Backyard gardening for a healthier family, society

AFTER attending a Family Development Session (FDS), Hermie S. Dinaga, 32, and Charlie Dinaga, 33, of Barangay San Isidro in Talakag, Bukidnon, both agreed that gardening can provide nutritional needs of the family.

They have five children, aged 10, nine, six, four and three years old, who are all sent to school.

A backyard gardening was promoted by Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as a response to one of the programs goals, which is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger through FDS that are attended by couple beneficiaries on a monthly basis.

Hermie and Charlie are identified as couple beneficiaries of 4Ps in their municipality. As beneficiary, they need to comply with the conditions set by the program to continue receiving the conditional cash grant for the nutrition, health and education of their children.

Attending monthly meeting and family development sessions is just one of the conditions Hermie and her husband complied.

After attending an FDS that discussed about backyard gardening, the couple beneficiary then adopted planting vegetables in their backyard.

They realized the importance of eating vegetables in every meal every day. They also believe that it will assist the meager amount Charlie is earning as a banana de-leafer. They made use of the little area outside their rented house, cultivated it and planted the seeds given to them by their Municipal Link provided by the Department of Agriculture.

Hermie and her husband have already planted several kinds of vegetables, knowing their value for the families' health. Since Hermie's children are not used to eating vegetables, she decided to prepare and cook vegetables regularly until her children will get used to their taste.

"Naningkamot gayud ko nga mapakaon nako ug gulay ang akong mga anak tungod kay maghatag na sa ila ug sakto nga bitamina. Nasayop lang mi sauna sa akong bana kay dili lang namo sila pugson sa pagkaon kay di man sila ganahan. (I tried my best to let my children eat vegetables because it will provide them enough vitamins. Before, we did not encourage them to eat vegetables because they don't like its taste but we learned that it was not a good practice after knowing that vegetables could actually be good for their health )," she said.

According to them, it was never too late. They still strongly believe that sooner their children will later like eating vegetables. Every meal, Hermie talked about the nutrients that the vegetables will provide for them. She wants her children to hear from her the importance of eating vegetables.

The value of backyard gardening was not only practiced by Hermie and Charlie. At present, almost all 4Ps beneficiaries of the municipality also plant vegetables in their backyard. They also have a communal garden. Even their neighbors appreciate the 4Ps beneficiaries. Some of them also adopted planting vegetables in their backyard.

The 4Ps created an unexpected acceptance and practice of the whole society in promoting of backyard gardening in all areas of the program in Northern Mindanao. The beneficiaries were an example to other people around them. Their appreciation to the beneficiaries made them adopt and practice planting vegetables in their backyard.

The value and importance of eating vegetables is widely spread by the program. Through it, 4Ps brought to them, as well as to its society, a big change - a change that would certainly bring all of them to a healthy lifestyle and a healthier society. (Ruchelle L. Mula)