Lunch Outdoors

When was the last time you had lunch outdoors? Last Sunday, my parents invited us to join them for their join birthday celebration with friends at Tita Lita Quimson's beautiful home in Tagaytay.

Pathway to their awesome sanctuary

Organic vegetables and herbs in the garden

Santi plays with his uncle's 15 year old toys

Don't you just love the laid back set up?

Freshly baked bread with homemade hummus, pesto and tapenade for starters

In my sunnies

September Celebrants (Santi not included but here anyway!)

Fresh herb tea from the garden

Classic for Montri to lie down after lunch :P

Sleepy smile :)

Let's have more meals in nature, ya? :)

FLOW: Farm, Yoga, Samba Weekend

September is a few days away and I'm so thrilled to be inviting you to our next FLOW event - A Farm, Yoga & Samba weekend retreat on September 22-23 at the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Bulacan, just 2 hours away from Manila!

The FLOW yummy mums have always wanted to hold a retreat in an organic farm because we love nature and expose our kids to natural surroundings as much as we can. Some of you know that I even moved to Palawan to start an organic farm with my family. Now that I'm back in Manila, I look forward to hosting events outside the city such as our next FLOW retreat :)

Some reasons why you should join our next retreat...

Bamboo Grass Palace for Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga

Meals will be served at the Grassroots Cafe

Interact with farm animals

Our retreats are kid-friendly!

Take a dip in the rain collected love pool

Walking Meditation

Natural green surroundings have the ability to relax our senses

Infinite possibilities for imagination, creativity

Learn how to make Theo & Philo chocolates

Wake up to greens and fresh air

Another shot of the Bamboo Grass Palace

Event Itinerary

Sept 22, Saturday

8-930am Arrival of guests at the GK Enchanted Farm

9:30am: Icebreakers
10-11am: Farm Tour
12nn: Lunch
2-3:30pm: Theo + Philo chocolate workshop
4:30pm: Yin Yoga
7pm: Dinner
8:30pm: Samba Bonfire

Sept 23, Sunday
6:30am -7:30am: Sunrise Yoga
8am: Green Smoothie workshop & Breakfast
10am-11am: Harvest time at Farm or other farm activities
12nn: Lunch
2-3pm: Back to Manila

Package rate per person is P5,500 which includes the following:

• Organic Farm Tour
• 1 Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga class
• 1 Sunset Yin Yoga session
• 1 Samba session with Escola de Samba de Manila
• Green Smoothie Workshop
• Theo & Philo Chocolate Workshop
• 2D/1N stay at the GK Enchanted Farm
• Meals & Snacks
• Flow Bag with freebies

Gather all your friends and join us for some nature fun! Register online here.

For more info on our retreats and events, check out www.flowsurfyogasamba.com, be our fan in Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. 

DIY: All-Natural Coconut Hot Oil Treatment

We are so lucky to be living in the Philippines where we have an abundance of coconuts. I remember living in our Palawan farm where I would just have someone climb one of the coconut trees for fresh coco juice every morning. The meat I would eat and the older meat we'd grind and turn into coconut milk for dishes like ginataang monggo with malunggay or vegetable curry. Another great use for coconut milk is for the skin and HAIR!

There was one salon that I went to a long time ago that offered all-natural hot oil treatment. I forget already which salon but i do remember how simple the process was so I'm going to share it with all of you :)

Things you'll need:

• Coconut milk aka gata
• Oil burner w candle
• Cotton balls

Directions: Pour the coconut milk into the oil burner and heat until you see the oil separate. Put a cotton ball into the mixture until it soaks the liquid and then slowly apply on to your scalp. I love the sensation of heat on my skin. It would be great if you had someone do a head massage while applying the heated coco oil/milk into your scalp. Leave on your hair and cover it with a plastic shower cap with the option of sleeping in and washing of the next day.

*CAUTION: This can be extremely hot so be very careful with your fingers and scalp.

*You could also probably use VCO (virgin coconut oil) but I like the fact that you can use freshly squeezed coconut milk for real cheap from your local market. P25-P35 for a whole bag which can make a few cups.

Enjoy conditioned  locks, ladies ;)

DIY All-Natural Body Scrub & Face Mask

Sundays seem to be the perfect day to do DIY projects. I got a little creative in the kitchen today making all-natural products for my skin ;)

Refreshing Citrus Body Scrub

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of VCO (virgin coco oil)
- Calamansi juice (3-4 pcs)
- 1 cup of sugar
- Mint leaves
- Essential Oils (optional)

Directions: Mix all of the ingredients and store in an airtight container (or attract ants/cockroaches!) Scrub on skin lightly as this may be quite abrasive. Use within the week. You may choose to use the mask after scrubbing. I just did!

