My Dream Permaculture Farm in Cebu, Philippines

Hi everyone. Im a 34 year old guy from Cebu, Philippines, and i just want to share with you my 8 hectare piece of land in western town of Cebu Island, which i am planning to develop as a permaculture farm and nature retreat. I reside in Cebu City which is 45 minutes travel from the farm site. i got the land from my parents, and as of now still remains idle, except for a few coconut trees which earn a little income.

As of the moment i am working in Dubai to earn and save money for my future plans. i want to learn a lot more about permaculture, since i only have it as concept before and never thought that a certain principle in farming existed, till i learned from it last year from searching on the net about natural organic farming. Hope i could learn more from other forumers here and will be able to gather more infos and tips in starting my own farm.

My land, i think, has some interesting features that is good for permaculture. it already has a natural pond, flat land and hills with some parts having a young thick forest trees. it also has a natural cave.

I am clueless of how much would be the initial cost in starting.
My plan is to start with a mix herb and vegetable garden, fruit trees, chickens, goats, Tilapia on the existing pond, perhaps a bee farm, and my small native house.
soon in the future i would add some facilities for those searching for nature retreat and for leisure.

by the way, i have started planting variety of trees and fruits before i left for dubai last November 2011, and got one guy to look after it.

I am so excited of the idea, and so inspired to work everytime i think about it. For now it still remain as a dream, but good things start from there, right? )

Here are some photos of the farm site.

The Natural Pond











area that gets flooded during heavy rains.




plains and hills















The Cave's mouth (entrance to the cave is covered with soil, brought by water flow during rain)

Here is the Google image of the site and my dream farm Schematic Design.

I would combine the pasture with the agroforestry and palm trees, silva forestry is the name.
There is hundred of fruit tress that you could plant. Try and get them all. I would love to visit.

Here are a few.
http://www.toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/store/store.cgi?group=fruit
http://www.tradewindsfruitstore.com/servlet/the-Tropical-Fruit/Categories
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_fruits
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_nuts

S Bengi wrote:I would combine the pasture with the agroforestry and palm trees, silva forestry is the name.
There is hundred of fruit tress that you could plant. Try and get them all. I would love to visit.

Here are a few.
http://www.toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/store/store.cgi?group=fruit
http://www.tradewindsfruitstore.com/servlet/the-Tropical-Fruit/Categories
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_fruits
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_nuts

Hi, thanks for the very nice suggestion S Bengi, and also for the links... you are very welcome to visit, and i will give you a tour when i am back to the Philippines, as of now i am working in Dubai, still saving money to establish my dream farm.

advises and suggestions to my farm's Site development plan will be greatly appreciated!

By the way, S Bengi or to anyone, i guess my neighboring properties are just left idle, if your interested in getting a land in a tropical area, maybe you can negotiate with the owners. its a great site for permaculture farming because aside from my natural pond there are 2 other natural ponds just near my lot..there are actually three of these natural ponds.. i would love to have permie neighbors at my area!
This is located in Balamban Town, Western side Of Cebu Island, Phil.

This is a satellite image of the place:

Hi, Randi! Wow. That's a very idyllic spot you have there. I want to have my own permaculture node too one day, or live in an eco-village. I'm also from Cebu. I'm not an agriculturist and I know little about farming, but I'm very much eager to learn. There is an NGO in Cebu that specializes in permaculture and they have partnered with the government and agri and architectural colleges. I read about them in net. They're called Permaculture Action Asia, Inc. and they offer various courses about permaculture. They even have consultancy services. Maybe they can help you. Their website is http://www.permacultureph.info/. I wish you success with your dream farm, Randi. Very few people in the city have a vision like yours.

thanks for the information @odessa...soon when i have enough time staying in cebu i will take some courses to learn more about permaculture since just like you i know too little about farming, just bits and pieces of what i have learned on the net..hehe...for now still working in dubai, soon im going to settle for good in my farm in cebu...

Randi Arc wrote:By the way, S Bengi or to anyone, i guess my neighboring properties are just left idle, if your interested in getting a land in a tropical area, maybe you can negotiate with the owners. its a great site for permaculture farming because aside from my natural pond there are 2 other natural ponds just near my lot..there are actually three of these natural ponds.. i would love to have permie neighbors at my area!
This is located in Balamban Town, Western side Of Cebu Island, Phil.

