ANGELES CITY — To establish community farms in preparation for the general community quarantine and help empower communities on food security and sustainability, Lugud Balen launched Lugud Tanam in collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Northern Luzon Command.
Lugud Tanam started planting vegetables on April 27 at Brightwoods School under its own program Project Heart. Seedlings of different varieties of vegetables such as ampalaya, patola, upo, talong, okra, sitaw, and other crops were planted at the school’s community garden football open field.
According to Tollhouse chef Josephine Mendoza, Lugud Tanam was created to empower communities to grow their own food and to teach the communities to be self-reliant.
“As chefs, farms are close to our hearts because they are the source of good quality fresh produce. Lugud Balen wishes to sustain the movement for the long term. We cannot rely on dole outs forever. Thus, we believe that building community farms of hope will empower our people to be self–reliant,” said Mendoza.
“Lugud Tanam means “plants of love.” To sow the seeds of hope that we can overcome this Covid-19 crisis,” Mendoza added.
The Lugud Tanam project will be headed by the AFP under the supervision of 1Lt. Oscarito Tobias, 48th Infantry Battalion 7ID and Capt. Ron Villarosa, U7 Nolcom civil affairs support team.
According to Villarosa, the AFP has evolved to promote peace through non-combat means and collaborating with different sectors.
“Food is peace served in a table. As proponents of peace, the AFP has evolved different instruments to promote peace through noncombat means. This can be facilitated through collaboration with locals and motivated stakeholders,” said Villarosa.
To expand the project further to different communities and continue its campaign to self-sufficiency, Lugud Tanam is already searching through farm lots in Mexico Pampanga and Bataan. The harvested vegetables will be given to nearby communities and markets.
Lugud Tanam is also accepting cash donations and raw materials, farm lots and gardens, including volunteers for manpower. You may refer to the image below or visit Lugud Balen’s Facebook page for details.
