Dumpsite turned vegetable farm provide food for QC community amid COVID-19

A dumpsite was turned into a vegetable farm after a group of neighbors decided to work together to clean up the empty lot beside their homes in Novaliches, Quezon City.

According to Ivan Mayrnia's report on "24 Oras," most of the materials used for the farm were recycled such as old tires, foams and cabinets, and wires.

"Naisip din namin, ayos na meron kaming sariling pagkain dito sa tabi ng bahay namin o dito sa community na madaling makuha, madaling mapitas, para makaiwas sa pagpunta sa palengke," JC Tejano, one of the urban gardeners, said.

Within just three months, the residents were able to harvest variety of vegetables. These are not for sale, provided that they only take what they need.

"Dito merong okra, sitaw, ampalaya, patola, upo, ube, papaya," Tejano said.

The limitation on transportation was also what urged the management of Manila Zoo to convert a portion of their land into an organic urban garden to produce food for the zoo animals.

"Kung saka-sakaling hindi makabyahe ang mga gulay na papakain natin sa animals ay mapipilitan tayong mangutang o maghanap ng ibang makakainan dito," Manila Zoo director Pio Morabe said.

"So since malaki ang aming area, napagkasunduan namin na magtanim kami ng gulay at saka prutas," he added.

The QC government has long been promoting urban farming as a solution to malnutrition and the lack of food for urban poor communities. There are already around 200 urban farms in the city. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News