Having been to various organic farms in the country and listening to first-hand stories of organic agriculture (OA) practitioners, I have opted to shift to a “healthier” living for more than a year now. I tried juicing vegetables, incorporating fresh salads in every meal, and eating more vegetables than meat or rice. But the integral part of this diet is that these greens that I consume must be ORGANIC (as much as possible). Although there is enough supply of organic produce in supermarkets, I honestly think they are overpriced… so I looked for other alternatives.

Inspired by an extension activity designed to curb obesity implemented by the Cornell University Cooperative Extension (CUCE) in New York City, ATI-RTC 8 implemented a similar activity under its Organic Agriculture (OA) program to educate mothers on the value of money with the food they prepared. The activity, which took place in Calag-itan, Hinunangan, Southern Leyte on March 23, 2015 was dubbed "Value for Money: Shopping for Health".

Upland barangays of Ormoc City is no stranger to calamities. They experienced loss of livelihood when their abaca plants where eradicated due to “bugtok”. Then came financial losses due to typhoons, foremost of which, was Yolanda. The losses were not only to production but also to soil fertility, which contributed to the low market value of products.

Am I that crazy enough to receive award?
When Dr. Vilma M. Patindol, our OIC Center Director in ATI Region 8 encouraged us to innovate during our planning last December 2014, my imagination went into overdrive. The idea of protecting the brain and plants in Plants vs. Zombies is relative to what organic agriculture is aiming. The strategies in Farmville can also be the farmers’ strategies in making integrated diversified organic farming system (IDOFS) farm.

Who's first?

It's year ending and it's reckoning time. With KM we always recognized the innovativeness and creativeness of each RTC in enhancing access to AFE knowledge products and services. The recognition was no flare, just text sent to all congratulating those in the lead for the most news, first to upload or for a new block. Sometimes it's just like "I appreciate the blog of __ or the innovations of __" and everyone is high because we are a class. Remember: "class is already up and need not strive to look better by making others look worse".

My second blog for the year… and I am so much thankful for 2014, it’s been one of the greatest. I had so many experiences to linger, from home to work and to life in general.

My first blog talks about my experiences that provided me and my family another life to celebrate despite the all not-so-good turnout of events. Thus, clinging the past recounting all the mess will just lead us into woe.