Cool Water - Part 2

Habang may gulay, may buhay

Roughly translated that means "Where there are veggies, there's life". There's an organic farming push on by the Department of National Resources (DNR) at the moment, aided and abetted by the Department of Education (DepEd). One of the local grade schools, the Umabay Exterior Central School, has jumped into this and created a Vegetable Classroom. They won the District Competition and are trying for Regionals. They approached me because they have a couple of problems - acidic soil and not enough water. I gave the school a donation for a drilled well (which has now been done and produces good water). The school still has to figure out how to get the water from the well up hill about 75 yards to the Vegetable Classroom - but so far, so good.

I was asked to give a few words to add to their video submission for the Regional Competition so I spent about an hour at the school doing that and taking a look around.

Gulayan sa Paaralan - Vegetables in the School

Really, the school has done an amazing job on, presumably, what was some spare land at the back of the school. They are growing all sorts of veggies and even have a rice padi and a Museum containing endangered species. The veggies grown are used in a feeding program for the Grade 1 and 2 children. Given the economic state of the area, this can only be a good thing.

The Gulayan sa Paaralan entrance

It's an impressive vegetable classroom!

The Museum

While I was there, the Grade 5 class was working with the veggies (all the classes do as far as I can gather) but there was a sudden, tropical downpour. We all took shelter in a little classroom on the side of the area and chatted while the rain came through the classroom (horizontally :) ). The video soundbite was done in the little classroom also.

After the rain, we went out to one of the plots and I was given a memento of the occasion - several "fresh from the ground" pechay (distantly related to cabbage I think!).

The Grade 5 class at the Pechay plot. The little classroom is top right.

If you would like to help...

My soundbite basically said "water is essential for the well being of a community, education is essential for the future of a community. I am happy to help the school bring these two things together in the Gulayan sa Paaralan" (and yes, I did say that! Try it for yourself 😀)

The school needs about another $1000 for a submersible pump, hose etc. If anyone would like to help, I will be happy to coordinate.