TIERRA MARIA HOLDS ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE ON “Creating a Sustainable and Ecological Lifestyle”

Tierra Maria Estates, as part of its advocacy for environmental protection, recently sponsored a lecture on “Creating a Sustainable and Ecological Lifestyle” with guest lecturers Chin Chin Gutierrez and Mr. Pat Acosta of Master’s Garden. Ms. Gutierrez, who earned the distinction of being named one of Time Magazine’s Asian Heroes, presented a touching lecture on global warming and the urgent need for everyone to take heart and start recycling to save Mother Earth.

The multi-awarded actress and environmentalist gave a simple but effective way to recycle by separating non-organic materials to be sold, and giving back organic substance to replenish the earth.

Mr. Pat Acosta, on the other hand, shared insights on organic gardening that Tierra Maria Estates homeowners can use in their property.  

“As a farmer, heart and soul, it is always my goal to produce vegetable crops with the highest quality, rich in vitamins and minerals.  And the only certain way to grow the best vegetable crops and enjoy nutritious supply of food is by growing them organically,” says Mr. Pat Acosta who put up a 3000 sq. m. micro-eco farm named, Master’s Garden, located at Brgy Pinalyok, Puguis, La Trinidad.

Acosta’s farm is one of the pioneers in introducing organic vegetable production.  “It is a production system that avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic fertilizer, pesticides, growth regulators and chemicals.  It relies on crop rotation, crop residue, animal manure, legumes, green manure, off-farm organic wastes, mechanical cultivation and mineral bearing rocks for their production.  It also uses biological pest control to control insects, weeds and other pests to maintain productivity.”

Acosta produces organic fertilizers utilizing weeds.  A certain amount of compost from wild plants, kitchen scraps, weeds, leaves, etc. is produced every month, to maintain soil fertility. When asked why he recommends using weeds as fertilizers, Acosta replied that aside from its natural abundance, weeds are “more organic” since most food scrapings may have come from chemically treated vegetables and fruits.

Organic vegetable gardening promotes and enhances natural diversity and biological cycles on the farm. Rather than relying on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic gardening is based on making the garden self-sufficient and sustainable.

Organic vegetable gardens are becoming extremely popular in the gardening world. The two ways that organic vegetable gardening differs from conventional gardens is the usage of fertilizer and how to keep pests under control. To do it properly here are some tips and techniques to follow for a healthy and abundant organic vegetable garden.

Tierra Maria Estates not only promotes, but also practices sound organic farming techniques in its property.  The farming subdivision shares its learnings on organic gardening to its homeowners and other gardening and environmental enthusiasts:

Composting: Artificial fertilizers provide only short term nutrient supply to crops. They encourage plants to grow quickly but with soft growth which is less able to withstand drought, pests and disease. Artificial fertilizers do not feed soil life and do not add organic matter to the soil. This means that they do not help to build good soil structure, improve the soils water holding capacity or drainage.

The best way of enriching your soil is by compost. Dig some pits in your back yard to start your compost. Aside from shredded weeds, you can also utilize kitchen refuse, pine needles, corn stalks, leaves, carrot tops, fruits or vegetables that have spoiled, egg shells and coffee ground.  As the compost materials decompose they release bacteria and fungi into the soil that you are preparing. The bacteria and fungi convert nutrients like nitrogen to ammonia and nitrates that will be usable for your vegetables. By making your own compost, you are controlling the mixture and balance to achieve the right combination for your organic vegetable garden.

To be absolutely sure that your compost has completely broken down and is now offering up the right balance, start working it into the soil at least two weeks before you plan on planting.

Composting recipe

• The right amount of water and air to keep the biological and chemical processes functioning.

• The right temperature. Ever notice how quickly things go 'bad' in warm - weather? For the purposes of composting, the warmer it gets, the better. In a cool environment, the composting process slows down. The internal temperature of a compost pile is also important. When the process of decomposition is at its peak, the compost will tend to generate quite a bit of heat. In a sense it's 'cooking'.

• The right C:N ratio. This is the proportion of carbon to nitrogen in your compost unit. This ratio will affect the speed of decomposition. Ideally, your C:N ratio should be thirty to one. Grass clippings, plant trimmings and kitchen scraps are high in nitrogen. Sawdust, straw, wood chips and dry leaves are high in carbon - A mixture of kitchen and yard waste should give you close to the ideal ratio.

Pest control in organic vegetable gardening is also different that conventional gardening. In many conventional beds gardeners wish to eradicate all pests with pesticides. Many in organic gardening only wish to keep the pest population down so to have a balance in the garden.

Obviously, whenever possible, plant pest resistant vegetables. In order for harmful organisms to grow, they need bright sunlight so keep thick mulch around the plants to deny the organisms that needed sunlight and to help hold moisture into the ground. If you find you have a heavy infestation here is a natural pest control formula:

• In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.

Tierra Maria Estates has made it its commitment to continue with similar endeavors to campaign for natural methods, such as organic farming and recycling, to provide for an ecologically-friendly and sustainable lifestyle. As a real estate company, Tierra Maria Estates is a fully-developed 33-hectare residential farm subdivision that offers large estate farm lots of 750 sqm to 1,200 sqm that provides ample space for relaxed living and ecological activities such as gardening and aquaculture. A bird sanctuary and natural orchard, Tierra Maria Estates preserved the landscape teeming with many varieties of plants and mature fruit-bearing trees to finally offer countryside living that refreshes the body and soul.

Pat Acosta has made it his mission to propagate skills and know-how on Organic Gardening. His 3,000 sq. m. micro-eco farm demonstrates the benefits for the environment and the consumers of organically grown vegetables and crops. As a farmer, he has equipped himself with the right knowledge and proper skills to raise such a productive farm.  A horticulturist at heart, he developed his confidence through trainings at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and hands-on knowledge while visiting organic farms abroad.

Ms. Chin-Chin Gutierrez was recently launched as the spokesperson and celebrity home owner of Tierra Maria Estates. Ms. Gutierrez has been cited as Time Magazine’s Asian Hero for the Environment in 2003 and has been known for her active participation in conducting lectures and forums on caring for the environment.   Chin Chin is also an active campaigner for environmental protection and is a frequent lecturer on various subject matters concerning her advocacies