Moisturizing Face & Body Mask

Ingredients:
- Avocado
- Honey (optional)

Directions: Mash avocado to paste and mix in heated honey if you want. I saved my honey and just used leftover avocados from my fridge. Lather on face and/or body with your fingers or a spatula and wait 15-20 minutes before rinsing off. Instead of lying down, I massaged myself and felt quite luxurious. Picture yourself in some Balinese spa while you're at it! (note: avocados are aphrodisiacs so even massaging the fruit on body can be quite sensual!)

To lock in moisture, I used a vco and aloe vera based soap to wash off and lathered vco again. Self-care beed not be expensive. Basic kitchen ingredients can make your skin silky smooth and glowing like Cleopatra ;) Enjoy!

FLOW goes to Baler!

The FLOW Surf Yoga Samba girls are uber excited to be doing our next weekend retreat in Aliya Surf Camp in Baler. We have always wanted to expand our horizons and this is ittt...we are starting to bring FLOW all over the Philippines and soon enough..the world! Check out our fabulous sponsors! Lotsa goodies to be given away. 

Exciting news! Lagu is one of our sponsors. Participants get a 10% discount when they purchasing a Lagu beach-friendly blanket from us, just email us at flowsurfyogasamba@gmail.com

Rawlicious will also be providing green smoothies to all the participants en route to Baler in our FLOW vehicle.

Glowing Rawlicious girls - they make our healthy drinks 

If you haven't signed up yet, slots are getting filled fast! Please register through our form at www.flowsurfyogasamba.multiply.com and we will get back to you with payment details together with the itinerary.

It's going to be a FUN weekend under the summer sun!

Oh, and if you wanna learn more about the weekend, stay tuned for our live guesting on Mornings at ANC this Friday, April 20 1030am.

The Hunt Begins: Kolisko Waldorf School

Earlier today, we attended an open house orientation at the Kolisko Waldorf School. YummyMummy Denise and I have started to hunt for a new Waldorf school for our kids, Benny & Santi, because they will be turning 5 in a few months, which means they have to 'graduate' from the Waldorf Daycare program of St. Michael Playhouse (formerly known as Mikael). Oh, we're going to miss you all Tita Winnie, Tita Marcy, Tita Malou and Tito Allan! :_(

Tiny Santi & Benny back in 2010 at St. Michael's Playhouse

We've always resonated with the Waldorf philosophy on education since we attended a talk conducted by one of the founders of Manila Waldorf School, Tita Bella Tan, back in 2009. I've said this before and I'll say it again...If you are a parent, you MUST listen to her speak about saving your kids' childhood (lives, really!) through age-appropriate education, and your life will be changed forever! Another inspiration I found online was through the blog of Panjee Tapales, a huge eye-opener! I truly felt a spark lit in me. Everything just made so much sense. I thank my path to Yoga because now I am able to merge my yogic values with that of my sons education.

Snack time at a Waldorf school assures you they serve homemade, healthy meals

In a nutshell, what I like most about the school is that they see a child as not only a physical & mental entity but also respect a child's SOUL. This is obviously lacking in other schools. Take a look at the toys of other schools. Mostly made from plastic in China, I bet. I recall asking our much-loved pediatrician, Dr. Crickette Palanca-Chen, why wooden toys are better. She answered that handmade toys are warmer to touch and have better intentions rather than factory mass-made plastic toys that are cold to touch. Now that I am into energy-work, I understand this concept very much. It's the same reason why home-cooked food meals made with love by your Lola or Mom have the power to heal...because of the intention they have poured into the food.


One of the speakers at Kolisko today mentioned that the attitude of the teacher in his Waldorf school made all the difference in his early education. Always remember that the children imbibe the feelings/emotions of their nurturers. This is why parents should always keep calm around their children. If parents are away at work, please be mindful of who you leave your children with. Your yayas or teachers are considered second parents. In Waldorf schools, they call teachers nurturers because that IS what they are, afterall!

Also consider the food the canteen sells or what other parents serve in the children's lunchboxes. When Santi used to attend non-Waldorf schools, I would cringe every snack time seeing all his other classmates eating packed junk. If you are a mindful/conscious parent, like I strive to be, you would understand where I am coming from.

