This document discusses the benefits of home food gardening. It notes that food gardening can improve nutrition by providing a reliable food source and reducing micronutrient deficiencies. Gardening can also generate additional income from selling extra produce. Gardening has health benefits like reducing stress and improving mood. While many Filipino households want to garden, common barriers include lack of land, water, time, and knowledge. The document presents several gardening methods that can overcome space limitations, like container gardening, vertical gardening, and the magic square meter method. It encourages individuals, communities, schools and workplaces to start their own food gardens during Nutrition Month to improve access to nutrition.

1. JOFRED M. MARTINEZ, MAN, RN, LPT
Nurse II
Department of Education

2. “Napakasarap mabuhay ng simple.”
“Pasukin ang aking bahay kubo.”
“Magtanim po tayo para makatulong sa kalikasan.”
- Coco Martin
Source: http://www.thereadersfile.com/2018/04/04/napakasarap-mabuhay-ng-simple-pasukin-ang-aking-bahay-
kuboganito-pala-ang-gustong-buhay-ni-coco-martin/

3. FOOD GARDEN
• Combination of trees and many type of crops
and small animals
• Near or around the home (or workplace,
schools, facilities)
• Small area
• Provides supplemental food

5. BAHAY KUBO
Bahay kubo, kahit munti
Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari
Singkamas at talong
Sigarilyas at mani
Sitaw, bataw, patani
Kundol, patola, upo't kalabasa
Labanos, mustasa
Sibuyas, kamatis
Bawang at luya
Sa paligid nito puno ng linga.

6. Why is food
gardening is for you
and your family?

7. BETTER
NUTRITION
• Reliable source of additional
food (need not be hungry)
• Reduce micronutrient
deficiencies
• Improves quality of
complementary food for babies
starting 6 months
• Eat better because of variety of
available food (no picky eaters)

8. ADDITIONAL
INCOME
• Savings from not
buying food
• Selling extra
produce
• Value-adding
produce
• Return on
investment:
1 is to 8

9. GOOD FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT
• Eco-friendly gardening
methods
• Promotes bio-diversity
• Cleaner air because of
reduced carbon emission
because food is no
longer transported;
plants absorb CO2
• Improve water and waste
management

10. GARDENING AS EXERCISE

11. HEALTH
BENEFITS
• Improve mood
• Reduce depression,
anxiety and stress
• Reduce body mass index
• Lower cholesterol and
blood pressure
• Reduce dementia in
older people
• Increase life satisfaction
and quality of life
Source: https://www.organiclesson.com/wp-content/uploads/
2015/06/health-benefits-of-gardening-infographic.gif

12. But despite the benefits…
Home food
production
Percent of
household
Utilization of produce
Household
consumption
Commercial
purposes
Both consumed
and sold
No
produce
yet
With vegetable
garden 67.7 79.1 1.5 17.6 1.8
With poultry/
livestock 50.1 46.4 13.9 37.5 2.1
With fish
pond/fish pen 2.2 56.2 8.8 31.5 3.5
Source: 2008 National Nutrition Survey. DOST-FNRI.

13. Food gardening can reduce hunger
and malnutrition
• 67% of households can’t meet their food
requirements
• 33% of under-five children are stunted
• 25% of pregnant women are nutritionally at-
risk
• 39% of infants and 25% of pregnant women
are anemic
• 34% of lactating women are iodine deficient
Source: National Nutrition Surveys. DOST-FNRI.

14. WHAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM
FOOD GARDENING?
No
land
No
time
Lack
know-
how
COMMON
REASONS
No
water
Lack
capital
Risk
for
pests

16. YOU CAN USE MAGIC!
• One-square meter plot
planted with “plant and
forget” and “die hard”
type of plants
• Small but intensively
planted vegetable
garden.
• Simple and orderly
gardening system
Magic Square Meter Garden
Photo: https://www.pinterest.ph/aboutthegarden/square-metre-garden/

17. HAVE FAITH
Food Always in the Home
(FAITH) Gardening
Produces a continuous
and sufficient supply of
fresh vegetables for your
family everyday with
minimum cost, labor, and
land utilization
Photo: http://www.healthandlifestyle.com.ph/fighting-
malnutrition-with-faith/

18. OR GO BIG!
Bio-intensive Gardening (BIG) Technology
• Deep digging
• Raised plots followed
by minimum tillage
• Diversification by
growing various
indigenous vegetables
• Use green tree
fertilizers http://wholylocal.com/grow-biointensive-sustainable-mini-farming/

19. GARDENING IS JUST A SNAP!
• Technique of growing
plants without soil
and large space
• Uses used styrofoam
containers or plastic
cups
• Used SNAP
hydroponics solution
Simple Nutrient Addition Program (SNAP)
Hydroponics
http://hydroponics-
snap.blogspot.com/2012/01/snap-
hydroponics-what-is-snap.html
*SNAP for Hydroponics is a trademark owned
by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)
and University of the Philippines Los Baños
(UPLB) (Co-ownership)

20. NO LAND?
Urban or Container Gardening
Source: http://containergardeninginanrv.blogspot.com
• Can use any type of container from plastic pots,
plastic bottles, old tires, pails and sacks
https://desertification.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/small-yard-
container-gardening-to-be-multiplied-for-all-the-hungry-jojo-rom-
willem-van-cotthem/

21. VERY LIMITED SPACE?
Vertical Gardening
Source: http://www.goodshomedesign.com/amazing-salad-vertical-
gardens/
• Space saving gardening
• Plants have more
access to sunlight
• Easier watering
• Above pest levels
• Improves air circulation
• Easier to harvest your
food

22. SMALL ANIMALS ARE PART OF
FOOD GARDENING
https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-much-space-need-raise-goats/

23. If you want to know more about
food gardening, check these out:
• Local agriculture office for trainings, seeds, planting
materials and small animals
• Visit the Department of Agriculture website
(www.da.gov.ph) and their regional field units
• E-learning courses available at the Agricultural
Training Institute website (ati.da.gov.ph)
• Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Animal
Industry (BAI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources(BFAR)
• Online groups on gardening

24. Why is food gardening promoted
this Nutrition Month?
• To improve nutrition by increasing access to food
through food gardening
• To encourage the development of food gardens
among families and in communities, schools,
government offices, and workplaces
• Mobilize various stakeholders to provide a
fostering environment for sustainable food
gardens

25. How can you help? Yes, you.
1. Policymakers to issue policies supportive to, and
will increase investment for food gardening
2. Provision of free seminars and trainings on food
gardening
3. Provision of seeds and other planting materials
4. Promote food gardening
5. Use produce from food gardens for feeding
programs
6. Organize famers’ market as venue for food
garden produce

26. What can you do campaign for food
gardening during Nutrition Month?
1. Hang Nutrition Month streamers
2. Conduct seminars on food gardening
3. Food gardening contests using produce from
gardens
4. Spread the word through traditional and social
media
5. Start your own food garden or help others have
theirs.

27. Take home message
I will start my food garden.
I will have enough food and not be hungry.
I will maintain proper nutrition.
And so, I will live healthier and longer,
Make some money too and
Save the environment
But most of all, I will be satisfied and happy.

28. HAPPY NUTRITION MONTH
For more details:
National Nutrition Council
2332 Chino Roces Avenue Extension
Taguig City, Philippines
htt p://www.nnc. g ov.ph
www.fa ceb ook .com / n n coff i ci a l
www.t wi tter.com / N N C _O ff i ci a l
www.you t u b e.com / u ser / N N C 1 9 7 4
i n fo@ n n c. g ov.p h
Tel . ( 6 3 2 ) 8 4 3 - 0 1 4 2
Fax. ( 6 3 2 ) 8 1 6 - 4 2 3 9

29. JOFRED M. MARTINEZ, MAN, RN, LPT
Nurse II
Department of Education