MANILA, Philippines — One effective way of gathering useful techniques and know-how in farming is by joining farm tours. For instance, if you are interested in organic farming, you will learn a lot by joining the AANI Farm Tour on Sunday, February 5. The destination is the Costales Nature Farms in Majayjay, Laguna. You can make your reservation at the AANI Weekend Market at St. Vincent Seminary on Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

There are many things you will appreciate in the Costales Farm. One of them is learning how to prepare Bokashi, a kind of organic fertilizer using readily available materials in the farm. You will see the many blue plastic barrels that Costales is using in fermenting his Bokashi.

You will also see how he grows lettuce in the open field as well as under greenhouse. He even grows lettuce in halved bamboo poles, although the bulk of his lettuce production is in the open. The beauty about Majayjay is that it has a mild climate which is highly suitable for growing delicate greens like lettuce.

Probably, you will be able to taste the wild edible ferns which are just growing wild around the periphery of the Costales farm. The tender shoots are gathered by the workers in the farm and are sent to the market in Manila.

You will also see how he grows duckweed for feeding his tilapia and pangasius. Besides feeding the duckweed to the fish, he is also feeding the same to his free-range chickens and pigs.

Maybe you will also see the striped piglets of the native pig that was crossed with a wild boar. The crosses are bigger than either the native pig or the wild boar. Perhaps, that is also the effect of hybrid vigor.

Then there is Ronald’s practical way of producing vermicompost. He has some rabbits which are caged. These are fed with scrap lettuce and other greens. The manure of the rabbits fall to the ground where they serve as food for the earthworms. The earthworms produce the vermicast that is used in fertilizing their vegetables.

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VISIT HORTICULTURE 2012 – If you are a garden lover, you should never miss going to the garden show of the Philippine Horticultural Society at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. It will end on Monday, February 6.

There are beautiful bromeliads, ferns, bonsai, flowering plants, natural stone exhibits and also lectures and demonstrations. Today, February 2, at 2 p.m., the Philippine Bonsai Society will demonstrate creative bonsai techniques. Tomorrow, February 3, it will be the turn of C.V. Lazaro to lecture on modern techniques in orchid growing.

On Saturday, February 4, Vangie Go will talk on the many uses of the buri palm in the morning at 10 o’clock. In the afternoon, Mrs. Fely S. Gupit will demonstrate Saikei or tray landscaping, and Suiseki or natural stone appreciation.

On Sunday, Feb. 5, Norma Villanueva will talk on new trends in gardening in the morning while Zac B. Sarian will talk on exotic fruit trees at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

The garden show is co-chaired by Dr. Romeo Gutierrez and Dorie S. Bernabe.