Here are other reasons on Why Waldorf Works (via http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/)

Waldorf Education

• Is based on a profound understanding of human development
• Provides a detailed, richly artistic curriculum that responds to and enhances the child's developmental phases, from early childhood through high school
• Cultivates social and emotional intelligence
• Connects children to nature
• Ignites passion for lifelong learning
• Is the fastest growing educational movement in the world

About Waldorf Graduates 

According to a recent study of Waldorf graduates:

• 94% attended college or university
• 47% chose humanities or arts as a major
• 42% chose sciences or math as a major
• 89% are highly satisfied in choice of occupation
• 91% are active in lifelong education
• 92% placed a high value on critical thinking
• 90% highly values tolerance of other viewpoints 

More on Waldorf Methods here. 

This is WHY we moved to Palawan before.

When we moved to Palawan 2 years ago, I felt that the lush environment was perfect for a Waldorf school. I know it wasn't just coincidence that Walter and Grace Zozobrado-Hahn (of the Manila Waldorf School) also moved to Puerto Princesa the same time my family did. We did some early education initiatives, trainings and was successful in a start-up Waldorf-inspired school for the children of Puerto Princesa which we named Karawatan which means playground in the local dialect of Palawan.

Now that we are back in Manila. I have to make a crucial decision before school starts in June. I know that the people (teachers & classmates) he spends time with & experiences in these developmental stages of my son will help shape his future. My top choices are Kolisko Waldorf School and Acacia Waldorf School. Here are a few photos from the Kolisko Waldorf School taken today.

A child's growth & consciousness development (ages not seen on the left side!)

Bahay Kubo where kids can play

All-natural surroundings are soothing to the eyes. None of the bright, harsh & stimulating colors you find in other schools.

Artworks proudly presented on the walls with traditional Filipino wear to the right

Things to Consider

My Pros:

• Close proximity to Beyond Yoga (where I teach yoga classes).
• More affordable tuition fees compared to what I pay in St. Michael and in Acacia Waldorf School.
• Kai, the son of my good friend, also goes to school there. Other classmates of Santi in St. Michael will be moving to Kolisko next school year. It's good to know Santi already has friends he can bond with.

My Cons

• Limited space to roam & run for the children.
• No grass in the playground.
• Since they are expanding, the might need to look for a bigger venue in the future.

Kolisko Waldorf School
Address: 22 Alabama St. Brgy. Kristong Hari, New Manila, Quezon City
Email: kolisko.waldorf.school@gmail.com
Contact Number: +639204023860

I plan to visit the Acacia Waldorf School with Santi this Friday. Stay tuned!

Are You Into New Age?

Becausee if you are...then you will resonate with this video. Another spin-off from the recent "Stuff Yogi's Say" video that went viral on YouTube. Hilarious stuff! Half of the things she said, I've probably said to my family and friends.




I so know you from a past-life!
I'm changing my name to...
What sign are you?
Ugh, I'm so detoxing right now
I'm like 80% raw
I love Deepak Chopra!
I love your energy!
Awww, you're such a cancer!
What's your sign?
Is this organic?
Did you eat all my chia seeds?
Even if I ate cheese today, I totally love and accept myself.

A Story of The Land

This essay is part of a book by NVRPA Chief Naturalist, Martin Ogle, entitled “A Sweet and Sublime Enigma,” published in 2006 by Xlibris. 

A Story of the Land

A nervous and tense silence hung in the air of the great meeting hall like a heavy load at the end of a frayed rope.  Muscles twitched like fibers snapping. The glitter of the massive crystal chandeliers and gold-inlay walls seemed only to add to the strained aura.  Then, slowly, a buzz of whispers arose, followed by steadily raised voices.  The voices became louder, some angrier, and within seconds general hysteria ensued.  The chairman rapped hard with the gavel, trying to regain order.  Leaders and representatives of the world’s economic powerhouses were astonished and confused and were groping for a way to respond to the odd proposal they had just heard.

My, my!  All this uproar on the heels of quiet words offered by such an unassuming man!  One would have thought that news of a stock market crash or declaration of war was rippling through the crowd, such was the din.   

"This is out of line," harumphed a European economics professor. "We are here to discuss serious matters."  "Waste of time," muttered a North American secretary of state.  The leader of a small Asian country simply paced nervously behind his chair.  All this because precisely at a moment of impasse in this great caucus, the man from Eastern Europe had taken the floor and made a most unusual request.  It took five minutes for the commotion to abate.

