THERE is a doctor in the house but her cure starts at the ground and ends with the most satisfied palates. Dr. Anabel Villanueva-Salacata is an infectious diseases specialist who, for a few years already, was infected with the trend to grow one’s own food and grow them organically.
Guided by a Hippocratic mission to let food be our medicine, and medicine our food, Dr. Salacata changed the landscape of her parents’ residence, from an ornamental garden to an urban homestead.
This hobby started in 2012 with the dream of growing food pesticide and artificial fertilizer .
As a follower of the Natural Farming System (NFS), Dr. Salacata practices these ideologies:
1. Respect the laws of nature
2. Use Indigenous Micro-organisms (IMO) and
3. Follow these agricultural methods: do not till the soil, do not apply synthetic fertilizers, do not use pesticides or herbicides, do not weed and do not prune.
To her surprise, the model garden was a success and a new farm at Barangay Minoyan in Murcia was developed into another vegetable, fruit and herb garden.
It is from the model garden, and the family-owned farm of the fertile area in Murcia at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon that the herbs and other farm produce are harvested.
Processing using the NFS products was started in mid-2013. Products include pesto sauces, hot sauces, juices, spiced vinegars, jams and dried herbs. She had a farm-to-table bistro constructed in April of 2015 as an avenue for healthy, organically-grown food, and she set aside a little corner there to display farm produce and health products.
Now, the 26 Herb Garden is a popular lunch destination for the health conscious professional. They also sell bottled atchara (pickled papaya) and santol jelly, and guinamos (shrimp paste), all prepared in its kitchen.
Freshly harvested greens, probiotic eggs and free-range dressed chicken are welcome additions to the all–natural inventory of the small store.
Small but adorable, we might say, for everyone adores healthy food that is grown according to how nature schedules them.
Dr. Salacata is a picture of energy as she mans the restaurant or tours guests around her 3,000 square meter garden.
The garden now is a well-planned lay-out to maximize space for vegetables, herbs, some goats, some turkeys, chickens, and rabbits. Flowers have been added to the symphony of colors in preparation for honeybee-raising. Sheds house the vermiculture area for a symbiotic relationship with the rabbits via their manure.
Conventional composting is also practiced to ensure a steady supply of natural fertilizer and to assure the richness of the soil for the crops.
The farm-to-table concept followed by 26 Herb Garden is further bolstered by its faithful adherence to standards set forth by guidelines for a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification.
GAP is an auditing program that is meant to ensure that a farm’s agricultural products are safe, hygienic, and wholesome for consumers.
Judging by Doc Anabel’s medical background and full attention to details, 26 Herb Garden is in the right direction.