Integrated farming at home
At the heart of Sitio Pajo, Barangay Napnud in the town
of Leganes, Iloilo stands a 2,800-square-meter house and lot that is a haven to
a lush garden of flowers and plants, an orchard full of fruit-bearing trees and
aviary of love birds owned by the Tolones family.
After being exposed to the sun while walking along the
road before reaching the Tolones abode, you will find refuge in the cool air
provided by the plants as you enter the compound. The greens are also soothing
to tired eyes. If you are lucky, you will see butterflies flying about in this
little paradise.
Paulyn Angelu Animas, Araceli Tolones and Paul John
Animas.
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“My brother and I inherited the plants from my mother. It
was our generation that started selling plants as a business,” said Araceli
Tolones, who is also president of the Leganes Garden Club.
Tolones said she wakes up as early as 3 a.m. and tends to
the plants. She also brings some of them for selling at the Leganes Garden Club
station at the town plaza.
Farther back and beside the garden is an aviary filled
with African love birds of different colors, Finches and Cockatiels. They are bred and cared for by Paul John Animas, son of Araceli.
“I started this as a hobby when I was in Grade 6. Then, a
family friend said, ‘Why not breed love birds?’ So I did. The money I got from
breeding and selling them are used for my school expenses,” Paul said. He sells a pair for P300.
“I learned to breed love birds through research and with the
help of friends who also have them as pets. I also go to National Bookstore and
read related books. I also buy magazines,” Paul said.
Some interesting facts he revealed were; love birds take
3 to 6 months before they can breed and it’s not true that when a partner dies,
the other bird dies also because of sadness. “It happens only when the cause of
death was a disease that has also spread to the other bird,” he clarified.
“It’s easy to take care of the birds. You give them
water, food such as bird seeds and shelter. I attend to their health, too. This
job is ideal for retirees because it is time consuming,” he said.
Paul said he wakes up at 4 a.m. to take care of the
birds. He does the same during the evening.
“During the day, I go to school,” he said.
He is a second year Mass Communications student of West
Visayas State University.
Paul revealed that when he was younger, he also took care
of their piggery and poultry. “We had layers and we sold their eggs. We also
bred 45-day-old chickens. Now, we have chickens only for personal consumption,”
Paul said.
“We are practicing integrated farming here. The chicken
and birds’ wastes are turned to compost for the plants,” he added.
His younger sister, Paulyn Angelu Animas also helps out
in the garden and aviary.
“We all help because we don’t have helpers. It’s a family
enterprise,” Paulyn said.
“We also help out in the orchard. We have fruit-bearing
trees such as kalamansi, pomelo, bananas and cassava,” she added.
“Having
this family business has its perks. First, it’s a good source of income.
Second, it is a stress remover. Being in the garden is good therapy. Third, we
met a lot of people. Fourth, we are our own boss,” Tolones concluded./ Photos by Glen Jumayao