"Did I hear you correctly, sir," asked the chairman, as he pushed his glasses back up on his sweaty nose, "that you would like to tell this esteemed gathering a story?"  This time a muffled laugh broke the silence, colored with disdain.  There was a pause and then a "yes." 

"Yes sir . . . with your indulgence.  The situation we find ourselves in begs reflection . . . . a self-examination.  We must consider where our roots and meaning lie and build a new foundation for those who will follow us.  There is a saying found in many parts of the world . . . 'We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.'  We must give careful consideration to our place in this world and what we will leave for our children.  An often neglected, yet powerful way to do this is through stories . . . stories of our lands."  He quickly scanned the room and said “And so, yes . . . yes, I do want to tell a story.”  

Examine ourselves?  Roots and meaning?  Stories of our lands?  Never had such nonsense been uttered in front of this distinguished group!  But nothing could stop the odd sequence of events that had produced this moment.  Nothing else had worked all afternoon, and the thin man at the podium looked down upon the crowd with penetrating eyes that were softly demanding the attentions of those present.  The American secretary of state coughed insistently, as if attempting to change the mood, but no organized effort could be mounted to remove the man at the lectern.  And so he continued.

"When I was a child," he began, "I lived in a farming area famous for its sugar beets and potatoes.  Root crops.  Crops which lived and grew intimately in and with the soil.  We depended on successful harvests for our health and, in those days, our very survival.  Our lives were dependent on farming and the best farmers were the ones with a wisdom that went beyond mere knowledge.  The farmer had to love the soil, to understand the seasons and weather, the insects and diseases..."

At first, the crowd sat slackjawed at the absurdity of a story about root crops at an economic conference.  But it was, after all, a story, and they listened.  The representatives from Ireland and Indonesia could relate to root crops, and a number of others were vaguely comforted by the use of the word "wisdom." It seemed to be in short supply these days.  One could almost detect a collective sigh arising from the audience.

The Eastern European continued.  He wove a grand tale about the farmlands in which he had grown up and about how his grandfather had rescued the town from almost certain starvation because of his understanding of potato pests.  It was the year after the Great War, and had their crop failed, it would have spelled doom for the village.  There would have been no surplus in neighboring towns.  Heads nodded in response.  Many in the room had fought in that war or had directly experienced its hardships.  The story was coming alive in the hearts of those in the room.  The plot became richer as it captured the feelings and emotions of the world that emerged from World War II.  The world had rid itself of an evil force, was fast developing new inventions and farming methods, and was swept up in a wave of optimism rarely equaled.  For many countries it was a new renaissance; a new awakening.  And in the process, many fell asleep to what was happening to the land.

People were becoming completely absorbed as the tale twisted and turned through the years.  Here they sat, 50 years into the "new awakening," hopelessly deadlocked on how to bring success to the world economies.  And the Earth was showing signs of the strain created by past successes.  Almost 6 billion people where there had been 2 billion . . .  stupendous, unparalleled wealth coexisting with massive starvation and misery . . .  The Earth was being eaten alive, as it were, by a malignant human cancer.  The tale was almost too sad to bear.

But it was still a story, and the teller’s eyes reflected optimism once more as their burning brightness gave way to what might even have been called a twinkle.  He was telling of the lands from which many had come; lands which held hometowns and relatives, hills and rivers and trees, and great mysteries.  As he spoke, more than one pair of eyes became slightly misty and more than one heart felt a tug from an unidentifiable something.  And gradually the story of individual lands became a story of the land. It was a story of the Earth which then blossomed into a song of hope.  The air in the room was brittle.  All attention was trained on the Eastern European.  How he had gotten them to this point was itself a mystery.  Why, here was a dignified and powerful collection of more than 200 men and a few women, and they sat biting their lower lips like children listening to a ghost story.

How could people remain hopeful when what the modern world did best was to homogenize, grow and consume, and there were no alternate visions?  Almost in a whisper, the man continued.  "I am hopeful because I see many peoples around the world returning in many different ways to a story about the land which is an ancient story.  It is the story of the Earth as a living being. 

"Indigenous peoples around the world have, for ages, recognized and celebrated a living planet in their mythology.  And even we in the modern Western culture have not lost it altogether.  It is preserved in the feelings that arise within us when we eat good food or view a beautiful landscape, and in our language with phrases such as 'Mother Earth.'  Scientists are calling this ancient concept the Gaia theory, and there is strong and mounting scientific evidence that our Earth as a whole behaves as if it were one giant organism. A living, breathing being from which we take our life and breath."

