THE

SECRET
IS IN THE
SOIL
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO NATURAL GARDENING

Flor Gozon Tarriela & Gidget Roceles Jimenez

Illustrated & designed by Liza Flores
Published by
Conquest for Christ Foundation Inc.
2nd Floor Saguittarius Buidling
H.V. de la Costa st., Salcedo Village
Phone: +63 (2) 867.1055
ccfi@majentgroup.com
www.ccfionline.org

© Copyright 2010 Flor Gozon Tarriela and Gidget Roceles Jimenez

Book design and illustration by Liza Flores

Consultant : Maria Teresa Madamba

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or
by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and
retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a
reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

ISBN 978-971-8698-10-5
THANK YOU!
We would like to dedicate this book to our families: to our
dear mother and grandmother and great grandmother
Carolina Lapus Gozon; Our families Ed, Edmin, Maggie, CJ, Ted,
Vanessa, Tom, Tricia, Nando and Natalia; Joel, Jaime, Bianca
and Sofie and Kay for all their love and support through out
the whole book making process.

We would also like to thank Vanessa Andres Tarriela, the “S”

girls Sammy Westfall and Sofie Jimenez for helping start this
project with their research and drawings; for Bianca Jimenez,
Alex Westfall, Nicki Westfall and Gabie Ong for their creative
contributions; for Vicky Martinez, Melissa Martinez, Fely Sadio,
Noah Manarang, Vida Ongsiako, Lydia Robledo and Sammy
for the pictures; Trixie Madamba for her valuable editing and
consulting; the best natural farming and gardening teachers:
2009 Secretary of Agriculture Awardee for Organic Farming
Andry Lim and his wife Joji Gamboa; Tere Perez; Dante de
Lima, Sister Isyang; and Liza Flores for her beautiful book
designs and illustrations.

~ Flor & Gidget

 Table of Contents

6 A Note from Flor! 37 All In the Family…

GARDENING GUIDE
8 The Natural Story
38 Onions/Garlic
10 Our Ecosystem –
39 Lettuce and Cucumber
the magic machine of life
40 Tomato and Squash
41 Basil
13 Plants – The Natural Food Processor
GROW YOUR OWN LUNCH
15 Parts of a Plant
43 Filipino Wild Flower Salad
16 Activity #1: PLANT MAZE
44 Squash Soup / Pesto
17 Activity #2: GROWING MONGO SEEDS
45 Sun-dried Tomato/ Sofie’s Sun-dried
Tomato & Basil Pesto Pasta
19 The Essential Ingredients
20 Sun
46 Pruning and Weeding
21 Water
47 Why Prune?
22 Soil
Controlling Weeds
23 Soil in the Philippines
48 God’s Pharmacy
24 Plant Vitamins
49 Organic Pesticides
25 Composting
27 Vermi-compost 52 Glossary
28 Activity #3: GET INTO VERMI-CULTURE
54 Bibliography
30 Create Your Own Natural Garden
31 The Plant Planner
32 Activity #4: PLANT IT AND IT WILL GROW
33 Gardening In A Small Space
35 Tools of the Trade
 N ERS!
YOUNG GARD E

Sofie

A note from Flor!

Gabie
I thought about this book to introduce kids and
Xavi aspiring gardeners to the wonderful benefits of
CJ Bianca natural gardening.

If you continue to read on, you will discover the

important roles that worms and garbage play
when trying to grow something naturally or
organically (as it is sometimes called). But more
importantly, what I would really like for you to
learn is that the real key to successful natural
gardening is found in the soil.

The soil is the source of life. Often times we

Anja simply take soil as just one of the basic ingredi-
ents of start up gardening.

However, as you know more about the soil, you

will discover how it sustains not only plants but
millions of micro-organisms, all happily participat-
ing in God’s perfect cycle of life. The soil is alive
and we should learn to take care of it!

Max & Gabbie

6
 Alex
Sammy

Nicki

Healthy soil produces healthy plants.

As you enter the world of natural garden-

ing, you will not only get to play with fun,
wriggling worms without getting in trouble
but also get to impress your mom by saving
grocery bills and recycling your household
garbage as well. And, if you are successful
with your garden, you could actually end up Ramon
growing some vegetables or herbs that you
can use as ingredients for a yummy, healthy
meal. Now that would really be impressive!

With this book I hope you will see how easy it

is to grow things naturally and have some fun Ysabel
while you are at it!

And as you understand how plants should Nando

best be grown, I hope this book can also help
you make healthier food choices in the future.

Happy gardening!
Flor

7
 The Natural Story
When God created life, He
created man, animals, plants
and the Earth’s natural
elements to all happily
interact and be dependent
on each other in order to
survive. The whole ecosys-
tem was designed perfectly.
It worked until man decided
that he wanted redder
apples, longer bananas,
perfectly shaped mangoes
and more, much, much more.
8
So man came up with miracle
growing formulas, and started
using artificial fertilizers and
potent pesticides to make
more vegetables and fruits look
spot-free and shiny. They were
produced in mass quantities.
The fruit and vegetable stands
never looked better.
 Fortunately, people figured
out what the problem was.
They had to stop using the
harmful substances that
they thought would improve
production. They realized
that such methods would
cause more harm than good.

They looked back at Nature’s

ways and saw how living
things are interconnected
But no one really stopped to ask and live to sustain each
if the produce was better for other. As we began appre-
your health. And what’s more, ciating and realizing how
no one really knew how badly efficient this system was, the
these artificial chemicals would term ‘organic’ took on more
affect the natural balance of the meaning. Organic gardening
ecosystem. really just means growing
fruits, herbs and vegetables
When the rains came and as naturally as possible.
brought these bug killing
poisons into lakes, rivers and
even oceans, they were on their
way to creating havoc in many
of the surrounding ecosystems.
They started killing seaweed,
fish and eventually even birds
that fed on the fish. Soon, some
bird species were on their way
to becoming endangered.

9
 Our ecosystem - the magic machine of life!

Consumer
Industries
Mankind
Mammals
Snakes
Birds
Fish
Food Insects
Starch
Protein
Food Fats

Preservation Vitamins
Minerals

Logging Vegetation
Fishing Vegetation can convert
Photosynthesis
carbon dioxide and SUN
Mining water into starch. AIR
More plants,
more food available
for animals.
Respiration
Transpiration

Evaporation
Rivers, Lakes
Water and Soil
Mineral Uptake Wetlands
Estuaries
Bays, Seas,
Oceans
(Land)

10
 Waste: An ecosystem is a community
High Volume of living things interacting
Toxic with each other and its natural
environment.
Faeces, Urine Practically everything in this
Dead Bodies interdependent community that
we live in has its own special
Leaves, Wood
contribution to the circle of life.
Over-Ripe Just like all the nuts and bolts of a
Fruits machine, each part was somehow
Pollution designed to complement one
another to help make things work.
We have been provided with
everything we need to sustain life.

