MANILA, Philippines — If you are receiving P270,000 salary a month would you give up your job even if your bosses are not asking you to resign? For many people, they would probably think not only twice but many times over. After all, there are not many people who have the good fortune of receiving such a high pay.

In 2004, to Ronald Costales, 39, his high monthly pay no longer mattered much anymore. He was then vice president for engineering of a big communications firm. He just felt too stressed with his job of being called any hour of the day to troubleshoot a server that might have broken down.

He thought that there must be a more enjoyable way of earning money than in the corporate jungle. So he gave up his P270,000-a-month job to become a gentleman farmer. He did not have a farmland of his own then but he had the money to buy and develop one. He first looked for a farm in Ilocos where his roots are but he did not like what he saw. The region is too hot and too dry for him. He was not able to locate a farm where there is a source of abundant water.

He finally settled in Brgy. Gagalot in Majayjay, Laguna. He loves the place because it is cool and there is plenty of water. Three springs supply his farm with free-flowing water. And the place is also peaceful.

Ronald is right when he said that there must be a more enjoyable way of earning money than in an employment. He is really enjoying his farming life now and is probably making much more than what he made as vice president of a big company.

Ronald admits that he did not know much about farming when he decided to go into this business. But he had the wisdom to attend every seminar that was available both in the provinces and in the city. He went as far as Palawan to attend the training conducted by an expat who has been in the organic farming business. He even went to Thailand to attend a seminar on Effective Microorganisms and visit some of the successful organic farmers there.

In 2005, Ronald had only one hectare for growing his plants. However, when he found out that there was a big demand for his special crops, he had to expand and bought four additional adjacent hectares, one hectare at a time.

His farming operations grew and grew so that today, he is planting various crops throughout the year. Lettuce which comes in various varieties, shapes and colors is grown on one hectare. Every week he harvests about a thousand kilos which are all absorbed by his regular customers that include a number of restaurant chains in Manila. Because his lettuce is organically grown, Ronald can command a price of P150 to P200 per kilo. He adds that one buyer who supplies the requirements of a group of cancer patients buys a lot of lettuce from him. The lettuce is made into juice for the cancer patients.

Another bestseller is his French beans which has long slender pods that are tender and sweet. It is said to be the favorite of the Italian chain of restaurants. He harvests about 200 kilos a week for which he is paid P150 to P200 per kilo.

One other special crop is his Japanese cucumber which has long slender fruits. He produces one ton a week. One concessionaire of a chain of supermarkets is getting a lot from him at P80 to P120 per kilo.

Culinary herbs are also Ronald’s special products. He has more than 20 varieties in his farm. One of the most expensive is the flat-leaf parsley which fetches P500 to P1,000 per kilo. Another is tarragon which is very nice for making fresh tarragon tea. Just put five leaves in a cup of boiling water, and presto! You have a fragrant tea with a special taste. It is also used in salad dressing. Another use? Put a few finely chopped leaves in a scrambled egg and you don’t have to use salt anymore. Tarragon fetches P500 per kilo. One regular buyer buys 5 kilos of tarragon each week, and Ronald keeps wondering what he does with the big amount.

Other herbs include Italian oregano for marinating meat; chocolate mint for garnishing; sweet basil for pesto; Thai basil for Vietnamese noodles; lemon basil for lechon manok; and many others.

Ronald’s vegetables are very healthy and robust because they are adequately fertilized with his organic formulations. He uses what he calls Bokashi, originally a Japanes organic fertilizer formulation but which has been adopted in the Philippines. This consists of fermented raw materials that include rice bran, carbonized rice hull, copra meal, Effective Microorganism (EM) and a small amount of water for diluting EM. The mixture is placed inside a drum where it is fermented for two weeks. The mixture is rich in organic matter and beneficial microbes.

He prevents insect infestation by applying his concoction of EM, natural vinegar, lambanog, molasses, garlic, neem tree leaves and hot chili.

Aside from plants he has also organically grown pigs, chickens, rabbits, turkey and goats. He also has tilapia and pangasius in his ponds.

Ronald has already gone a long way in his organic farming. In fact, he was adjudged the most outstanding organic farmer in Region IV-A last year. He has already put up a training center where he himself conducts the training. His farm has been accredited as a tourist destination.

His wife Josephine has sold her Internet Café business so she could help on the farm. Their son Reden Mark who is an agribusiness graduate is now involved in the operations of the farm, too. The only daughter is still studying but we won’t be surprised if when she finishes her studies she would also join the family business.

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HORTICULTURE 2012 – It’s all systems go for Horticulture 2012, the annual garden show of the Philippine Horticultural Society headed by Dr. Romeo Gutierrez. This will be held from January 26 to February 6 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. The theme is “New Trends in Creative Techniques in Horticulture.”

During the opening, Butch Campos, a true blue plant collector, and former Congresswoman Cynthia Villar, another avid plant aficionado, will cut the ceremonial ribbon. Other special guests will be QC Mayor Herbert Bautista, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and other well known personalities.

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