Growing Food not Lawns: A Day of Backyard Farming

This workshop is especially for those interested in starting their own backyard garden, urban kitchen garden or small farm while practicing sustainable, holistic and biodynamic methods. We are combining the wisdom and hands-on expertise of real farmers. For would-be and aspiring farmers, this is a rare and powerful learning opportunity.

During the workshop, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn to grow healthy food to eat and also have a backyard “farm-acy” for herbs and medicinal plants
  • Gain a basic understanding of biodynamic growing, permaculture, agro-forestry and sustainable agriculture practices.  In particular, we introduce a method of transforming your backyard into a food forest.
  • Make a compost heap
  • Integrate chickens in your garden and learn how to produce your own eggs
  • Learn practical skills to grow food in your backyard or small farm
  • Plan your garden for the year
  • Learn ways of managing insects, attracting beneficials and controlling disease through organic methods
  • Start to culture and raise earthworms in your home
  • Use vermi-compost for your farm

In collaboration with SLOWFOOD MANILA.

Backyard1

DATE AND TIME:  The Introductory Backyard Farming Workshop will be held on January 28 Saturday.  The Workshop starts at 9AM with a short break in the morning.  Lunch is from 12:30-1:30.  It ends at 4:30- 5:00.  Some practical work is included. We will discuss building soil and composting, growing your garden and pest control.  You will also see our homestead and how we grow our garden at home. 

Want to know how the day will go? Take a peek: backyardschedule-jan28

VENUE

The workshop will be held at Clubhouse of Hacienda Sta. Elena, Barrio Malitlit, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

EXIT ETON: Turn left on Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road (you will see Paseo de Sta. Rosa on your left.) Go straight until you see Vista Mall on your right.  On your left will be a sign “Sta Elena City.” Make a left into Sta. Elena City (it is before Nuvali). You will pass Fontamara homes, Mesa Homes, Augusta, then you will reach Georgia Club Rotonda. Make right at the Rotonda. It is a long road. You will see walled communities such as Belle Reve on the right. At the end of the road is another Rotonda, make a left. Follow the long road until you see the Hacienda Sta. Elena gate.  Enter the gate and ask for directions to the Clubhouse. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Take the bus to Balibago, then take a tricycle ride from Sta. Rosa exit (tricycle terminal) to Sta. Elena City.

MEALS: All meals are included in the workshop fee. Healthy yet scrumptious meals made of local, organic or sustainable ingredients will be served. Please bring your own water bottles, plates and utensils. If you have any food allergies or preferences, please inform us so that we can discuss how your food needs can be met.

Backyard3

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Nicolo Aberasturi is the President of Flower Depot, a flower grower and retailer of organic and bio-dynamic flowers, and the President of DowntoEarth, a grower and supplier of biodynamic vegetables, and pasture-raised meat, pork, dairy, poultry, smoked and cured meats. He is a Trustee of the Organic Producers Trade Association of the Philippines and a member of the Philippine Biodynamics Association.

Nicolo has been in farming for 20 years and began practicing sustainable agriculture in 2004, while applying bio-dynamics in 2007. Today he manages Earth Flora, a vegetable and flower farm in Dahilayan, Bukidnon, using sustainable and humane agricultural practices. In 2011, he returned to his roots in cattle farming and is now working or networking with small family farms, to raise animals in the pasture.

DowntoEarth grows vegetables using bio- dynamics and sustainable practices. It raises livestock sustainably and works with a network of sustainably family farmers and ranchers in Mindanao. All of DowntoEarth’s animals have been raised on pasture. DowntoEarth is dedicated to ensure traditional, all-natural, humane and sustainable methods for growing crops and raising animals for food.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

FEE: P2500 (includes lunch, snack and all course materials.)

P2000 Students/Seniors

Group Discounts are also available.  Scholarships are available.   

Fee includes

• Lecturer, all course materials, healthy and delicious lunch, tea, coffee and water

TO REGISTER: registration-form-jan28

To ensure your place, please send full payment by January 18, 2017.  You can pay via bank deposit or personally at our shop (Makati Curb Holdings,  #7433 Ground Floor, Unit J, Yakal St., San Antonio Village, Makati City.  Alternatively, you can pay us at our DowntoEarth booth in the Salcedo or Legaspi markets on Saturday or Sunday. 

Bank Deposit Details:

Deposit to BPI Account (Arnaiz Ave. branch) Account Name: Earth Flora Inc. Account Number: 9661-0147-65

Checks are accepted. Please issue the check under the name of Earth Flora Inc.

Early registration is advised, as slots are limited. If you have deposited, please scan the deposit slip and email it to info@downtoearth.ph.  Once your payment has been received, confirmation will be sent with a receipt and further details about what to bring.

*Cancellation Policy

If for some reason you cannot make it to the workshop, a fee of P500 will be charged to cover administration costs up to two weeks prior to the commencement of the workshop and the balance will be refunded to you. Within 2 weeks of the workshop commencing however, a 50% cancellation fee will be charged. If for some reason the workshop is cancelled, you will receive at least 2 weeks notice and your full payment will be refunded. 

If you have other questions, please let us know or SMS 0915-8979044.

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20 responses to this post.

  1. Posted by Alex Sharpe on January 26, 2016 at 10:34 am

    Is the work shop in English or Tagalog ?

    Reply

  2. Posted by Clean Mean Machine on January 28, 2016 at 12:53 am

    This sounds awesome. Thank you for sharing the knowledge and encouraging others to grow for themselves as well. 🙂

    Reply

  3. Posted by Florecita R.Padua on March 9, 2016 at 7:06 pm

    Do you still have slots available?

    Reply

    • Thank you for your interest. I am sorry but the workshop was booked full in a short period of time. However, we will be doing another one in October. I will let you know as soon as we have a date

      Reply

  4. […] Backyard Gardening by Down To Earth Farms March 12, 2016 This is handled by Biodynamic farmers Nicolo and Paula Aberasturi […]

    Reply

  5. Posted by Carmina Jalandoni on August 11, 2016 at 12:07 am

    I am interested in joining – is there still an opening?

    Reply

  6. Posted by Andy nocum on August 11, 2016 at 4:03 pm

    I’m interested to join.

    Reply

    • Thank you for your interest. I am sorry but the workshop was booked full in a short period of time. However, we will be doing another one in October. I will let you know as soon as we have a date.

      Reply

  7. My name is Bert Nolasco , President of
    Kingspoint Homeowners Association
    Inc. ( please open our FB account).
    We are interested in attending the Seminar. We are ariound four delegates to attend.
    We have a big vacant lots in our Subdivision, any interested parties
    can use our lots.
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Hi Mr. Nolasco. Thank you for your interest. I am sorry but the workshop was booked full in a short period of time. However, we will be doing another one in October. I will let you know as soon as we have a date so I could include your delegates. We could also give you a group discount. Thanks.

      Reply

  8. Posted by Linda Garcia on August 13, 2016 at 11:44 am

    How many person that would be consider as group to have a group discounts?

    Reply

  9. Posted by Eric Santillan on August 13, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    Hi! Is this workshop still pushing through? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Thank you for your interest. I am sorry but the workshop was booked full in a short period of time. However, we will be doing another one in October. I will let you know as soon as we have a date.

      Reply

  10. Posted by Vida Sardjono on August 15, 2016 at 9:13 am

    I guess this is the Registration Form. I wish to attend on Sept. 10.

    Reply

  11. Posted by Charlie Valerio on August 22, 2016 at 10:26 pm

    Are there still slots?

    Reply

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