In this interactive scenario,

Micro-Organisms the cycle starts with a seed
growing in a soil teeming with
microorganisms hard at work
providing much needed nutrients
to the plants. It also gives off
much needed carbon dioxide
Respiration and heat in a process called
Decomposition respiration. When this seed
Rain Ammonium Nitrite grows into a plant, it makes
Nitrate food as the producer through
an important process called
Phosphate photosynthesis. The producer is
Potassium consumed in the food chain that
progresses through a hierarchy
Micro-Nutrients
of consumers, which include both
Examples: animals and humans. Then the
Calcium, Copper,
wastes and remains of dead
Iodine, Iron,
Magnesium, plants and animals are broken
Manganese, Zinc down and “recycled” into nutrients
by the very microorganisms, the
decomposers, that got the first
little seed started on its way.

11
 And look!
I have given you
the seed-bearing plants
throughout the earth,
and all the fruit trees
for your food.
And I have given
all the grass and plants
to the animals and birds
for their food.

Genesis 1:29-30

12
 PLANTS:
The Natural
Food Processor
It’s hard to believe that, among all living things
on Earth, only plants can manufacture food. This
is why they are called producers. All the rest of
us on the food chain are consumers. With the
basic raw materials of water, carbon dioxide and
sunlight, plants use all their parts to create simple
sugars and starches for consumers to eat.

13
 Here’s how the parts of the plant all work together:

IT ALL
STARTS
FROM A seed is a self-contained
M E!
transportable plant starter
kit. It contains a seed coat, a
tiny embryo and enough food
to nourish it until it finds the
right conditions to germinate
and grow.

Leaves sprout when the seed

splits apart. As they grow, they
become the plant’s crucial entry
and exit points above ground.
They inhale carbon dioxide and
exhale oxygen. When it gets hot,
water also transpires out of the
plant through openings in the
leaves called stomata. It is in the
leaves where most of the plant’s
food-making process called
photosynthesis takes place.
Leaves are considered a plant’s
food factories.

The stem is considered a

plant’s plumbing system
through which water and
other nutrients travel. It also
provides support and connects
all the major parts of the plant.
The roots absorb the necessary
ingredients, like nutrients and
water, which the plants need to
grow. They also anchor the plant
into the soil.

14

A flower contains the
plant’s reproductive
organs. When a plant is
fully grown, it grows a bud
that eventually opens up
into a flower. A flower’s
nectar, scent and color
attract birds and insects,
like bees. They carry pollen
from other flowers of the
same species to fertilize
the egg in the flower’s
ovary.
seed
(inside)
stamen
stylar column
petal
Did you know
that some seeds
could lay dormant
for many, many
years before
they decide to
germinate?
pedicel
sepal
(flower stalk)
Seeds are
perfectionists.
They require three
important conditions
before they will decide to
A fruit is the plant’s germinate or start to grow.
container of seeds. When These are:
a pollen grain fertilizes the 1. The right temperature
egg in the flower’s ovary, an (room temperature; not so
embryo starts to grow. As cold and not so hot)
the flower dies, the embryo 2. The right amount of
grows into a seed. The fruit moisture (slightly wet but
grows to create a protective not soggy)
cover around the seed. This
3. The right location
is how some kinds of flowers (partly shaded; not directly
eventually become fruits that under the sun)
we can eat.
If only one of these
conditions is met, they
Oftentimes, these fruits are will simply not germinate.
colorful and sweet enough
to eat. When they are ripe
enough to break open, the
And, did you know the
seeds are ready for distribu-
coconut is the BIGGEST SEED
tion and germination.
in the world?
15
 ACTIVITY #1:
Making a Plant Maze
Materials you will need:
• Shoebox with a cover
small mongo
• Cardboard toys seedling
• Small objects you can use as
obstacles such as small toys
• Scissors
• Tape
• Soil
• Toilet cardboard roll that can fit
inside a shoebox toilet
• Mongo bean that has sprouted cardboard
roll
What to do:
1. Cut a small round hole at one end of the
shoebox.
2. Put cardboard partitions along the inside of cardboard
the box and secure them with tape. Make partitions with
sure that each partition has a round hole like round holes
the one you cut out at the end of the shoebox.
Distribute small objects at the bottom of the
shoebox.
3. Plant the mongo seedling in a toilet cardboard
roll with damp soil. The roll will protect the
seedling and eventually disintegrate because it
is biodegradable.
4. Cover the shoebox and find a sunny spot to
put it in. Make sure the hole at the end of the
h
box is directly facing the sunlight. shoebox wit
round ho le
5. Water the mongo plant as needed. Observe
how it grows over the next few days.

16
ACTIVITY #2:
Growing Mongo Seeds
Materials you will need:
mongo
• A few mongo seeds seedlings!
• A small dish
• Tissue or toilet paper
• Water

What to do:
1. Fold a few pieces of tissue or toilet
paper and put them on a small dish.
2. Wet the paper with a few drops of
water until it is damp. Make sure it
does not get soggy.
3. Sprinkle a few seeds on the paper, and
set the dish by the window.
4. Check the paper everyday. Make sure
it is damp by adding a few drops of
water when needed.
tissue or
5. Observe the growth of the mongo toilet paper
seeds. Identify the plant parts that
sprout out of the seeds.

ngo seeds
Think about how the mo paper.
manage to grow on
t paper
Could the tissue or toile found
contain nutrients also
in real soil?

17
 Now here is
what I am trying to say:
All of you together
are the one body of Christ
and each one of you
is a separate
and necessary part
of it.

1 Corinthian 12:27

18
 The Essential
Ingredients

All living things need air, water and food to live.

The way we grow depends a lot upon how much
of these essentials we get. Plants thrive with
good sunlight, enough water and nutritious soil.
Since the Philippines is situated very near the
equator, we are fortunate to have an abundant
supply of both water and sunlight for the most
part of the year. This is the reason why we only
have two seasons instead of four. They are the
wet and dry seasons. The dry season is usually
from November to April. The period between
May to October is usually considered the wet
season. Most fruit bearing crops are best
planted a month or two before the wet season.

19
 Sun

Plants need sunlight for the

process of manufacturing food
called photosynthesis.

Different plants require various

amounts of sunlight. There are
plants that grow quite well
under direct sunlight and those
that don’t. Many of the plants
that flower or bear fruit require
direct sunlight.

However, there are also plants

that do well both in sunlight and
shaded areas. Some can even
stay indoors for as long as 6
months. Plants inhale the carbon
dioxide that we breathe out,
while they exhale oxygen, which
we breathe in. This is how plants
and people depend upon and
benefit each other.

It is the sun that provides the

energy to power the process
of photosynthesis. As plants
combine with water and carbon
dioxide with the help of the
sun, plants are able to make
simple sugars and starches that
becomes its food.

