Everytime I visit Costales Nature Farms (CNF) in Majayjay, Laguna, I continue to be amazed with how the farm continue to grow and be an inspiration to others. In the many instances that I visited the farm, busloads of visitors are already there before us. The last time I was there, I was told that the visitors from the two buses parked outside the farm are from the Department of Tourism.

I was speechless when I was told by the Teacher-In-Charge of a school where we (together with the National 4H Club Federation) are partnering a feeding program that the recipients of the feeding program are children who are classified as ‘severely wasted”. I was like what???? Sir, why call them that? It is as if they have no more value in society! He told me that it is the correct term used.

With tears in her eye, the wife was effusive in her appreciation to the training that the ATI sponsored. “This is the first time that my husband participated actively and positively in a training”. The husband and wife team were participants in a training on Integrated Organic Farming at Costales Nature Farms in Majayjay, Laguna.

Our office, the Agricultural Training Institute sponsored a training on Integrated Organic Agriculture and Agri-Tourism Development at Costales Nature Farms in Majayjay, Laguna. The training was conducted by the Costales family- Sir Ronald, Maam Josie and their son, Reden. We have two husband and wife teams in the group. From interacting with them, I saw the advantages of having both husbands and wives together in one training. (I just wished I brought mine.) This led me to conclude that husbands and wives should attend training together if they plan to go organic:

“We need never be ashamed of our tears.” This is a famous quote of one of my favorite authors, Charles Dickens. Yes. I am not ashamed to cry. My work in agricultural extension has driven me to tears for a lot more times than I can count. As always, it was tears of frustration. Who would not be frustrated?

If there is one person who can inspire me to get out of my comfort zone and shift careers, it is Mr. Mon Peñalosa of Victorias City, Negros Occidental. I visited his farm recently together with a group of bloggers. As always, Sir Mon doesn’t cease to amaze me. From the first moment that he talked about his farm, he had the group at the palm of his hand. I’m willing to bet (though I’m not a betting person), that after his talk, majority of the group (composed of young urbanites from Metro Manila) are convinced that farming is the key to riches.