Veggie garden in school

THE collaboration among teachers, parents, and pupils of Paglaum Village Elementary School in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod, proved fruitful, as the school-community literally reaped what they sowed.

Their “Gulayan sa Paaralan” project was declared grand slam champion in growing organic vegetables among Negros Occidental schools.

The award was given at the recently concluded 9th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival which highlighted the different efforts of organic growers to pursue an “organic revolution” to make Negros the organic bowl of the country.

The program also aspires to make everyone in Negros take on a healthier lifestyle by consuming naturally grown and untreated crops and vegetables.

The gulayan project also aims to raise awareness among children on how to plant and grow vegetables through natural farming and to replicate it at home to ensure sustainability.

It also aims to address the recurring issue of malnutrition among children. With gulayan, teachers can ensure the sustainability of their feeding initiatives, by feeding kids with their organic produce year round.

I could personally attest to the sacrifices of my teachers at Paglaum who confessed of many stressful events in combating pests. Growing organic vegetables without the aid of professionals and experts, is by itself a recipe for “issues management.” That is why the noble teachers-cum-farmers eventually learned all the tricks in growing their crops.

I spent six years of my elementary days at Paglaum Village.

We were taught on how to preserve and protect Mother Nature. It was in 1998 that we converted the vacant compounds of our school into medicinal herbs garden, vermi-composting and organic fertilizers area, while some parts were transformed to mini-tilapiahan.

Our own “Green Revolution” paved the way to making the school as a focal point in the practice of “school greening.”

I can recall that we were tasked to bring stones as big as our back packs to complete a “stone river” that serves as a well-placed accent in our school’s mini-forest. The “complainer” in me would often ask why on earth is our compulsory assignment in Math and Science would be to bring big stones?

Every week, my classmates and I would find ourselves scavenging for carabao manure. Ma’am says, “Instead of spending money in Robinsons (which opened in 2007 by the way), make your weekend productive and find me sacks of ipot. The more sacks you collect, the bigger bonus points you’ll get.”

I then asked my teacher, “What if I ask my Lola to donate a carabao instead?” (Lola was a consistent PTA officer and donated a lot of projects to our school). My teacher and classmates burst out laughing.

I found out later that all these efforts contributed to what Paglaum Village Elementary School has become today: a multi-awarded countryside institution being emulated by other schools in the region.

Thanks to the efforts of my two-time class adviser, Mrs. Melanie Llasos, and her group of dynamic teachers for raising the bar higher— not only in academics but in giving practical and timely lesson our children should master: preserving and cultivating nature.

The Gulayan sa Paaralan project serves as a microcosm of our shared efforts to rehabilitate the Earth. It is a testimony that a healthier way of life through organic farming is also attainable.

Hand in hand, teachers and students, parents and communities should rally to build a generation of children capable of not only planting trees, but more importantly, sustaining and growing it for the present and the future.