| SUSTAINABLE FARMING OF FLOWERS IN THE | | | | of toxic and persistent chemicals found in industrial |
| PHILIPPINES | | | | pesticides and herbicides. That way, we control |
| Flower Depot Inc. | | | | pests and diseases with the least environmental |
| Our goal is to tread lightly on the planet. We are | | | | impact, phasing in organic products over time; |
| mindful of the acts we do in our Philippine Flower | | | | ando We have learned to follow the cycles |
| Farm, knowing that each act of tilling, growing, | | | | and phases of the moon in scheduling our pest |
| harvesting and packaging, can do damage or save | | | | management and control, taking into account that |
| the planet. One of the most concrete steps we | | | | the life cycles of these creatures that coincide |
| do this is through implementing sustainable | | | | with the moon’s phases. |
| agriculture. When we grow or harvest our | | | | We embrace these practices in our Philippine |
| Philippine flowers, we remove some nutrients | | | | Flower Farm and adopt them in our daily tilling, |
| from the soil. If we do not replenish these, the | | | | growing or harvesting. By relying on the |
| land suffers and we can no longer use the soil for | | | | knowledge handed by those whom we believe |
| farming. Sustainable agriculture means replenishing | | | | are most in tune with nature and the earth, we |
| the soil while minimizing the use of non-renewable | | | | build healthy and rich soils to produce Philippines |
| resources, such as natural gas or mineral ores. | | | | flowers and plants that are healthy and thriving. |
| We engage in concrete steps to ensure that our | | | | Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency |
| Philippine Flower Farm produces flowers | | | | Our Philippine Flower Farm encourages careful |
| indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to | | | | water use, energy saving initiatives, greenhouse |
| the health of an ecosystem. This would entail | | | | gas emission reduction efforts and product |
| redefining our practices and processes on the soil, | | | | packaging minimization. o Our Philippine |
| to produce Philippines flowers and foliage that are | | | | Flower Farm infrastructure has been planned and |
| not only profitable but also healthy. The second | | | | built bearing in mind our carbon footprint. Our |
| is socio-economic, where we enhance the quality | | | | greenhouses are built using renewable resources |
| of life of our farm workers. | | | | or recycled material. Among these are bamboo, |
| Sustainable Crop Production Utilizing Native | | | | wooden pegs, stones, old tires, and similar |
| Methods | | | | materials;o We have designed and positioned |
| We have been fortunate to work with and | | | | our greenhouses to ensure that we use the least |
| among Philippine indigenous tribes or natives. | | | | amount of energy for our crops. Our buildings |
| They have worked with us imparting the wisdom | | | | use natural ventilation, and rely on the strength or |
| and heritage of their ancestors on Philippine flower | | | | gentleness of winds for its natural ventilation. |
| farming. These include sustainable farming | | | | Thus, we eliminate the need for energy-powered |
| techniques that rely on natural methods handed | | | | fans;o We rely on the forces of gravity for |
| down from generation to generation by the | | | | our irrigation, taking advantage of the gift of |
| Talaandigs; the Higaonon; and Bukidnon farmers. | | | | natural spring water, and use trickle-irrigation to |
| Alongside their wealth of knowledge on natural | | | | conserve water and prevent erosion;o Our |
| methods, we have merged technology and | | | | irrigation systems do not use more water from |
| science, to implement agricultural techniques that | | | | the natural spring than is naturally replenished; |
| build our Philippine flower farm’s soil fertility, | | | | ando Our greenhouses are designed so we |
| while protecting our air, water and wildlife. We | | | | can harvest and utilize rainwater to irrigate our |
| have merged and developed a deeply rooted | | | | plants and treat our Philippine flowers. |
| natural system of production, pest management, | | | | Waste Managemento We wish to have |
| and weed and fungal control. Among | | | | minimal or zero waste on our Flower Farm and |
| these:o We practice natural methods on | | | | encourage composting and recycling of our |
| cover cropping, composting, and crop | | | | agricultural and non-agricultural wastes;o We |
| rotation;o We use nitrogen-fixing and | | | | recycle crop waste, weeds, twigs (almost |
| leguminous plants that are native to our farm, | | | | everything!) and livestock manure for composting; |
| that form symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria | | | | ando Packaging materials to send flowers to |
| called rhizobia. These are plants that modern | | | | the Philippines nationwide are recycled and reused |
| farming would have otherwise deemed as | | | | over time. |
| weeds. The natives have taught us to use | | | | Protecting Ecosystems In and Around the Farm |
| these plants as a viable source of fertilizer;o | | | | Because of our efforts to use natural methods |
| Our farm has learned to rely on natural controls | | | | and products, and our minimal use of heavy |
| for soil-borne diseases and to ward off pests. | | | | equipment or machinery, we protect the |
| Among these, we use natural insect traps, neem | | | | ecosystems around the Philippine Flower Farm |
| tree extract and beneficial bacteria and fungi to | | | | such as rivers and streams. |
| treat our soil;o We hope to eliminate the use | | | | |