Support systems for farm estates essential

Effective support systems for farming and marketing are salient features of country estates developments that cater to green thumbs and farming enthusiasts.

This is the reason why the Laguna Properties Holdings Inc., an Ayala Land subsidiary, has integrated a support scheme on these matters for the buyers of Hacienda Sta. Monica who are into farming and horticulture.

The Hacienda Sta. Monica, the themed country estate development by the LPHI in Lipa, Batangas, is a well-organized community concept that features three lot divisions, namely: exclusive residential village, a farm community and hacienda plantation.

Lot sizes in the residential village range from 120 to 350 square meters while those in the farm community measure 750 to 1,500 square meters. In the hacienda plantation, where farming is most suitable, lots average 5,000 square meters. The lot sizes in the latter two allow the practice of farming and horticulture.

For the project, the LPHI has linked up with the Flower Factory and the Javiland Palms both based in Lipa which can provide consultations on ornamental and fruit-bearing plants and trees.

For newcomers in the field, the LPHI has arrangement with The Family Farming School for agricultural consultation on basic farming, planning farm designs, buying agricultural needs and in marketing produce. Under a separate arrangement, the school can also maintain and tend the farm during weekdays, in time for the weekend visit of some farm owners.

Gentleman-farming is one of the lifestyle possibilities offered by LPHI through the 95-hectare property in cool Lipa which is only an hour and a half’s ride from Makati via the Star highway. Other possibilities that it opens up are weekend vacations for hard-driven executive or city sleekers wanting to commune with nature.

The Hacienda Sta. Monica is nestled amid the quiet backdrop of Mt. Malepunyo, between two barangays, Antipolo del Sur and Latag in Lipa. It is near the Lipa town proper, the Lipa Cathedral and Carmelite Monastery, the Batangas seaport and the De La Salle University.