20
Water
Most plants need to be watered regularly.
How much water you give depends on the
climate, the type of soil and what kind of
plant you have. When choosing a place to
plant, accessibility to water is very impor-
tant for the survival and well being of the
plant. Another thing to consider is how the
water drains around your plant area. You
can actually drown your plant with too much
water.
Most of the time, you can just water a plant
once a day. The best way to find out if the
plant is dry is if its leaves are wilted. You can
also poke the soil to see if it has any moisture
in it. Some indoor plants may not even need
to be watered daily. During the summer
however, you may have to water a plant two
to three times a day, depending on how hot
it is. On rainy days, there is no need to water
the plants.
There is no fixed rule on watering. Ideally, you
should only water the plant when the soil is
dry. More plants die from overwatering rather
than under watering. When watering your
plants, it is best to give plants a good soaking.
This ensures that the water gets to the roots
that will absorb it. If there is too little water,
it may not find its way down to the roots. This
is especially vital to young plants that need
to develop a strong root system in order to
support them.
The best time to water your plants is either
early morning or late in the afternoon. This
is because water evaporates faster under
direct sun. During the middle of the day, much
of the water would simply be wasted as it
evaporates into the air through the leaves.
Natural rainfall affects gardens. In regions of
low rainfall, we can maximize rainwater by
creating canals and small hills or bumps of soil
throughout the garden to prevent the water
from running off into gutters or drains.
In the northern part of the Philippines, where
most typhoon patterns form from Novem-
ber to February and there is often heavy
rainfall, you need to direct the flow so that
the garden beds remain well drained and
not water logged. You can do this by building
garden beds and making surface drainage
channels.
You can also create a bog garden, a wet area
where you can grow moisture-loving plants like
water lilies, lotuses, taro, and kangkong.
21
 Soil
You may not realize it, but the soil is one of
the most important things there is on Earth.
It forms the foundation for most living things.
You can even trace almost any kind of food
back to it. Soil holds the roots of plants and is
actually their source of water and nutrients.
Although it is often called “dirt” and may even
just seem to be a bunch pebbles and broken
rocks to you, it is made up of so much more.
Soil is actually alive and teeming with life! It
is home to millions of living organisms like
bacteria, fungi, insects and worms. It is also
Nature’s greatest recycler. It is in soil that
these organisms decompose waste materi-
als and once-living things. They also aerate
the soil, making passageways for air, as they
move around and break it up. These organ-
isms are quite self-sufficient and manage
to thrive within this environment among the
humus, or remains of dead plants and animals
that have since broken down and become
a part of the soil. These dead plants and
animals make up the once-living matter in the
soil. These materials have gone through the
long process of decomposition, making the
soil rich and fertile.
A very important life cycle occurs in the soil
that benefits both plants and animals. It is
called the Nitrogen Cycle. Nitrogen in the
air is practically useless in its gaseous form.
So, certain kinds of bacteria in the soil need
to “fix” it. These bacteria convert the nitro-
gen found in dead plants and animals into
22
a compound called ammonia. This process
makes it possible for the plants to absorb
the ammonia from the soil. When animals
eat plants, they also make good use of this
compound in order to grow. Later, other kinds
of bacteria release nitrogen in its gaseous
form back into the atmosphere, and the cycle
begins again.
As a budding gardener, you should be aware
of the texture of the soil in your garden. It will
help you determine which plants will be easy
or difficult to grow. Texture has to do with
the non-living components in the soil, particu-
larly the finely crumbled pieces of rocks and
minerals. There are different types of soil:
clay, silt, sand, or a combination of these
called loam.
Clay, because it is made of the smallest
nonliving particles in the soil, is usually dense
and sticky. It can hold a lot of nutrients. But
you wouldn’t want too much clay in your soil,
because it does not usually let water or air
go through. Sand is composed of the biggest
non-living particles in the soil. It feels rough.
It can also hold nutrients. Unlike clay, it can
drain water efficiently. The nonliving parti-
cles of silt fall between clay and sand. Silt is
powdery and smooth. A combination of all
three types, called loam, is best for growing
most kinds of plants. It is an ideal texture for
organisms to interact with organic matter. It
also provides drainage while holding a suffi-
cient amount of moisture.
CLAY

Soil in the Philippines

Soil in most parts of the Philippines has been

found to be more lacking in vital nutrients
over the years. Using agriculture as their main
source of livelihood, many have practiced a
combination of slashing and burning of previ-
ously used croplands and used artificial
fertilizers that contain harmful chemicals.
LOAM It is primarily because of these agricultural
practices as well as frequent logging–cutting
down so many trees and rock mining in the
same areas which have been the cause of our
soil’s fast decay. Most of the unseen micro-
organisms that live in the soil have slowly
been killed off as farmers try to “prepare”
the soil for planting, season after season. And
when the rains come, with the lack of trees
and many natural barriers, flooding can also
wash away many of the remaining nutrients
that help sustain plant growth naturally.

There is a pressing need to re-fertilize our

SAND soils so that we can bring it back to life again.
We must recreate the lost nutrients of both
living things and dead organic matter and put
these back into our disrupted ecosystem.

23
 Plant Vitamins

IPA
There are many creative ways you can make sure that
you have healthy soil. One way is called soil condition-
ing. Just as healthy and organic food is better for our
bodies, soil can be fertilized, or enriched with nutri-
ents from decomposed waste materials and once-
living things that are best for plants. These organic
fertilizers are like plant vitamins that promote plant
growth.

And just as we take all sorts of vitamins and supple-

ments for our body, there are also many differ-
COCO COIR ent nutrients for plants. Nutrients such as compost,
vermicast, dry leaf molds, bone meals, fish gills etc.

You can also add any of these to improve the condi-

tioning of the soil to improve the growth and health of
plants:

1. Ipa (old burnt rice hull) is light and does not harden
and compact easily.
2. Coco Coir (fibers removed from the outer shell of a
coconut) is good for maintaining moisture
RIVE
SANDR 3. River Sand is excellent for preventing water logging
(too much water in the soil).
4. Mulch (covering of dry leaves) helps maintain
moisture

Let’s
GO!

Did you know that mulch naturally attracts earthworms as well?

24

REALLY
GOOD
STUFF!!!
A mulching we will go...
Mulching involves putting
protective material such as
dry leaves over the surface
of the soil to prevent much of
its moisture from escaping.
In time the dry leaves break
down and get incorporated
into the soil. Mulching also
protects the soil from direct
sunlight and from becoming
too hard and tight, so that
the roots can grow more
efficiently.
MU LCH
Understanding what really
happens in composting
God really has a good sense of humor. He allows
us to grow healthy food from rotten stuff just
by taking the time to recycle our garbage.
Composting, which is the process of speeding
up the decay of organic matter, is one good way
to quickly enrich and fertilize the soil. It is one of
the most important steps in natural gardening.
Did you know that vegetable scraps, fruit
peelings, grass clippings actually make almost
half of household waste? We can make these
kinds of garbage useful by making compost.
Compost is an organic fertilizer concoction
composed of decomposed remains of plants and
animals.
We can make compost by recycling kitchen
food scraps in a bin. Fruits and vegetable peels,
eggshells and coffee grounds are all good
examples of scraps that can be put into the
bin. It is best to keep a separate bin for the
waste you can compost under your kitchen sink
to distinguish it from waste that should not be
recycled such as meat and dairy products that
can attract unwanted vermin into our homes.
It is important to keep in mind that all things that
go into this rotting concoction must come from
once-living things. This is where we find the
important connection between organic gardening
and composting. Therefore, it is important to first
understand the process of decomposition. How
does it happen?
25
 MAKE YOUR OWN COMPOST!

