Some say it’s easier to find reasons for people to be divided rather than finding a common ground. These differences,  which often lead to a divide in opinion, result in individuals taking their own course of action rather than working with others. Such is the case of the community from one of the areas in Barangay Pasong Putik.

Members of the community from this barangay have their respective gardens. They had their own malunggay trees planted in their own backyards. For years, they did not think of working with others and chose to tend to their own gardens.

During one of the Family Development Sessions of the members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the area, the importance of establishing communal garden was introduced to the attendees. This opened their eyes on the beauty of coming together and building a community of farmers who would not only help the environment but also provide for the daily needs of their family.

One of the members said she was a caretaker of a land near her house that was not being used for quite some time already and suggested that the area could be a feasible venue for the initiative. Eager to start their joint communal garden, they communicated with the owner of the small lot who thankfully allowed them to use the area.

After the preparations were made, a  group of 39 Pantawid Pamilya Members in Barangay Pasong started to establish their own communal garden in the 999 square meters of vacant land in the backyard of one of the members who happens to be the caretaker of the lot located at Lily Feliciano St., Maligaya Park Subdivision, Barangay Pasong Putik, Novaliches, Quezon City.

But despite the availability of a lot to plant in, it was not easy for the farmers to begin the garden. They found it challenging to work together since they were used to working independently. But  with proper facilitation and the growing desire of the people to unite in setting the garden up, they started cleaning the area and worked with other stakeholders for the seedlings that they can use. As months passed and as their plants grow, their relationship also developed.

Out of the gardeners, 36 were females and three of them are males. They worked hand-in-hand and helped each other religiously so that their garden can yield more vegetables.

From having individual gardens, they have come together and recently joined the Regional Search for Pantawid Pamilya Best Gulayan sa Barangay 2018 that was launched by the Department of Social Welfare and Development National Capital Region (DSWD NCR). Even though they were not chosen as one of the final contenders, they continued to work together with high hopes that they will improve and learn ways and strategies that will make them build a better garden.

The gulayan highlighted the efforts of the group in caring for their members. In instances when one member are experiencing personal problems or financial difficulty, the group showed a united front. They also stated that the effects of the gulayan are visible to their children, who are learning to eat healthy meals and are now joining them in urban farming activities.

Currently, the members are constantly learning how to sustain and enhance their gulayan by tapping other stakeholders. Recently, they attended the “The Joy of Urban Farming” training, which taught them about modern techniques in urban gardening. They were very proud of their achievements as they continue to influence other members to also see the importance of having a garden which they consider as a better accomplishment for them as a group.