This is a satellite image of the place:

Hi Randi,
My husband and I are interested to look at your neighbor's property. Is that for sale? Then we can be permaculture neighbors!
Mrs. Cook

Wow! I'm new to the forum and haven't checked much this community pages, but it seems a totally awesome place. Really hope you can get your dream on.

Hey I'm just visiting cebu now, was going to take fast boat today to Ormoc in Leyte, since that is a huge coconut growing area. I'm interested in maybe exporting coconut oil since coconut oil is such a great food (due to MCT oil) and would like to make it cheap and easy to get. But doing it permuculture on a mass scale would be the best if it is economically feasible. so anyway a bit late now I guess to check out your Cebu farm unless I hear back within an hour. Mabye there are some permaculture people on Leyte though? Cheers

Hi Randy!

Nice place you have there. I hope one day I could visit it. I would love to stay in touch with you and share knowledge.

Good luck!

Co Cook wrote:

Randi Arc wrote:By the way, S Bengi or to anyone, i guess my neighboring properties are just left idle, if your interested in getting a land in a tropical area, maybe you can negotiate with the owners. its a great site for permaculture farming because aside from my natural pond there are 2 other natural ponds just near my lot..there are actually three of these natural ponds.. i would love to have permie neighbors at my area!
This is located in Balamban Town, Western side Of Cebu Island, Phil.

This is a satellite image of the place:

Hi Randi,
My husband and I are interested to look at your neighbor's property. Is that for sale? Then we can be permaculture neighbors!
Mrs. Cook

Hi!
I have a relative who knows about available lands in the area.. I will contact her, and let you know as soon as i can get some info from her..
I will give you my email thru PM...
thanks

Hi Randi, this is a gorgeous place and well done presentation, very promising... I would be interested too, to know how you are doing, what are the figures of the next doors land for sell, but I am French, and I don't know how easy it would be to settle in the Philippines... Blessings, Patrick
http://hautrive.wordpress.com

Hi Randi

Such a beautiful piece of land, any further progress on your project?

I am currently in Cebu and forming an Eco village sustainable community, looking to form near Cebu and promote Permaculture, Eco tourism and Sustainable housing

Can you tell me if you know of any other properties nearby for sale or lease?

Would like to chat sometime and find out more

Warm regards

Peter

thanks patrick

slowly little by little i am starting to do something on the farm.

Now I'm starting to plant different fruit trees.


more fruit trees






Marang fruit




Mulberry




Durian




Makopa Tree (wax apple)







My Mahogany forest





growing Azolla for my future ducks and livestock..









The trees i planted 3 years ago

Great Post. Im in Lapu Lapu and would love to be your neighbour I am a complete novice so look forward to your updates with interest. Do you also have a Facebook page ? If you don't mind me asking whats the price of land per sqm where you are?
All the best !
Richard

Kumusta ka from Texas USA. beautiful property in Cebu. No jackfruit? Good fortune with your farm.

Texas Farmer

Hi!

I was searching around for permaculture initiatives in the Phillipines and found your post. Your farm looks really promising and I hope everything´s going well! Do you know of any other permaculture initiatives or eco villages existing in the Phillipines? Me and my girlfriend are visiting next year and would love to see some. We´re considering perhaps one day move there and start our own farm

Hello Randi
i hope everything is going good with the farm.
Like Christoffer, I would love to visit it there and also would find it very interesting if you know about another permaculture or ecovillage projects in the Philippines.
I am traveling in East Asia visiting permaculure projects and ecovillages, intentional communities...to learn and get inspiration.
I probably will travel to Philippines in march .
thank you very much
hugs

luis (eltiobis@hotmail.com)

Hi Randi,

I've just email the Green Worriers to Voluntree with them.
I'm hoping to go through Cebu.
Would it be possible to visit.
Are you firmiliar with Dr. Achrival Eco House, as I have tried to reach out to him for a visit but he has not replied as of yet?