Left to nature’s own devices, the soil is naturally fertilized when

dead plants and animals are broken down or decomposed by quick-rotting materials
organisms in the soil—worms, insects, fungi and bacteria. As
millions of these organisms—many of them microscopic—eat and
digest these materials, they break them down into organic ferti-
lizer—compost—to benefit the seeds and plants that naturally
take root in the soil. The decomposition process usually takes
quite some time.

You can try to hasten this process by making your own compost
heaps in bins. Let’s look at the important steps to follow in
making your own compost pile—organic fertilizer—for your
garden: sprinkle water

1. Decide whether you will keep a bin inside your house or in

your backyard.
2. Collect quick-rotting materials—coffee grounds, tea bags, soil
grass clippings, vegetable and fruit peelings; slow-rotting
materials—paper, cardboard, dried, fallen leaves, straw,
branches, twigs, bark can also be used. Strip or chop these slow-rotting materials
into small pieces
3. At the base of your bin, arrange slow-rotting materials like
branches and twigs to make sure that air will filter through
your heap.
4. Put alternate layers of quick-rotting and slow-rotting materials
mixed with soil.
5. Sprinkle each layer lightly with water. You can use a laundry
spray bottle for this. Make sure that it is clean.
6. Never mix in meat or dairy products into your compost heap.
7. Mix the heap regularly with a pitchfork or a stick.
8. In a few weeks, because of the decomposing action of tiny
microbes in your bin, the waste materials will be broken down
into compost, which is mostly dark brown in color.

26
Vermi-compost

Did you know that worm and garbage Afric

Nightcrawanlers
together can help hasten the process
of making compost?
Putting worms such as the African Nightcrawler
in the compost bin can help create a whole lot of
compost fast because they reproduce so quickly.
And believe it or not, if done properly even odor
free!

When you put worms into your compost bin,

they will eat the rotting materials and produce
worm poop called castings. When transferred to
your soil, these castings will not only make the
plants stronger against common insect pests,
they will also fertilize the soil with rich nutrients.
Worms are voracious eaters. They can pack in Vermi
Cast
as much food as their own weight in a single
day. And when they do, the microorganisms that
they consume from the organic decay multiply to
eight times their original number.

mm!
Yu m m m m m m m

Vermi
Compost

27
 VERM I- CU LTU RE is ju
another name fo st
The process sirmpraising worms.
propagating worm ly involves
Let’s get into Vermi-culture. with the compost s in the bin along
from daily kitcmhe
aterial recycled
Vermiwhat? n scraps.

What you need: How to make the bins:

• A 12-quart plastic bin 1. Make small holes all along the lid of your container.
with a lid (used ice
2. Tear 1-inch strips of newspaper and fill the container
cream container).
3/4 full. Then compact them down to an inch in
• A sharp object to
height.
poke holes with (nail)
• 100 African night 3. Sprinkle newspaper strips with water to dampen
crawlers (most them. Do not wet them completely. Too much water
prolific and accessible can lead to mold growth and even drown your
for our local gardens) worms.
• Old newspapers 4. Transfer the clean worms from their original
• Water containers. Make sure you don’t transfer any of the
• Kitchen scraps: old materials from their original container.
coffee grounds, grass 5. Put in kitchen scraps mixed in with soil as food for
clippings, tea bags, your worms. Don’t put too much! As a rule of thumb,
vegetable and fruit 100 worms in a bin only need one banana peel and
peelings, dead, fallen 1/3 cup of coffee grounds.
leaves, branches,
6. Cover the bin completely so that the worms are in
twigs, bark, paper,
complete darkness.
cardboard (do not
include scraps of 7. You don’t need to check your worms everyday.
meat) You can check them once every two weeks to see
if their newspapers are still damp (a dry bin can
kill the worms) or if they need some more kitchen
scraps. Your compost bin should not emit a rotten or
moldy smell. In a few weeks, you can harvest some
of the worm’s castings and composted matter and
use them as fertilizer.
8. Worms reproduce quite quickly because each
cocoon can contain as much as 50 baby worms. You
may want to transfer them to other containers so
they do not get so crowded. This will also make it
easier to harvest their castings and compost.

28
 Here is another story illustrating
what the Kingdom of God is like:
“A farmer sowed his field, and
went away, and as the days
went by, the seeds grew and grew
without his help. For the soil
made the seeds grow.
First a leaf-blade pushed through,
and later the wheat-heads
formed and finally the grain ripened,
and then the farmer came at once
with his sickle and harvested it.

Mark 4:26-29

29
 Creating Your Own
Natural Garden
Before you get your green thumb going, you
must first know the answer to the three most
important questions of planting:

1. What do you want to plant: seeds, stem

cuttings, bulbs or seedlings?

2. Where do you want to plant: in your

backyard or in small containers?

3. When do you want to plant so that you can

harvest a produce at a specific time during
the year?

Did you know that natural gardens attract butterflies?

30

YOU
CAN PLANT
ALL OF
THESE!
Although the most basic
way to grow a plant is
from a seed, plants can
also grow from different
parts of the plant.
A new plant can grow from
the leaves (i.e. cacti), stem
(i.e. roses) and roots (i.e.
ginger). Determine how to
plan and create your own
organic garden. It is important
to take note that in tropical
areas with moderately good
weather most of the year,
cuttings are most often
recommended for planting.
It speeds up planting and
harvesting time by skipping
the time required for seed
germination.
The Plant Planner
You can get a cutting by slicing off a little branch of a
mother plant. It is important that cuttings are taken from
the top of the plant and cut properly (not broken off).
What to do:
1. With a sharp and clean knife, cut at least 2 nodes of
stem. Remove leaves at its base.
2. Plant the cuttings in pot filled with soil.
3. Water the cuttings and put in a shaded area out of
direct sunlight.
4. When the cuttings have grown roots, you may transfer
them to a larger pot or your garden.
Roots that can be planted are called tuberous roots.
A popular choice is the sweet potato. You plant the
whole root. After some shoots start to sprout, you can
separate these from the mother root and replant them.
After several weeks, the seeds, cuttings, roots will
become young plants that need to be transferred to
larger individual containers or pots. Gently remove the
plant with the roots intact, careful to protect the stem,
and lower into the new bigger pot. Gently pour soil with
compost around the root ball, patting lightly. Fill the sides
of the pot with more compost to remove air spaces.
Make sure leaves do not touch the soil. You should water
immediately after planting.
31
 Plant Activity #3:
Plant it and it will grow.
Growing plants What you will need:
from seeds • Seeds
is fun and easy!
• Seedling tray or box that can hold a lot of soil
You can even collect
your own seeds from • Soil
flowering plants
such as anthuriums, What to do:
cosmos 1. Fill seedling tray or plain box with mixed soil, like a
and marigold. combination of sand, compost, rice hull.
2. For small seeds, scatter thinly in a straight line along the
soil.
3. For big seeds, use a pointed stick to make holes in the
soil for each seed. Put the seed in the hole. Cover the
seed with just enough compost or sand to conceal it.
Seed should be sown at a depth equal to its thickness.
4. Pat the surface gently and press down after plant-
ing the seeds. You can use your hand or a flat piece of
wood.
5. Water the seeds lightly so that the soil is not disturbed.
You can use a misting bottle used for laundry or a can
with small holes at the bottom so that the water can
flow evenly. Keep seedlings moist all the time.
6. Put the seedlings in the shade until leaves start to
appear, then transfer the box to an area with more
sunlight. You can put toilet paper cardboard rolls around
each seedling if you want added protection. The rolls
Seeds come in different are biodegradable and will just disappear into the
shapes and sizes. ground in time.
Some even
look like butterflies! Compare the seeds grown in the soil and with damp toilet
paper. Is there a difference?

