| What is Sustainable Agriculture? | | | | water use, energy saving initiatives, greenhouse |
| Our goal is to tread lightly on the planet. We are | | | | gas emission reduction efforts and product |
| mindful of the acts we do in our Philippine Flower | | | | packaging minimization. |
| Farm, knowing that each act of tilling, growing, | | | | Our Philippine Flower Farm infrastructure has been |
| harvesting and packaging, can do damage or save | | | | planned and built bearing in mind our carbon |
| the planet. One of the most concrete steps we | | | | footprint. Our greenhouses are built using |
| do this is through implementing sustainable | | | | renewable resources or recycled material. Among |
| agriculture. When we grow or harvest our | | | | these are bamboo, wooden pegs, stones, old |
| Philippine flowers, we remove some nutrients | | | | tires, and similar materials; |
| from the soil. If we do not replenish these, the | | | | We have designed and positioned our |
| land suffers and we can no longer use the soil for | | | | greenhouses to ensure that we use the least |
| farming. Sustainable agriculture means replenishing | | | | amount of energy for our crops. Our buildings use |
| the soil while minimizing the use of non-renewable | | | | natural ventilation, and rely on the strength or |
| resources, such as natural gas or mineral ores. | | | | gentleness of winds for its natural ventilation. |
| We engage in concrete steps to ensure that our | | | | Thus, we eliminate the need for energy-powered |
| Philippine Flower Farm produces flowers | | | | fans; |
| indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to | | | | We rely on the forces of gravity for our irrigation, |
| the health of an ecosystem. This would entail | | | | taking advantage of the gift of natural spring |
| redefining our practices and processes on the soil, | | | | water, and use trickle- irrigation to conserve |
| to produce Philippines flowers and foliage that are | | | | water and prevent erosion; |
| not only profitable but also healthy. The second is | | | | Our irrigation systems do not use more water |
| socio-economic, where we enhance the quality of | | | | from the natural spring than is naturally |
| life of our farm workers. Sustainably grown goes | | | | replenished; and |
| beyond organic, as organic refers only to specific | | | | Our greenhouses are designed so we can harvest |
| chemical and pesticide free practices. Sustainability | | | | and utilize rainwater to irrigate our plants and treat |
| embraces a much broader perspective and deals | | | | our Philippine flowers. |
| not only with production but also in environmental | | | | Waste Management |
| and eco-system issues, and social matters such | | | | We wish to have minimal or zero waste on our |
| as the farm's workforce and community. | | | | Flower Farm and encourage composting and |
| OUR GROWING PRACTICES | | | | recycling of our agricultural and non-agricultural |
| Sustainable Crop Production Utilizing Native | | | | wastes; |
| Methods | | | | We recycle crop waste, weeds, twigs (almost |
| We have been fortunate to work with and | | | | everything!) and livestock manure for composting; |
| among Philippine indigenous tribes or natives. They | | | | and |
| have worked with us imparting the wisdom and | | | | Packaging materials to send flowers to the |
| heritage of their ancestors on Philippine flower | | | | Philippines nationwide are recycled and reused |
| farming. These include sustainable farming | | | | over time. |
| techniques that rely on natural methods handed | | | | Protecting Ecosystems In and Around the Farm |
| down from generation to generation by the | | | | Because of our efforts to use natural methods |
| Talaandigs; the Higaonon; and Bukidnon farmers. | | | | and products, and our minimal use of heavy |
| Alongside their wealth of knowledge on natural | | | | equipment or machinery, we protect the |
| methods, we have merged technology and | | | | ecosystems around the Philippine Flower Farm |
| science, to implement agricultural techniques that | | | | such as rivers and streams. |
| build our Philippine flower farm soil fertility, while | | | | Taking Care of our People |
| protecting our air, water and wildlife. We have | | | | Your flowers are the result of the dedication and |
| merged and developed a deeply rooted natural | | | | diligence of a handful of farmers in Bukidnon, a |
| system of production, pest management, and | | | | number of them natives. They are led by Toto, a |
| weed and fungal control. Among these: | | | | native from Bukidnon, whose passion for growing |
| - We practice natural methods on cover cropping, | | | | flowers is quite infectious. Our women team are |
| composting, and crop rotation; | | | | led by Dadang, whose green thumb magically |
| Our main source of soil fertility is legume cover | | | | turns every plant green. Our farmers harvest the |
| crops, which provide nitrogen, micro nutrients and | | | | flowers at their peak freshness early in the |
| organic matter. We use nitrogen-fixing and | | | | morning. We try to get all the flowers in for |
| leguminous plants that are native to our farm, | | | | processing before lunch. Early afternoon, our |
| that form symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria | | | | farmers are able to go home to tend their own |
| called rhizobia. These are plants that modern | | | | farms or gardens, or play with their children. Our |
| farming would have otherwise deemed as weeds. | | | | Flower Farm prides itself in ensuring a safe, |
| The natives have taught us to use these plants | | | | equitable and healthy work environment. We |
| as a viable source of fertilizer. Also, the cover | | | | provide our farmers with access to the principal |
| crops provide habitat for beneficial insects, | | | | needs. We also support our farmers and their |
| keeping pests very low. Our farm prides itself | | | | local community through preferential hiring, |
| with beneficials such as lady bugs; | | | | purchasing, infrastructure improvements and |
| Our farm has learned to rely on natural controls | | | | community problem solving. We believe in |
| for soil-borne diseases and to ward off pests. | | | | balancing work and play, having passion for what |
| Among these, we use natural insect traps, neem | | | | we do, and celebrating the fruits of our harvest. |
| tree extract and beneficial bacteria and fungi to | | | | Each Flower Depot bouquet is hand selected, |
| treat our soil; | | | | carefully arranged, and shipped fresh from our |
| We hope to eliminate the use of toxic and | | | | Philippine Flower Farm, with the dedication and |
| persistent chemicals found in industrial pesticides | | | | commitment to wholly move our farm from |
| and herbicides. That way, we control pests and | | | | traditional and commercial practices to sustainable |
| diseases with the least environmental impact, | | | | farming. We hope to transition to a sustainable, |
| phasing in organic products over time; and | | | | organic or biodynamic agriculture in the future. Our |
| We have learned to follow the cycles and phases | | | | ultimate goal is to protect our environment and |
| of the moon in scheduling our pest management | | | | also enhance the lives of our workers, as they |
| and control, taking into account that the life cycles | | | | are free from unhealthy and toxic pesticides. By |
| of these creatures that coincide with the moon's | | | | practicing sustainable farming, we hope to build a |
| phases. | | | | better and more sustainable future, and lighten |
| We embrace these practices in our Philippine | | | | our footsteps on the planet. |
| Flower Farm and adopt them in our daily tilling, | | | | Our farm is a happy and vibrant ecosystem. In |
| growing or harvesting. By relying on the | | | | fact, our farm is home to birds, toads, |
| knowledge handed by those whom we believe | | | | earthworms, snakes, bees and and many many |
| are most in tune with nature and the earth, we | | | | more. What does this mean for your flowers? |
| build healthy and rich soils to produce Philippines | | | | Since our flowers are grown from vibrant plants, |
| flowers and plants that are healthy and thriving. | | | | our flowers are also healthy with rich green foliage |
| Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency | | | | and bright brilliant blooms. |
| Our Philippine Flower Farm encourages careful | | | | |