Amid skyscrapers and the bustling urban streets, Urban Farmers PH’s Bonifacio Global City (BGC) community farm gives hope that there is a thriving future in agriculture. Driven by their goal to improve food security and accessibility in urban communities, Urban Farmers PH is also inspiring the younger generation and city dwellers to reconnect with agriculture.
"We want to show everyone that farming is not only doable but also enjoyable and transferable," shared Business Development Officer Marian Pacunana. "Our goal is to inspire people to start their own farms, whether it's in a condo, a backyard, or inside their homes, so they can produce food."
A COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF THE CITY
During the pandemic, people turned to farming to address challenges in food security. Urban Farmers PH saw this as an opportunity to nurture unused public spaces to engage communities in farming. Situated in BGC and Makati, the organization is now expanding to other areas in the city. At the heart of this green movement are the young farmers like Marian Pacunana, who started as a volunteer out of a passion for sustainability.
While Marian’s background is in Creative Writing, she found her calling in sustainability and doing something good.
"I found my way into sustainability because I saw that beyond giving, we can also teach people or groups how they can be circular and contribute to society. Having a non-agriculture background gave me insight that some of the problems in the sector can be solved through the help of various fields."
The farm relies on its engagements and partnerships with communities and creative strategies to sustain operations. They offer workshops, farm tours, and collaborate with partners to enhance their farm visitors’ experience, especially those who want to get their hands dirty through experiential learning. They also host events in their greenhouse that promote their advocacies in urban farming and food security. True to the spirit of creating a community at the heart of the city, Urban Farmers PH also welcomes volunteers from all walks of life who want to learn more about farming.
As a small community farm with limited space, Marian is proud that they’re able to address challenges in meeting the demands of the community through partnerships and market linkage.
"We've helped bridge the gap by connecting restaurants and canteens in BGC with rural farmers who have the produce but lack market access. This not only ensures a steady income for the farmers but also reduces waste and ensures fresh produce for urban consumers," Marian elaborates.
GROWING WITH THE COMMUNITY
On the other hand, Krizrein “Kriz” Andrada, one of Urban Farmers volunteer agriculturists, sees Urban Farmers PH as a ground for learning. Despite growing up in an urban community, Kriz nurtured his love for farming and agriculture. He is thankful that Urban Farmers welcomed him in their community farm and helped him hone his skills. Kriz shared that when he was reviewing for his board exam, he also worked at Urban Farmers as their farm technician.
"No one taught me about agriculture during my school days, and I want to change that narrative. As our population grows, so should our awareness of issues like food security and land exploitation. Even in urban settings, it is possible to grow our food," Kriz shares.
Education plays a crucial role in Urban Farmers PH's strategy because changing perceptions about farming is crucial. They believe that improving farmers' situations and showing agriculture as a viable career can inspire the youth. Urban Farmers hosts workshops for students to educate them about agriculture and its role in food security. By hosting workshops and sharing their journey, they aim to make farming engaging and appealing to more people in urban areas, especially the younger generation.
"Our ultimate goal is to change perceptions about farming. We want people to see the importance and viability of growing food, even in urban areas. We started not as experts but learned along the way. We want to share this experience to show that anyone can embark on this journey," says Kriz.
A Sustainable Future
As Urban Farmers PH continues to grow and inspire more city dwellers to embrace farming, Marian and Kriz remind us that agriculture is essential for life. Without people to grow our food, there will be no life on Earth.
Through their efforts, Urban Farmers PH and young farmers like Marian and Kriz are painting a brighter picture of farming, one that can encourage the younger generations and urban communities to see the importance and future of agriculture.
Kriz urges his generation to think of sustainability when considering the future, “It’s time to change our mindset of how the world works. We can do something we love that benefits our community.”
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