Denia G. Señorin believes in “flexibility” and “trust”. These words applied to her when she organized the integrated community garden at Brgy. Dangay, Elementary School, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.
Starting with the basics
Denia is a teacher by profession. However, she started her calling in farming in 2015 when they started developing their farm. “It was seven years ago when my family started cultivating our land for farming. I remembered back then that we planted coconut, banana, and mango. We also reared native chickens on our farm”, she shared.
Even before, she believed that farming is a rewarding profession and an important source of livelihood and food, especially among the people in the community. “It was proven during lockdown because of COVID-19, our farm gave us enough supply of vegetables and even our community benefited from it”, she said.
In her 20 years in service as a teacher, Denia used her basic skills in farming and started a garden in the school where she is working. According to her, before the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MiMaRoPa began its contest for “Search for Integrated Urban Agriculture Community Garden”, the Dangay Elementary School has already established a school garden as part of the “Gulayan sa Paalaran Project” of the Department of Education (DepEd). However, she recalled that it was a bared school garden with no technology to showcase.
“What I learned was only the basic knowledge in farming like land preparation and the correct medium to use in planting. But when it comes to technology, I don’t have the proper training for it. Besides, we don’t have enough resources to start a diversified school garden. Also, at that time we got less support from the parents in the community”, she shared.
Longing to learn
Despite the struggles she encountered in farming, Denia remained receptive to the innovations offered in agriculture. The postponement of face-to-face classes gave her time to attend the seminar sponsored by the Municipal Agriculture Office of Roxas and ATI in MiMaRoPa. Her trainings in “Farm Management” and “Natural Farming System” have been truly helpful since these provided her knowledge on the technologies in farming. Most importantly, it transformed her into a leader, with a fortune far greater than profit.
With her eagerness to help her school, she initiated a meeting in May 2021 and discussed her plans to transform their 20 x 15 meters school garden into a model site for urban agriculture demonstrating technologies in organic farming. “I influenced my children to take courses in agriculture. I was also able to encourage the 4Ps parents to start a backyard garden, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine National Police in our municipality to use small areas around its premises by applying different methods and techniques of urban agriculture using organic concoctions and pesticides”, she said.
To materialize all her plans, she tapped the Municipality of Roxas, alumni association, private agencies, and volunteers such as members of 4Ps, parents, farmer’s association, and rider’s groups for possible financial assistance and labor support in the transformation of their school garden. Her efforts paid off because she was able to organize a committed group that fulfilled her vision into reality, an integrated community garden that is worthy to emulate.
“When it was announced in June 2021 that the ATI in MiMaRoPa was searching for a best-integrated community garden, I was relaxed at that time because I know our school is somehow ready to join the said contest. Also, the agricultural support that the agency was provided helped a lot for the improvement of our school garden”, she shared.
Persevering for Challenges
Along with the commitment and hard work that she exerted are the unceasing challenges that she has been facing in maintaining the community garden. To address all the issues concerning the assigned tasks, Denia prepared a farm schedule activity for a harmonious working relationship with all the volunteers involved in the project.
“With the farm schedule activity, one group was assigned to water the plants while the other volunteers were assigned for planting, plowing, and preparation for vermicast and carbonized rice-hull, among others. Through teamwork, we were able to work with unity and maintain respect for each other”. The trust with each other was still there”, she said.
Till now, Denia always pushes and inspires her fellow teachers, parents, and volunteers to persevere and value their tasks more. She radiates the value of “flexibility” to all her co-workers and volunteers. According to her, though all of them are busy with their job, maybe in the office or at home, everyone should be flexible to perform their duties in the school garden project.
Reaping the fruits of hard work
Because of her hard work, Denia reaped her sweet success when she was hailed the as Most Outstanding Teacher in Dangay Elementary School. Also, with the established Gulayan sa Paaralan Project, her school bagged the “1st place award for Urban Gardening at District Level” in the Municipality of Roxas. Moreover, the Dangay Elementary School won “Best Integrated Urban Agriculture Community Garden” during the awarding ceremony conducted by the ATI in MiMaRoPa on February 10, 2022.
More than the awards, she said that the harvested vegetables in the community garden were used in the feeding program of the school. Also, the sales from the produce of the school garden were given as financial assistance to the carpenters of DepEd in the municipality. “I find fulfillment in my career as a teacher and a farmer because our garden is always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need”, she said.
Despite her achievements, she has always kept his feet on the ground. “We should have an eagerness to learn about organic farming. We should apply the concept of learning by doing. But be flexible in all the things you do. Do not settle for less and ask for help to make all your plans work” she shared.
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