Let's plant plants!
Since I was a kid, I was exposed to gardening even though we live in an urban place.
I can still remember clearly when I was in elementary, we had a subject EPP or Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan. I think if translated in English the subject is called Home Economics and Livelihood Education. Tell me what you think, did I translate it correctly or not?
Well, this subject was where we had activities in gardening. By group, we were assigned a small lot to take care of and nurture. It was a rectangular lot of almost 10 by 2 feet, I think, I do not know how to convert the size in a square meter. Anyway, we prepared the soil with the use of a trowel and water and barricading it with the use of straw rope tied on a tulos, a piece of wood, in every corner of the lot. We also made our own trowel by using tin cans and a piece of wood for the handle.
It was our teacher, Mr. Yambao, who guided us throughout the process of gardening. Each group planted peanuts on their garden lot as for the signal of our teacher. Now that I realized it, it was one of my favorite subjects. I always looked forward to this class, we got dirt on our hands and even in our clothes, but it was an experience and essential lesson I would never forget. I always look back to this experience whenever I see gardens or farms, especially ones with edible plants.
Every summer or Christmas vacation, we used to visit my father's province in Nueva Ecija, and this place is known as the Rice Capital of the Philippines. With my sibling, cousins, titos and titas, I got to see a vast horizon of farm fields with grains and trees like mango and some others I could not name since they were far from me, and as always I am entranced with that kind of scenery.
Fast forward during this Extended Enhanced Community Quarantine, I tried planting. There is no much available space in our residency, so the best way is to do urban gardening. My father already has plants placed in recycled plastic containers. He has been gardening ever since I can remember. Mostly, we have ornamental plants and some trees like papaya, guyabano, bayabas, and alateris in some small available lot in our residence. I am amazed by my father's talent in gardening, one of his many.
Now, I am returning to gardening. During this pandemic, I realized the importance of reconnecting with nature, to God's creation, through the simple way of gardening at home. I am aware that I got to do this and other stuff because of the community quarantine due to the danger brought by CoVid-19, but I hope and pray it can be part of my new normal after lifting EECQ on May 15.
Seedlings are coming out. Seedlings! Truest in its flesh! I felt giddy and excited when I saw the two okra seedlings this morning. I could not believe they were actually sprouting. (Yay! Yey!) This is my second attempt, and they are growing. My first attempt failed, but my father knows much better when it comes to planting. He gave me some tips on how to plant seeds the right way. I am still waiting and looking forward to the other seeds to come out.
I got seeds for free from the City Agriculture Office - the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna through the office of Barangay Caingin City of Santa Rosa Laguna. They still have plenty of vegetable seeds. You can still drop a message on their Facebook to get some seeds for free so you can start your own planting journey.
Every time I water the plants, I try to talk to the plants either silently or verbally. Just this morning, I read some Bible verses to the seedlings, since watching #CLOY I was reminded that I must talk to the plants and say good things. Aren't Bible verses good words to say?
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