32
Gardening in a small space

The amount of space you have can also actually determine the
type of garden you want to start out with. If you have a small
space, you can plant the seedlings in a neat row to grow more
seedlings. If there is a corner in your backyard for you to use,
then clear out a little patch and try to maximize planting as
many plants as you can in that little space. Before you start
planting, make sure you plan how your garden will look like.

Your own garden map

When you map out your garden, consider these points:

1. Plant your seedlings in neat rows to maximize space. It also
allows you to make sure that the compost benefits are
spread more evenly among the plants. Planting in rows also
allows you to make sure that you create a proper drainage
system for your plants. Make sure that there is always a
way for the water to flow from your plants, especially when
it rains.
3. Vegetables need sunny spaces. Don’t tuck away your
garden in a dark corner.
4. Plant different types of vegetables that can be harvested
at different times of the year so that you can maximize the Nice, neat rows!
space and you can have a productive garden all year round. GOOD JOB!
5. Plant companion plants that can complement each other.
Some plants’ roots give off some substances into the soil
that may be harmful to other plants. You have to be careful
about planting some plants that are not good together.

PLANT
HERE

33
 hmph

You should avoid having these combinations

in your garden:
• Potatoes with tomatoes and squash
hmph
• Beans with onions
• Broccoli with tomato
• Carrots with dill

Best There are also some substances from some plants that
Friendsr! help other plants grow. This practice of intercropping may
Foreve also be beneficial to the soil as different plants require
different nutrients. Not all the nutrients are used up all the
same time and others have time to be replenished.

There are also some substances from some plants that

help other plants grow. This practice of intercropping may
also be beneficial to the soil as different plants require
different nutrients. Not all the nutrients are used up all the
same time and others have time to be replenished.

Here are some examples of plants that are good

companion plants in tropical countries such as ours:

• Cabbage with French beans, celery, onions, garlic, peas

I Like and potatoes
You
• Lettuce with carrots, radish, strawberries, onions and
garlic
• Tomatoes with carrots, onions, garlic, parsley and basil
• Carrots with leeks, lettuce, onions, garlic, peas and
tomatoes
• Onions, garlic with carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes

34
 Gardening tools
should always be kept
clean and sharp.
Tools of the trade
You can’t go to battle without a few
basic gardening tools. Here is a list of
what you will need for your gardening
project:

Watering can, spray or hose

Used for watering plants

Trowel
Useful for digging holes

Hand fork
Used for lifting small plants or Hang them in a dry
area. After every use,
loosening soil when weeding
wash the tool in water
and towel dry. Dip in
Garden gloves
alcohol especially after
Used to keep hands clean while you have pruned an
gardening and to protect against unhealthy or diseased
dirt and thorns branch of a plant or
tree.
Pots & containers
Used to contain and display plants Some tools need to be
oiled for maintenance.
Labels and markers
Used to help you identify plants

Pruners
Used to cut off stems and branches

Gardening knife
Used for cutting and harvesting
vegetables and flowers

35
 Day and night alike
belong to you;
you made the starlight
and the sun.
All nature is
within your hands;
you make the
summer
and winter too.”

Psalms 74: 16-17

36
 All In
The Family…
I inherited my love of gardening from my mother Arling. My
sister Kay and I share a lettuce farm together called Garden
Fresh. We also grow various herbs in our respective gardens.
Kay also has her own Carolina Bamboo Farm while I have my
own Flor’s Garden. My nieces and nephews (Ramon Madrid,
chairboy of Tsikiting Gubat and the Ramon (Magsaysay) Forest
of Antipolo, Ysabel Gana, Gabbie Gozon, Anja Abrogar, Joaquin
and Mateo Jimenez, Alex, Sammy and Nicki Westfall; Bianca
and Sofie Jimenez and Gabie and Xavi Ong) all seem to have
caught the gardening bug as well. My nieces Sam, Sofie,
Bianca, Alex, Nicki and Gabie all wanted to grow their very
own organic gardens. They decided to see if they can grow an
edible garden for me and their grandmother (my sister Kay).

They decided on a simple menu of squash soup, a Filipino wild

flower salad and sundried tomato/basil pasta.

For this they decided they would try to grow: Onions, Garlic,
Lettuce, Tomato, Cucumber, Squash, and Basil.

Good luck, girls!

~ Tita Flor

37
 Gardening Guide
Here is an easy guide my
nieces used to help them grow
their gardens.
Am I a
fruit or
a veggie?
What’s the difference
between a fruit and a
vegetable?
A fruit is the part of the
plant that surrounds the
seeds. All other edible
parts of the plant are
considered vegetables.
Did you know that
pumpkins, peppers,
peapods, cucumbers,
eggplants and corn kernels
are all considered fruits?
Radishes, celery, carrots
and lettuce are considered
vegetables because they
have no seeds.
38
Onions/Garlic
How to plant: Plant seedlings or dried bulbs 10-15cm apart
within a row. Each row should be 30cm
apart.
When to plant: October to January
Regular water and cultivating is required.
Care Tips:
When to HarvesT: 90 to 110 days
Onion Basics: Onions are best grown in cool weather in moist,
well-drained, loamy soil.
There are two most common bulb onions: The red and the
yellow onions. They are grown in the northern and central part
of the Philippines. Yellow onions are most often planted early
in the onion planting season, in October, while red onions can
be planted as late as January. Of the two, the red variety has
a longer storage life. Other varieties such as red shallots and
white onions are also grown in other parts of the Philippines.
When transplanting seedlings from a seed box to your garden,
make sure that the roots are not damaged. The white portion
of the plant should be completely covered by the soil surface.
Garlic Basics: Garlic is best grown during cool weather in
sandy and loamy soil.
When planting garlic cloves, use only the big pieces. Separate
the individual cloves a day before planting. Do not store garlic
in the refrigerator as the humidity may shorten their shelf life.
Store them in a cool, dry place.
Lettuce Cucumber
How to plant: Plant lettuce seeds in a How to plant: Plant cucumber seeds 1-1/2
seed box and transplant meters apart and 1-1/2
when it is 3 to 6 cm high centimeters into the ground.
When to plant: October to March. You When to plant: March to May
can plant lettuce every Care Tips: Water frequently and in
two months within this large amounts. Lack of suffi-
period so there is more to cient water may cause the
harvest. cucumber to become bitter.
Care Tips: Needs plenty of water Harvest Time: 40 to 59 days
and sunshine. Try to pick
off snails if they attach
themselves to the leaves. Cucumber basics: Cucumber is best planted
Since lettuce has shallow in well-drained, sandy soil that is at least 65º
roots, it is advisable to Fahrenheit.
water them lightly.
The most common variety in the Philippines
Harvest Time: 30 to 35 days is dark green in color with white or black
markings. They are the ones most commonly
Lettuce Basics: Lettuce is best planted in used in table salads.
loamy soil in cool weather (60-70o F)

The different types of lettuce you can plant

are leaf, romaine, iceberg, butter head.

