or two of hot chocolate and freshly brewed Lake Sebu's coffee. The food is good. I love the fish, they call it "tulay" (bridge) fish and looks lika matambaka. The sinaing na hipon (shrimp), tasty but my favorite is the beef nilaga with pechay and herbs. It has good broth, refreshing and very tasty. The farm owners prepared lechon kambing (roast goat) for dinner.
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| What to eat in South Cotabato |
Mixed-cropping and Square Foot Gardening in Sebul Farm
Lake Sebu is home of variety of crops and herbs, but the main produced is cacao. Familiar herbs includes blue ternate also known as blue vine or blue pea. The flower has shade of blue and white and resembles like a pea or butterfly. I'm quite familiar with this edible flower, they are usually serve in green salad, used in rice (gives the blue color in rice) and can be added to beverages. Blue Ternate has many healing benefits, one as a natural diuretic.
Mr. Sy advocates square foot gardening. On our way to bahay kubo, we passed by bed of arugula, rosemary, and many types of herbs.
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| Square Foot Gardening |
Sebul Farm practices mixed-cropping using native ancient agriculture in watershed. Mixed-cropping means that the farmers sow more than two crops at the same time. Using ancient agricultural practices helps in preserving traditional forms of farming help maintain biodiversity and protects natural resources.
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| Grapes anyone? Sebul Farm grows abundant organic grapes. |
Another innovation or practice that Sebul Farm is proud of is the use of Ram Pump Uphill Water System, a kind of water pump that does not need electricity or fuel to pump water. It works 24 hours, 7 days a week. There are several benefits of having a ram pump. It puts an end to carrying water jugs to and from the source. It helps in farming, growing crops and animal husbandry. Best of all it's zero pollution.
Cacao Production in Sebul Farm
Sebul Farm has a wide array of crops and herbs with cacao as primary crop. These organic cacao beans undergo processing (sorting, grinding, moulding to packaging) to make tablea and cacao nibs.
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| Cacao Production in Sebul Farm |
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| the making of tablea and cacao nibs |
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| Sikwate / hot chocolate |
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| Sebul Farm Products: Pure Hone, Herbal Tea, Coffee, Chili & Salt, and Dried Blue Ternate |
Agricultural Training Institute Central Office
ATI Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman
Quezon City 1100 Philippines
Trunkline: (63-2) 9298541 to 49
Fax no. (63-2) 9209792
Sebul Farm
Brgy. Tasiman, , Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
Facebook Page: Sebul Farm & Organic Products
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| OABloggers with ATI and couple William and Mayette Sy of Sebul Farm |
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