DENR-6 Encourages Enhanced Family Gardening

Since the last week of December 2019 until now, the world was shocked in dealing with this pandemic known as the Corona Virus Disease or CoViD-19 which has affected and claimed thousands of lives across the globe, including our country, the Philippines.

This forced the government to declare a state of health emergency, followed by a lockdown in the Island of Luzon. The two island group – Visayas and Mindanao, eventually declared their respective enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in order to successfully resolve health problems brought about by CoViD-19 pandemic.

In Western Visayas, the six provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental implemented lockdown of their respective provincial borders in order to contain the spread of the dreadful virus as it already infected the lives of hundreds of individuals and death of dozens.

Physical and social distancing were implemented along with the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places for every individual. Moreover, senior citizens and students were encouraged to strictly stay at home and enforcement of curfew was set from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Work in private and government offices were also affected and were advised to stay at home, except those who are working in the hospitals and those involved in relief and management operations.

But instead of worrying and waiting for this pandemic to finally get resolved, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 encourages each and every individual, especially the families to become productive by also practicing “enhanced” family gardening.

While this pandemic can strengthen their bonds with their family members by giving more quality time with their children, parents can also use this time to help our planet Earth grow green again.

“Gardening is an excellent stress reliever. A combination of exposure to fresh air and sunlight, a good exposure to the natural world,” according to DENR-6 Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla Jr., who is also a plant lover being a forester by profession.

“In this time of crisis, people tend to be nervous on going out the four-corner of their house, but in this time, we can also contribute to the healing of our Earth by practicing the ‘enhanced’ family gardening. Bond with your kids, make that empty space in your home colorful and greener, and make your self-quarantine productive. Reuse any material that you have while gardening, just be creative, it will surely lessen your trash and ensure a chemical-free veggie for your family,” Milla added.

One ideal plant during this season is the vegetable scraps, considering the situation where some public markets are closed for several days for fumigation and sanitation.

With the restriction on public transportation, the public faced the difficulty in buying basic needs especially vegetables which is proven best for our health and also good for our pocket – because vegetables from the market aside from being fresh from the farm is quite cheaper.

Many green, leafy and yellow vegetables such as spinach, camote tops, malunggay, squash, tomatoes and eggplants are a good food source and could also be easily planted.

Most women considered planting flowering plants around the house as a stress reliever. But planting vegetables can also add some decorations in your home and even in the garden, regardless of the area.

If you already have your own garden, repotting your plants can also be done through snip dead heads and trim foliage. Put it on a bigger pot or change its soil to make it grow even more.

Don’t have a backyard or space for your new plant? Container gardening works, too, you can also reuse empty plastic water container or any other kind of plastic container that can fit your desired plant. Arrange it vertically or horizontally and make it as beautiful as you could imagine. So dig in the dirt together to add physical activity and lessen the stress you have.