THIS title might seem strange to my readers but you will be thankful after I elaborate on the topic in my column.
I had a personal experience in visiting the Kai Farms of Karls Delgado, a 25-hectare sustainable farm in Silang, Cavite. Kai Farms owned by conglomerate Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) is anchored on the principles of permaculture, using whole systems that utilize the patterns and resilient features observed in natural ecosystems.
Kai Farms is more than just avoiding pesticides and upsetting the natural cycles. The farm aims to make organic food accessible for everyone. It offers nature and wellness retreats, heritage walks, and forest bathing. This last one is of Japanese origin which means that a person baths in the forest atmosphere. It allows you to know the heritage of the land like the wild plants, medicinal plants, trees, and wildlife.
At present, people are disconnected with nature and its sacredness. They live and work in “glass boxes”. They shop and eat in malls.
Kai Farms is about reconnecting people to the sacred and to our essence, especially for women. Women are sacred beings, they bring people to life. This brings us to the theme of my column, ecotherapy, which is reconnecting with nature. It can combat stress, anxiety, and depression. Harvard Medical School had revealed that nature-deficit disorders contribute to a diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, conditions of obesity, and higher rates of emotional and physical illnesses. The report says that research in ecotherapy have shown a strong connection between time spent in nature and reduces all ill effects as experienced by those who started the program.
During our visit at Kai Farms, we did a nature walk. We were invited to pick up something we found along the way that can be significant to us or expressed how we felt. One of the visitors picked up a chili pepper because she was always angry and wanted to be heal from that.
The Kai Farms also has a natural spring with potable water. It also offers healthy farm-to-table nutrient rich meals.
There are meditation sessions as a way for people to reconnect with their higher self. Then by doing this, one is reconnected with her divine self. We are all divine beings. When you are reconnected with your divine self, you are aligned with your highest purpose -- you incarnate as a soul. The head of the session explained that meditation is something you experience. A meditative mind is a mind that is present in the now -- there are no past regrets or future plans. Everything in nature is so alive that you are forced to be in the now.
Kai Farms will host the Green Unconference that intends the community to discover new opportunities, and innovations for easy sustainable living. There will be workshops including healing sessions, talks, music, theatre, and games. Visitors can see its garden nursery, food gardens, waste-wealth centers, food forests, tree nursery, and living museum of native trees.