39
 Tomato
How to plant: Plant tomato seeds in
compost 1 cm apart along
a row. Each row should
be 60 to 80 cm apart.
Seedlings can be trans-
planted at 3 to 5 cm. Make
sure roots are preserved
when transplanting.
When to plant: October to March
Care Tips: Water regularly to always
keep the soil moist. You
can also put mulch to
help keep the soil moist.
Tomatoes need plenty of
sun.
Harvest Time: 40 to 59 days
Tomato Basics: Tomatoes are best grown
in sandy or loamy soil in hot and humid
weather (55-60oF). The two types of
tomatoes grown in the Philippines are”table”
tomatoes planted during both wet and dry
seasons, and “processing” tomatoes which
are grown during the dry season and are
used to make sauces and catsup.
Tomatoes contain Lycopene, an antioxidant
that has been known to help fight cancer.
40
Squash
How to plant: Plant squash 3 or 4 seeds
together 3 cm into the
ground. Each row should be
1.5 m apart.
When to plant: April to June, and
September to February
Care Tips: Water to keep roots moist
but not wet.
Harvest Time: 4 months. When you harvest
you should make sure that
the stem is 5 cm long to
keep it fresh longer.
Squash basics: Squash is best grown in sandy
or loamy soil. It is a good source of vitamin A
and Lutein, an antioxidant that is necessary
for good vision and lowers the risk of getting
cataracts. It can be grown in the Philippines
throughout the year.
Squash is neither a fruit nor a vegetable. It’s
the one produce my nieces are so excited
about. Are pumpkins and squash the same
thing? No, they are not. But they belong to
the same family. You can distinguish them by
their stems. Pumpkins usually have harder
stems. They also are usually associated with
ornamental purposes such as Jack-o’-lanterns.
Squash is more commonly used in cooking.
However, they are interchangeable in some
recipes like my nieces’ favorite soup.
 Healing Herbs!
Growing herbs like basil
can be exciting because they
can be used for so many things
such as cooking, medicine and
Grow your own basil even cosmetics. Oregano, for
example, is good for cough and
the common cold. Rosemary,
Basil leaves are not only good for cooking. The many chamomile, peppermint, chives,
varieties of basil can be used for many purposes. parsley are some other good
The large leaf Italian basil, commonly known as the herbs to grow. The list goes
Neapolitan basil, can be used as companion plants to on! Most herbs like plenty of
help repel pests in your garden. Other varieties can sunshine and thrive in sandy
also be used as healing remedies for stomach cramps, soil. Many herbs can grow
headaches, cough, the common cold, and even for well together even in small
relieving anxieties. What a handy herb to have around! containers provided that these
have drainage holes.

What you will need:

1. Basil seeds or seedlings. The seeds would take a
week or two before they start to sprout and may
not grow as well in a pot of soil.
2. A big enough pot to put in a few seedlings.
3. Good healthy soil. Herb plants usually like sandy soil
through which water flows easily.
4. Lots of sun. Basil plants love the sun. Place them
where they can get full direct sunlight, prefer- Chives
ably by the kitchen window if you plan to use their
leaves for cooking.
5. Small amount of water. Basil plants don’t like water
on their leaves and stems. Water your basil plants
as close to the ground as possible. That is why it is
best to plant basil during the dry season. They will
have a higher chance of survival.

Oregano

41
 Give us our
food again today,
as usual.

Matthew 26:11

Filipino
Wild Flower Salad

42
Grow your own lunch!
Recipes with ingredients from my nieces’ natural garden:

Filipino wild flower salad Talinum

Ingredients
• 10 lettuce leaves
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 1 cucumber, sliced into thin strips
• 1 small onion, diced
• A handful of talinum & takip kuhol leaves Takip Kuhol
• Ternate and/or Cosmos flowers (optional)

For the salad dressing

• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ cup vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• A pinch of salt
Ternate
• A pinch of ground black pepper

Procedure
1. Tear the lettuce leaves into medium-sized pieces.
2. Cut each tomato into medium-sized wedges.
3. Toss the lettuce leaves, tomatoes, sliced cucumber and
diced onion in a large bowl. You can add the edible flowers
for color if you like.
Cosmos
4. Pour dressing over the salad before serving.

For the salad dressing

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well so that the
sugar and salt dissolve completely. This can be easily done
by putting all the ingredients in a small bottle. Close the cap
tightly and shake the ingredients well.

43
 Squash soup
Ingredients
• Squash, peeled and cut into cubes
• 1 Liter Beef broth (dissolve one beef
broth cube in 1 Liter of boiling water)
• 250 mL all-purpose cream
• Salt and pepper
• Bacon bits
• Parsley
Procedure
1. Boil the squash cubes in order to soften
them.
2. Puree Squash in a food processor.
3. In a pot, mix the squash with beef broth
and bring to a boil.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. Remove the pot from the heat source
and mix in the all-purpose cream.
6. Serve in a bowl with bacon bits and a
garnish of parsley.
44
Pesto sauce
Ingredients
• 2 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves
(make sure to remove the stems)
• 2 large cloves garlic
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup nuts
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
Procedure
1. Put the basil leaves, garlic, grated cheese
and chopped nuts in a food processor or
blender.
2. With the machine running on low, slowly
add the olive oil.
3. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper.
4. Once it has become a consistent, pasty
mixture, it is ready to serve on pasta,
bread or salad.
Sun dried tomato Sofie’s Sundried tomato
& basil pesto pasta
Ingredients Ingredients
• Fresh ripe tomatoes • A few slivers of Sundried tomatoes
• Salt • 8-9 cloves of Garlic
• Sugar • 14 pieces of fresh Basil leaves
• Olive oil • 4 tablespoons of Pesto sauce
• A pinch of Salt
Procedure
• Black pepper to taste
1. Cut fresh ripe tomatoes lengthwise.
• Chili flakes
2. Remove tomato seeds.
• Parmesan cheese
3. Mix a pinch each of salt and sugar.
• Sun dried tomato oil or plain olive oil
4. Sprinkle the salt-sugar mixture evenly on

all the tomatoes. Procedure

5. Dry tomatoes under direct sun for 3
days.
6. Cover with a net to avoid insects.
7. Take tomatoes inside at night to avoid
exposure to moisture from dew.
8. After 3 days, you can cover the tomatoes
in olive oil.
9. Store the tomatoes in olive oil in a clean
bottle.
1. Put all the ingredients into a blender or
food processor.
2. Blend all ingredients together. It’s that
simple!
3. Pour over cooked spaghetti or angel hair
pasta and serve.