@G-note,

I will sent you a reply, currently in close contact with Archival's ecohouse. Your always welcome to visit and get a tour


To everyone else, there are a lot of permaculture projects in the Philippines.
Not much have internet access or are really open to general permies.
The most famous one is in Nueva Ecija, run by a belgium native called Bert Peeters.
There are more, spread around different sizes and implementations. If you are really looking to visit places you will have to befriend some of the locals and get them to refer you (it's a small world)

Hi Randi,
I was wondering if you have any updates on your farm in Cebu. I have relatives in Biliran.
Happy planting!
Hugh

is this thread still active?   I'm very interested in this project.  I wish I could see the images posted earlier.  

sorry guys i haven't been active in awhile, busy with life in the city making a living. i visited the farm just last week and took some photos of the trees i planted 6 years ago.
i haven't been so focused yet on the farm since i have a job and business in Cebu City. hopefully soon i would have enough financial capability in developing the land, hopefully when i reach the age of 40 years old, 2 years from now...LOL! just easy and enjoying life.

some of the persimmon trees(mabolo tree) I planted 6 years ago. haven't grown much maybe because some other trees compete much better.








I forgot what kind of tree is this, but i believe this is a Philippines native tree. it has big beautiful white flowers.

these are what we call locally as bangkal trees..i did not plant these trees though, it just naturally growing on that spot in the pond. natural selection i guess. hahaha! i love it cause it looks like a mini marsh.

Hi Randi Arc! I've been interested in organic farming for quite some time and recently permaculture. I stumbled upon your thread and was delighted to find out that your farm is in Cebu cause that's where I live. I would like to learn more about the progress of your permaculture farm and hopefully visit it if you are open to the idea. There are a lot of resources online teaching organic farming and permaculture but actual first on experience is the best teacher. I am still 26 turning 27 but one day I hope to have a permaculture farm of my own that is off the grid. Let's help each other achieve our goal!

Randi Arc wrote:Hi everyone. Im a 34 year old guy from Cebu, Philippines, and i just want to share with you my 8 hectare piece of land in western town of Cebu Island, which i am planning to develop as a permaculture farm and nature retreat. I reside in Cebu City which is 45 minutes travel from the farm site. i got the land from my parents, and as of now still remains idle, except for a few coconut trees which earn a little income.
......

Hi,
I'm will be in Cebu soon. I'm very interested to visit your farm, as I have similar dreams too!I'm into sustainable framing and permaculture

I recently just got my interest in living simply, organic farming and homesteading. Stumbled upon your post and though its old, its nice to know there are others in the Phils who are interested in homesteading and permaculture. I am a newbie and maybe in the wrong profession but I am hoping to build and run one myself. Hope things works for your farm in Cebu and see it come true.

Ron Tan wrote:

Randi Arc wrote:Hi everyone. Im a 34 year old guy from Cebu, Philippines, and i just want to share with you my 8 hectare piece of land in western town of Cebu Island, which i am planning to develop as a permaculture farm and nature retreat. I reside in Cebu City which is 45 minutes travel from the farm site. i got the land from my parents, and as of now still remains idle, except for a few coconut trees which earn a little income.
......

Hi,
I'm will be in Cebu soon. I'm very interested to visit your farm, as I have similar dreams too!I'm into sustainable framing and permaculture

Cool! its been awhile i haven't posted here..

hope we can meet up soon and share ideas. where are you exactly in Cebu?

I will be active here again sooner. I have been busy at the farm for the past months.

I did my small native house already and happy that i was able to start planting and managing the farm...

will be posting some photos and videos soon... thanks and keep in touch!  

celestteysobell Herrera wrote:I recently just got my interest in living simply, organic farming and homesteading. Stumbled upon your post and though its old, its nice to know there are others in the Phils who are interested in homesteading and permaculture. I am a newbie and maybe in the wrong profession but I am hoping to build and run one myself. Hope things works for your farm in Cebu and see it come true.

Hi there. it's been awhile i havent been active.
happy to tell everyone that i am now able to spend more time managing the farm.
I already did my small house, and i can now stay there more days, with nature and taking care of the few farm animals that i have and growing some plants..
I will be posting photos of the progress. :)

The house, finally.. I will be able to spend more days at the farm now.

the toilet and small kitchen that is separate from the house are not yet done though. :)

Some views of the natural pond and the hills.

Since the main kitchen is not yet done, i will just have this for now.

Some of the trees i planted 6 or 7 years ago...I had photos of them here i think, when they were still small, but unfortunately it cannot be displayed here due to some link problems. :)

And she's one of my neighbors at the farm. :)

some beautiful scenes around the neighborhood...