That a simple story about root crops should have progressed to this point might have puzzled someone viewing the performance on TV.  But to those in the great meeting hall who had been captivated - albeit reluctantly - by the living, breathing human being in their midst, new chords were being struck.  A deeply buried awareness was rising to the surface.  They were hearing things which just an hour before would have caused indignation and scorn, but which were now hopeful and beautiful.

The speaker took a deep breath as if gathering strength for the last leg of a great journey home.  His shoulders rose and fell and his long exhalation traveled as a wind through the hall.  His eyes roamed the room and seemed to make contact with every person.  The story of the land was coming full circle. 

"This new, yet ancient story gives us eyes to see that we are parts of a greater whole.  Our destiny is not dependent merely on what we do for ourselves but also on what we do for the Earth.  If we endanger her, she will dispense with us in the interests of a higher value - Life itself.  What makes this story so inspiring?  One simple thing:  it reminds us of what we have long suspected, of what we have long projected into our forgotten myths and what perhaps has always lain dormant within us.  That is, the awareness of our being anchored in the Earth and the universe, the awareness that we are not alone nor here for ourselves alone, but that we are an integral part of something greater than ourselves."*  

This was the calm before the last storm of his powerful story.  The thin man stood more erect and then leaned out over the podium.  "Ladies and gentlemen, it is we, the world's leaders and economists, who are among the last holdouts to the wisdom of this great, ancient story."  He paused as if to let this statement sink in fully.  "Yes, we are the last holdouts.  And if we can muster the necessary time and effort - indeed, the courage - to consider what this story means, we can usher in hope for future generations that will follow us on this tiny planet.     

     "I invite you to help tell this story."

http://www.gaiatheory.org/story.htm

Becoming a Raw Foodie

Since I moved to Puerto Princesa a few months back, I have been properly introduced to Raw Food by Pi & Daniw of Bahay Kalipay.

 Breakfast from BK: Avocado-Mango-Banana with honey + coco milk + cacao bits

I have read about this diet years ago but found it quite drastic since I couldn't fathom eating anything that was un-cooked all day. Yes, I have been pork & beef free (and at times happy with a pure vegetarian diet) for so long but the thought of having to eat ONLY fruits and salads was just out of this world. To me, salads were always for starters and fruits were commonly just for snacks or dessert. I also grew up eating all kinds of food and delicacies..most of which are, sadly, not healthy for you.

Review all those comfort foods we all grew up with - white rice with ulam (dishes), pasta with bread, milk, butter in everything, potatoes in all forms esp the fried ones, fast food joints, oh and don't forget the chocolates, cakes and ice cream. The sweets, I find hardest to remove. Up to this day, I can remove all the others listed above but please don't take away my chocolates :(

So, imagine having to cut off all those deeply ingrained eating habits which you have grown to love all these years? When you are into healing, however, you slowly evolve into this being who resonates towards purity. And for a pure body, mind and soul... you'll need to detox. Remove all junk, toxic wastes from the body to let the light and life force flow within.

The Raw Food Diet is considered super nutrition that immensely adds life force because it's majorly composed of, preferably, organic fruits and green vegetables that provide live enzymes without all the junk. Pi Villaraza has an amazing explanation on this topic and foods that we are addicted to and why we should get off them. He connects this to our life force and spirituality. For those interested, he will be conducting a Raw Spirituality Workshop focusing on Raw Food in Manila on Aug 27, 2010. Limited slots only. Please contact kalimata777@gmail.com or 0999-451-2765 to save your space.

In a nutshell, what I have learned so far from Pi's talk, is that, being on raw would be spending the least amount of energy plus the most nutrition into your body. Having to digest very heavy food like processed carbohydrates disturbs your energy system. In yogic view, this would be likened to 'wasting or dumping all your energy'. After cooked meals, you draw all energies towards your digestive system just to break down all the food you have eaten when you would want energy to rise up to higher chakras instead of down to lower ones. It's basic energy consumption.

The sweetest yellow watermelons from the BK Garden

It's really removing layers of yourself like an onion. Until you get to your raw core to unleash your full potential. So, I'm aiming to slowly ease myself into raw. I've started with green smoothies or basic fruit for breakfast each day and experimented & incorporated some raw food dishes that actually fill the tummy for other meals at home. My days vary between 30% - 50% raw but I am pushing for 70% especially after our farming course! 100% Raw will continue to be a dream for now :)

Here's an interesting recipe taught to me by Bahay Kalipay's raw food goddess, Daniw. Making and tasting this sumptuous dish will surely jumpstart you and your family on your raw food journey.

