A one-of-a-kind farm tour experience
how mother nature humbles us in so many ways
If we surrendered to earth’s intelligence, we could rise up rooted like trees.
Organic Durian tree near the balcony.
It has been over a year since I left my daytime job as a community development worker —a community nurse that is.
Back in 2010, two years before I took a leap of faith, I imagined that once I become a farmer, I will be able to enjoy the farm serenity and reconnect with nature.
Fast track almost four years later, and now being a farmer in my hometown of Bislig, my actual farming experience exceeded what I had imagined.
Let me share to you why.
One of the things I like most about farming is farm tours.
As a beginning farmer, I always do my best to learn as much as I could. And the best way, is to actually visit farms and learn from these hardworking farmers firsthand.
I have been to Costales Nature Farms, Eden Nature Park and Resort, and other similar eco-farms in the country. But my recent farm visit in municipality of Tagbina is the best farm tour so far.
Donell Polizon, the former mayor of Tagbina invited me to visit his farm. We met in one of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session back in February this year and back again last month. And this time agreed to actually visit his farm and residence.
We arrived past 3 o’clock in the afternoon of October 1st from Bislig.
Pollizon’s Farm Estate
Free range chickens and ducks welcomed us at the entrance. Notice below how they move around together.
Donell’s farm residence is 10 hectares wide and is about 3 kilometers away from Tagbina bus terminal.
Located about 10 meters from the entrance sits his hotel-like home surrounded with Rambutan and Durian trees.
Upon entering his home, I immediately notice the serene and laid-back atmosphere —one of the many benefits of being a farmer. And the main reason why he chooses to reside inside the farm.
We were then ushered to his balcony and offered with a huge bowl full of Rambutans while he started sharing stories about his farming experience.
A few hours later, we started touring his farm estate.
First, we went to the fish pond. It is a nature-made pond that was expanded to accommodate his Tilapias. The hut in the middle is intended for the fishing experience. Fresh catch Tilapias for his visitor’s liking.
Free Ranged Goats
Next, we went to his goat herd.
This part of the tour is the most memorable moment for me.
Donell told us that his goats are trained to return to their house before dawn. His goats are actually free range.
Free range goats?! In a farm full of vegetables and fruit trees?
YES. It’s free ranged.
He shared to us his secret. Here is how.
Every morning the goats are fed inside their house with grasses for breakfast. Then at noon time, they are given with a few grasses for snacks. So that meant, hungry goats during the afternoon.
Then at 3 pm, they are freed. Because, they are a little (or alot if you ask me) hungry, they will immediately look for food to eat —the grasses located nearest to their house. For two hours, every goat will eat as much grasses he can swallow and won’t have time to wonder around the farm. That means, goats won’t eat other plants because the first thing they do is to fill-up their stomachs.
Then at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, as the sun starts to kiss the ground, they will start returning back to their shelter as it is difficult for them to see at night and they need to shelter themselves for the cold breeze.
While Donell were explaining those things to us, an amazing thing happened next.
The herd came running towards us into their house and settled-in without fuzz inside their respective compartments. It was like a moment in Noah’s Ark where animals—on their own, settled themselves quietly.
It was Amazing.
It was an unforgettable learning experience. I have never seen a herd of goat running towards their house and settled themselves quietly. What I know is, once goats are freed, it is a challenge to bring them back to their shelter. That is the reason why most goats I see is on a leash. But this time, I witnessed otherwise.
Companion Planting
He also showed us his Rubber trees with pineapples as companion plant.
If I remembered it correctly, he has over a thousand rubber trees.
Then, we visited a few of his vegetable gardens scattered around the farm. He revealed that he likes planting vegetables and herbs.
Mulch and More
Notice below how he uses composts at different levels of decomposition to fertilize his fruit trees —it is called mulching. I also use the same technology in my farm. I do live mulching as well, using live plants (grasses mostly) to cover the soil to maintain its moisture thus preventing it from drying up especially during summer.
After our tour, we were treated with Tagbina’s own brewed coffee. He even told us with enthusiasm that there is a huge possibility that the raw material used in Nescafe 3 in 1 comes from Tagbina. Nice.
Then before we left, we had a sumptuous dinner —most of which came from his farm.
Patriotic and Proud
Notice the Philippine flag below. Displayed whole year round not just every 12th of June —-the Philippine Independence Day.
And then, the ‘take away’—Rambutans as pasalubong.
It was definitely and without a doubt, my best farm tour experience thus far.
Good food, seeing his free range and disciplined livestock, his well-planned gardens and inter-spaced fruit trees and, topped with his sincere generosity and humility truly makes this tour a one-of-a-kind farm tour experience.
Until Then
Now, I am doubly excited for my next farm visit.
