Let’s Go Organic with Fresh Start Organic Farms!

It was a hot Sunday moring when the guests of Philippine blog Awards – Visayas visited the Fresh Start Organic Farms in Hacienda Makina, Silay City.

While the rest of the nation was glued to their television sets to watch the Pacquiao – Marquez boxing match, we all had a very interesting day at the Farm learning a lot about going organic.

One of the thing we learned during the tour was vermicomposting. Vermicompost is defined in Wikipedia as product or process of composting utilizing various species of worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and earthworms to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast. Vermicast, similarly known as worm castings, worm humus or worm manure, is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by a species of earthworm.

Containing water-soluble nutrients, vermicompost is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. The process of producing vermicompost is called vermicomposting.

The high-quality organic fertilizers produced are used in the garden inside the farm. There were several varieties of lettuce planted. the owners said the harvest are dellivered mostly to local cafe and restaurants in Bacolod. The demand is quite high so sometime they can’t even deliver fresh harvest to the grocery stores.

In front of the lettuce plot are rowns of sunflowers in full bloom. the owners said that pests are naturally attracted to the sunflower, thereby reducing the risk of pest infestation in lettuce plants.

Aside from lettuce, the farm also plants herbs which they also sell. Another thing that really amazed me is their organic pig that only eats lettuce leaves. The vegetarian pic has less fat compared to the usual pig being sold at the market.

The Fresh Start Organic farm also sells other organic products like black rice, brown rice, and organic coffee. All these are locally grown in Negros Occidental.

After the tour, we then headed towards Balay Negrese where a heart lunch awats us. the lunch served is 100% organic and is sponsored by the Fresh Start Organic Farm.

Our lunch consist of lechon using organic pig, steamed fish with dressings, duck, adobong takway. Takway is part of gabi or taro.

For our drinks, we had freshly squeezed sugarcane juice with Passion Fruit. It is so refreshing! Perfect for a hot Sunday lunch!

The tour to the Fresh Start Organic farm is a very fruitful one. I have learned so much about segregating our waste, and the importance of going organic. Fresh Start is the local movers when it comes to going organic in Negros.

They currently have a stall at the Robinson’s Place Bacolod which sells various organic items. Watch out as they will open Fresh start Organics at the Robinson’s Bacolod Central CityWalk.

Many Thanks to Mr. Chinchin Uy for welcoming us at his farm and for the delicious lunch!

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