Kanawan Farm Rehabilitation

 FAITH GARDENING IN KANAWAN AS CONDUCTED BY ANNE IN 2009

About three years ago, the Youth Mobilization team was involved in a series of projects that include a water system, gardening, poultry and livestock raising to help our partner ministry in an Aeta tribe called Kanawan.  This tribe, home to many Aetas displaced by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the 1990's, is situated in a mountain in Morong, Bataan, just outside the former US naval base in Subic.  


These projects proved to be very helpful as the farm become their main source of food and water.  Also, they were able to send students to school through the produce they get from the vegetable garden, poultry and livestock farming.  


Sad to say, the last quarter typhoon in 2011 and the resulting flooding destroyed all of these.  Decimating the vegetable garden and all of the chickens, goats, and pigs died.  Only the water system remained intact.

THE WATER BUFFALO IS THE LONE ANIMAL SURVIVOR OF THE STORM

Their immediate need was food (we have conducted a bit of a relief work immediately after the typhoon but lack of funds hindered us to sustain it) as their main source of food was cut off and it will take some time for them to grow vegetables and to harvest rice once again. They will also need seedlings, and new poultry and livestock to raise.


Through the help of a generous donor, we were able to help them build their farm again.  At the start of the year 2012, we have prioritized this farm rehabilitation project.

THE CHICKEN COOP

THE ALMOST-FINISHED PIG PEN

So far, the chicken coop and the pig pen have been constructed already.  They just need some finishing touches but we'll be able to use them to keep the animals safe and sound.  Last February 3, the animals (4 piglets and 100 chicks) arrived.  The vegetables (okra, egg plant, tomato, etc) are also growing while the rice will be ready for harvest in less than a month.  Please pray for the rice field because it is at its critical level.  Last year, it was also at that staged when the typhoon came and what's left after the strong winds and rain were eaten by field rats.

PASTOR DOMULOT AND HIS RICE FIELD

If all goes well, the vegetables will be harvested in 4-6 months. We just received word from Pastor Arsenio Domulot, who supervises and tends the farm, and who is also the senior pastor of Kanawan Christian Church, that the chickens are all fuly grown and that they have started selling them.  On the other hand, the pigs will be ready to reproduce after 4 months.  We bought 4 females.  

THE FOUR (NOT THREE) LITTLE PIGS

We are also considering buying other animals like goats, cows and ducks.  Duck eggs are used to make the locally popular "balut" and their meat is good for foo too.  It all depends on what happens with the present, if the program turns out good and produces so that we will have enough funds to expand the farm, then we will add more animals.  The area is really fit for raising animals because there is a nearby river making water so accessible for the farm and for personal use.  They also have a huge space to raise different kinds of animals.