Basil

45
 Giving your plants
a haircut and a shave:

Pruning & Weeding

46
Why Prune?
Pruning is important to
maintaining healthy and
attractive plants. Pruning
encourages new growth, like
flowers and fruits. Pruned
plants are more resistant to
disease. Pruning promotes
bushy growth, thins out
leaves for additional light
and air movement, and even
controls their height and
weight.
When should you prune?
Ideally, pruning is done after
flowering, and in beginning
of the rainy season. It is also
best to prune when you see
many of the dry twigs or
branches about to fall off the
plant. You can prune some
flowering plants, by cutting
off some of their flowers.
You can never have enough
fresh cut flowers to brighten
your household. When the
flower starts to droop, the
stem can used to grow new
plants. Leave some flowers
to attract beautiful butterflies
to your garden.
Controlling weeds
Weeds are plants that grow
where they are not wanted,
and spread in the wrong
places. How do you control
them? Easy! Simply pull them
out at the root by hand.
You can also put old newspa-
pers and sprinkle cut grass
or dry leaves around the
base of the plant to avoid
weed growth. This is another
form of mulching.
There are a number of
weeds though, that are
actually useful. There are
some people who even say
that all plants are created
equal because they were all
created for some purpose.
Some weeds are edible and
even medicinal. We call them
I wish I had “weedicinals,” (coined by
flowers too. Flor’s friend Sally). It is impor-
tant to know how to identify
them. There are plenty of
these weeds in Flor’s Garden.
They are grown and culti-
vated in Flor’s Garden collec-
tively as “God’s Pharmacy”.
Get a
haircut!
47
 GOD’S PHARMACY
Edible weeds or “weedibles” that
grow in my garden are the wild
pipino, the talinum, the medicinal
weed makahiya, or the “bashful
mimosa” (Mimosa pudica) and
the damong maria (Artemisia
vulgaris).

The damong maria is a must in

GOD’s Wild
PHARMACY Pipino
every garden. I was in my garden
one day and accidentally cut
my finger. It was bleeding a lot
and when I squeezed juice from
damong maria leaves, the bleed-
ing stopped instantly and the cut
immediately closed.

Another valuable weed is the

katakataka (Bryophyllum pinna-
tum), which is also a good plant
for sore aches and joints. I also
Talinum Makahiya
like to call these plants collectively
“God’s pharmacy”, my natural first
aid kit.

Damong
Maria Katakataka

48
Organic Pesticides?
Hey! What’s
happening
there?

We want to stress that aside from trying to plant things

without using chemical fertilizers, it is equally important to
remember to use natural remedies if you encounter any pest
problems.

In our attempt to use more effective means of killing harmful

pests with potent artificial chemicals, we have learned that
they not only pose health risks but also end up killing those
pests that actually help protect gardens. You may actually be
upsetting nature’s ecological balance if you try to eliminate
certain kinds of pests without determining what purpose they
may serve in your garden. We truly believe that God created
everything for a purpose. Not all insects are bad. Some of
them may actually be good for your garden.

Here are some remedies you can find in your home to help
protect your garden: We’re
dead!
1. Chalk, charcoal, Cayenne pepper, moistened coffee grounds
and Borax kill ants. RETRE
OH , AT!
2. Garlic spray kills cutworms, whiteflies, wireworms and NO !
slugs. Make garlic spray by adding 1 pounded bulb of garlic,
minced medium onion, and one tablespoon of cayenne
pepper to one quart of water and letting it sit for one hour.
After adding one tablespoon of liquid dish soap, it is ready
to use.
Coffee
3. Several tablespoons of ground cloves mixed with one gallon Grounds
of water kills flying insects.
4. Tobacco spray kills all kinds of bugs, caterpillars, aphids and
malicious worms. Just add 1 cup of tobacco to 1 gallon of
water and let sit for for 24 hours. It’s color should be same
as mild tea. Do not use on tomatoes, eggplants or peppers.

49
 Sparkling-clean
gardening tools...

...make happy,
healthy plants!

The best way to control plant disease is to repel and avoid it.
Don’t wait for pests before acting on them! Prevention is Key!
Here are other ways to make sure you won’t need any
pesticides at all:

1. Clean your gardening tools each time you use them to remove
fungus spores and prevent these from contaminating your
plants.
2. Try intercropping by planting your crops close to each other in
order to maximize your gardening space. Some diseases are
plant-specific and will not affect other kinds of plants.
3. Companion planting can also be done. Some plants repel
insects. You can plant them alongside other plants you want to
harvest in order to help protect those plants.
4. Remove diseased parts of your plants immediately so as not
to spread to other parts of the plant or nearby plants. I recom-
mend that you burn only diseased plants so these do not
contaminate healthy plants.
5. Keep your plants healthy by keeping the soil healthy to ward
off diseases.