Raw Pesto Pasta

Ingredients
-shredded fresh coconut meat (this is your noodles substitute!)
-tomatoes
-white or green onions
-pepper
-cayenne
-homemade pesto sauce : a mixture of basil, cashew nuts, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, Bragg's liquid aminos tossed in food processor or blender.

What I love about raw food preparation is that there is absolutely no cooking involved! So, just toss all ingredients above into a bowl and mix well :)

*Don't ask me about quantity because mine is always different per batch. Just use your instincts :)

Santi loves his raw pesto pasta! Plate is clean and mum is happy :)

Some Starter Tips on Becoming a Raw Foodie
1. Start small. I helped ease myself on all this by introducing green smoothies. If you are not fond of greens, at least it is being masked by the fruit and honey in your shake! Have it all day long if you end up loving it.
2. Since no cooking is involved, you save on a lot of costs on gas or electricity and can invest in a good set of knives, scoopers, and a bamboo chopping board instead.
3. A food processor, powerful juicer, and a really good blender is a MUST! Many raw foodist like Victoria Boutenko swear by VitaMix. It's got a very high price tag so I'm sticking to my trusty Osterizer until it konks out :P
4. Stock up on lots of green vegetables and fruits. Remember that fresh, local and organic is best so source them in your weekly organic markets. In Makati, there is the Salcedo Market every Saturdays, the Legaspi Market on Sundays and the Lung Center in Quezon City on Sundays.
5. Grow your own vegetable patch & herb garden. This is the most ideal situation. Growing your own greens is the most fulfilling for a raw foodie. It helps your kids learn where there food & health comes from! Later on you'll be amazed at how they will learn to respect
6. Have fun in your little dish experiments! The internet is a great source for hundreds of raw recipes by the experts. Here are some links for you:

http://www.rawfamily.com/
http://www.living-foods.com/recipes/
http://www.therawfoodfamily.com/
http://www.aniphyo.com/

Goodluck on your raw endeavors in the kitchen! If you have any interesting recipes to share, please send them in. We'd love to hear from you! :)

A Crash Course on Soil

Day 1 of our much-awaited course in Natural Farming of Bountiful Harvest is over. Today, Simon Gill focused and lectured on Soil Management which is top priority when starting out on a farm or even a personal vegetable and herb garden. 

We all know that the SOIL cares for PLANT which cares for YOU....But who cares for the SOIL? Aha!

Current soil status all over Palawan (and other parts of the Philippines & the world I can imagine!) is acidic. He explains that people have been mining on the soil, depleting soil of their trace minerals through wrong practices like chemical fertilizers, wrong practices of slash & burn, etc. This results to having mineral deficiency in the crops, the food on our plates. 

 Simon is proud of his healthy organic corn crops

It's simple to remember this...when minerals in the soil goes down, diseases in humans and animals rises. Studies have also been made on nutrient content of our foods today- to get the same nutritional value of an apple back in 1940's, you will need to consume 4-5 apples. Hmm..I would've used a local fruit like saba (banana) or camote (sweet potato) as an example but maybe the study he was referring to was from the US.

Since we are on the topic of food, here's our nutritionally dense food for a day's work- A variety of delicious vegetarian dishes by Jinky Gill, Simon's wife. There was brown rice, a spicy kang kong dish, bean soup, veggie rolls, eggplant and okra. All came with their own yoghurt based dips which were all very tasty and good.

She also served us snacks like fresh coconut, mango shake and fried bananas throughout the day. 

 Mango shake with a lovely edible flower from their garden

Most of the ingredients used in all their home-cooked meals are from their farm, of course! Nothing but fresh produce. I look forward to next week's class because she promised us Indian curry dishes, oooh yummy! :)

Some scenes from the farm---

 One of their local farmers on siesta break from 1pm to 3pm

And we proceed to make the carbonized rice hull for soil conditioner

 

  

And some magic soil mix

I found natural LOVE formations on the soil, too!

M and I have agreed to make this our weekly bonding activity. Something we could do together without Santi. Think of it like a special eco-date :)

 Cheers to the future food farmers!

It's another affirmation and physical manifestation of our green intentions for our family and more importantly the next generation's future. Like Simon says... when the oil, rice and vegetable prices sky-rocket (and you know they eventually will!), you're food farm will be a gold mine!

Now, can you digest that? ;)

Bountiful Harvest
Brgy. Sicsican, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Jinky Gill 0917-8492911