CALAMBA, Laguna, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) conducted a refresher training on sustainable home gardening techniques for staff members of Bahay ni Maria, a home for abandoned elderly persons and children with special needs in Calamba, Laguna.
Led by Anna Gale Vallez, Program Specialist at SEARCA's Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD), the activity capacitated 15 young staff members and Sr. Marie Sosoban of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima in practical and sustainable approaches to household-level food production.
The session covered organic farming, bio-intensive gardening, establishing a crop museum, edible landscaping, container gardening, nutrient management, and the production of organic plant growth solutions. Participants also engaged in a hands-on activity setting up a basic hydroponics system, where they transplanted eggplant seedlings using the SNAP (Simple Nutrient Addition Program) nutrient solution developed by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
The training builds on an earlier capacity-building activity on gardening conducted by SEARCA on 30 January 2025. The refresher course was organized to orient newly hired staff members, as many of the previous participants were volunteers who have since left.
"SEARCA is committed to advancing food and nutrition security, and our partnership with Bahay ni Maria reflects this commitment. With this refresher course on basic gardening, we can empower volunteers and staff at Bahay ni Maria with practical skills needed to grow their own food," said Sharon Malaiba, Head of SEARCA's Partnerships Unit (PU).
To further support the home's food production efforts, SEARCA turned over planting guides, seedlings, and gardening supplies.
By enabling Bahay ni Maria to grow fresh and nutritious produce for its residents, the initiative contributes to SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), particularly its focus on promoting food and nutrition security. The activity is part of SEARCA's ongoing community relations partnership with Bahay ni Maria, jointly implemented by PU and RTLD.