50
He lops off every branch
that doesn’t produce.
And he prunes
those branches that
bear fruit
for even larger crops.

John 15:2-3

51
 GLOSSARY Antioxidant
a substance in food that
fights “free radicals,” or
molecules that damage the
cells in your body.
Biodegradable
a term that refers to materi-
als that can easily break
down or dissolve naturally
without harming the environ-
ment.
Compost
remains of dead plants and
animals that have been
decomposed or broken
down by living organisms like
bacteria, insects and fungi.
Companion Planting
the practice of growing
different crops close to each
other in a bed in order to
control pollination and pests.
Consumer
an organism that gets its
energy by feeding on plants
and other living things
52
Decomposer
an organism that breaks
down wastes and remains
of dead organisms, helping
return raw materials to the
environment.
Decomposition
a process that causes
something to rot.
Ecosystem
a biological community of the
living organisms that interact
with each other in a specific
physical area.
Food Chain
a series of events in which
organisms eat other organ-
isms and obtain energy.
Food Web
a complex pattern of food
chains within an ecosystem.
Fertilizers
nutrients in the soil that
help promote the health and
growth of plants.
Germination
when a seed starts to sprout.
Humus
black or brownish remains of
dead plants and animals that
cannot be further broken
down or decomposed.
Intercropping
growing different plants
close to each other in order
to have a greater yield of
crop.
Mulching
covering the soil with organic
matter such as leaves and
twigs, in order to prevent
the excessive evaporation
of moisture, the growth of
weeds and erosion; mulch-
ing enriches the soil and
promotes the growth of
plants.
Nitrogen Cycle
the process of changing
Nitrogen in the atmosphere
into a compound that can be
used by plants and animals.
Organic
a term used by gardeners to
refer to or describe anything
derived or comes from living
things.
Pesticide
a substance that helps
prevent or destroy pests;
pests can include fungi,
weeds, insects and microor-
ganisms.
Pollination
occurs when a yellow
powder called pollen found
in the middle of a flower (the
anthler) moves to another
part of the flower.
Photosynthesis
a process by which plants
use the energy of sunlight to
convert water and carbon
dioxide in order to produce
sugars, starches and oxygen.
Producer
an organism that can make
its own food.
Pruning
the practice of trimming
or cutting off twigs and
branches.
Respiration
a process (combined with
photosynthesis) which allows
stored energy from the sun
in plants to be released.
Soil Conditioning
the practice of adding
organic materials to the
soil in order to promote the
growth of plants and improve
their health.
Soil pH
a measure of the soil’s
health. It is measured by the
balance of its acidity (sweet-
ness) and alkaline (sourness)
levels.
Transpiration
occurs when a plant
perspires or when water
vapor exits through the tiny
pores in their leaves.
Vermi-composting,
also called Vermi-culture
the process by which earth-
worms break down organic
matter, providing soil-like
natural fertilizers to enrich
the soil; a way of recycling
organic waste matter.
Weeding
removing undesirable and
troublesome wild plants and
roots from the garden.
53
 Bibliography 1. Books
Barter, Guy. Learn to Garden.
Camberwell, Vic.: Dorling
Kindersley, 2005.
Fryer, Lee, Leigh Bradford, Judith
Goodman, Riper Frank. Van, and
Carl Bradford.
A Child’s Organic Garden.
Washington, D.C.: Acropolis, 1989.
Gibbons, Gail. From Seed to Plant.
New York: Holiday House, 1991.
McCorquodale, Elizabeth “Kids in
the Garden” London: Black Dog
Publishing Limited 2010
McKay, Kim, and Jenny Bonnin
“True Green Kids: 100 Things
You Can Do to Save the Planet”
Florida: National Geographic
Children’s Books, 2008
Sangatanan, Pedro D., and Rone
Sangatanan. Quezon City: Busy
Distributors, 2000.
Sangatanan, Pedro D., and
Rone Sangatanan. Quezon City:
Wiseman’s Trading, 2000.
Scholl, Elizabeth J. Organic
Gardening for Kids. Hockessin,
Del.: Mitchell Lane, 2010.
Van Haute, Jef, and Lyds Q. Van
Haute. Las Pinas: My Backyard
Garden Publications, 2007.
54
Villareal, Ruben L., Subramanian
Shanmugasundaram, and Madan
Mohan Lal.
Chadha. A Primer on Vegetable
Gardening. Tainan: AVRDC, 1993.
Dolera, Nonie, Florento, Carmen,
Lichauco, Maur and Tarriela, Flor
Ooops… Don’t Throw Those Weeds
Away! The Fern and Nature
Society of the Philippines, Inc.
Quezon City, Philippines 2002
2. Newspaper Articles
Subido,Joy Angelica “The Family
that plants together” Manila
Bulletin, October 28, 2007
Tarriela, Flor G. “A garden’s
potential-answers to global
problems!” Manila Bulletin
Business Option March 10, 2009
Tarriela, Flor G. “Banking,
Gardening and Faith! Manila Bulle-
tin Business Options
November 1, 2007
Tarriela, Flor G. “Grow fresh air
and green the environment; try
vermiculture too!
August 16, 2007
3. Web Site Articles
“Ecosystems”
www.kidsfortigers.org/teachers.
org/teachers/lesson1.pdf
(accessed Febraury 16, 2010)
“Life Cycle of a Plant”
www.graves.k12ky.us/power-
points/elementary.symlcherry.ppt
(accessed July 25, 2009)
“Plant Information”
libraryquest.org/…/General%20
Plant%20Information/
Plant%20info.htm
(accessed July 25, 2009)
Jeanroy, Amy.
“How to make your own worm
bin” About.com herb gardens
(accessed February 17, 2010)
“Bulb Onion Production Guide”
www.darfu4b.da.gov.ph/onion.
html (accessed June 26, 2010)
“Growing Cucumber” Pinoy
farmer April 18, 2008
www.agripinoy.net/growing-
cucumber.html (accessed June 26,
2010)
Sim, Dennis G “Green
Filipino-style salad” south-
eastasainfood.about.com/od/
vegetablessala2/r/FilipinoGreen-
Salad.htm (accessed September
12, 2010)
“Growing High-Value Fruits and
Vegetables” Agricultural Business
Week. www.agribusinessweek.
com/growing-high-value-fruit-
sand vegetables-part-4/
(accessed June 26, 2010)
“How to Grow Garlic or Bawang”
Pinoy Farmer March 13, 2008
http://www.agripinoy.net/
how-to-grow-garlic-or-bawang.
html (accessed June 26, 2010)
“Sibuyas/Onions” Marketman
March 26, 2005. www.marketma-
nila.com/archives/sibuyas-onions
(accessed June 26, 2010)
Tacio, Henrylito D. “Tomato: Not
just for salads Davao: SunStar
Davao March 17, 2009.
www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/
tomato-not-just-for-salads
(accessed June 25, 2010)
“ThinkQuest” Oracle ThinkQuest
Library. Web. 28 May 2010.
library.thinkquest.org/6274/
General Plant Information/Plant
infor.htm
“Growing High-Value Fruits and
Vegetables” Agricultural Business
Week http://www.agribusiness-
week.com/growing-high-value-
fruitsand vegetables-part-5/
(accessed June 26, 2010)
“Growing Flowers in the Philip-
pines” ArticleSeen February 10,
2009
http://www.articleseen.com/
Article_Growing-Flowers-in the
Philippines_14.aspx
(accessed June 25, 2010)
“Guide to Successful Squash
Production”
http://entrebankph.com/guide-
to-successful-squash-production/
(accessed June 26, 2010)
Addison, Keith “Nutrient Starved
Soils Lead to Nutrient Starved
People” Asian Business February
1983 http://www.journeytofor-
ever.org/keith_phsoil.html
(accessed June 24, 2010)
“Socioeconomic Root Causes
of Biodiversity Loss in the
Philippines” assets.panda.org/
downloads/phil.pdf
(accessed June 24, 2010)
4. Useful Websites
www.eduplace.com
www.thekidsgarden.co.uk
www.Biology4kids.com
55
AUTHORS Flor Gozon Tarriela is a natural gardener and an environmentalist. She
developed Flor’s Garden in Antipolo, a bird and butterfly sanctuary , and
a nature learning destination. She co-authored Ooops…Don’t Throw those
Weeds Away and wrote the Natures Pharmacy section in Wellness in
the Islands by Elizabeth Reyes. She has also collaborated with Butch
Jimenez for the Coincidence or Miracle? book series .

She is the Chairman of Philippine National Bank. She was formerly

Undersecretary of Finance and was the first Filipina Vice President of
Citibank N.A. She was past president of the Bank Administration Insti-
tute of the Philippines and sits in the board of various organizations. She
is married to lawyer Edgar and their children Edmin, Ted and Tricia are
all happily married. She is a doting “mamita” to three adorable grand
children with another one on the way.

Gidget Roceles Jimenez is the author of the many best selling children’s
books among which include Tubble Wubble, The Clumsy Little Turtle;
Squirt Magert, The Fraidy Frog and Maya Maya Jumbolaya, The Big Bad
Bully Bird.

She is also the author of The Gift and The Poor Man’s Van of the
Ramon Magsaysay Awardees Children’s Book Series. Her third science
non-fiction book for kids Can We Live on Mars? won a Philippine
National Children’s Book Award (2010). Her other books in this series
are Can We Drink the Ocean? And Can We Plug into Lightning?

She and her loving husband Joel, and kids Jaime, Bianca and Sofia
happily co-exist with their many, many pets somewhere in the jungles
of Makati, Philippines.

DESIGNER & Liza Flores is a designer and illustrator.

ILLUSTRATOR Liza is one-third of the design company, Studio Dialogo, which does
identity, web and graphic design. She has illustrated 13 picture books,
including Chenelyn! Chenelyn!, which won the 2000 Gintong Aklat
Award. She was president of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) for
2004-2006.

www.liza.ph