Sustainable Manila

I've been buying fresh duck eggs and organic veggies from Lotus Pod, a lovely farm with a very friendly and accommodating team, including Jen Aquino. They deliver! :) Follow the Lotus Pod Facebook page or text Jen at +639178789103.

Lotus Pod is offering "agritours"-- day trip packages at their farm so you can see how they grow your food. It's P3000 per head (discounted if you're a group of 3 or more), including round trip transport and food. Trips are available on May 3 and May 10. Here's the info from Jen:

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LOTUS POD AGRITOURS



When we say we have some of the healthiest vegetables around, we don’t expect you to take our word for it. We want you to see it for yourself. Lotus Pod offers you the experience of visiting an organic farm and learning how to make your own backyard version.

See how to grow your favorite organic produce using rice hulls and worms as fertilizers. Listen to agriculture scientists speak about how organic farming is as good for the environment as it is for you. Experience the life-giving qualities of the earth as you plant seedlings and harvest vegetables yourself!

This is ideal for wellness enthusiasts and recreational travelers who are looking for a unique experience in Laguna, or anyone for that matter, who wants to know what this thing called organic farming is all about.

The package fee of P3000 includes transportation from Manila to the farm in laguna, lunch and snacks, seminar and lecture fees and a kit.

Discounts apply if you are going with more than two people!

For inquiries, contact us at +639178789103.

• powerful algae superfood that NASA includes in astronauts' diets
• if you're in Metro Manila or anywhere in the Philippines, you can buy spirulina from The Healthy Grocery, super fast and convenient online store of high-quality superfoods, they deliver to your doorstep

• freshly squeezed
• or any strong citrus juice like lemon or dalandan

• Milea is my preferred source for pure honey that's never been heated-- the honey from the supermarket just isn't as healthy or tasty
• or any healthy sweetener like stevia or coconut sugar

• ice cold (or just add ice)

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• used by NASA as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions
• the easiest algae to digest and absorb, because its cell walls are mucopolysaccharides instead of tough cellulose
• rich in protein, polysaccharide, lipid, essential amino and fatty acids, minerals; and vitamins such as vitamin E, beta carotene
• antimicrobial (including antiviral and antibacterial), antioxidant, anti-allergic, anticancer, metalloprotective (protects against heavy metal toxins), immunostimulant, antioxidant
• beneficial to good gut microbes

• Nutritional and medical applications of spirulina microalgae. 2013 June, Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry.
• Spirulina in clinical practice: evidence-based human applications. 2011, Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM.
• Spirulina in health care management. 2008 October, Current pharmaceutical biotechnology.
• Nutritional and therapeutic potential of Spirulina. 2005 October, Current pharmaceutical biotechnology.
• [Update on the pharmacology of Spirulina (Arthrospira), an unconventional food]. 2002 September, Archivos latinoamericanos de nutrición.
• Current knowledge on potential health benefits of Spirulina. 1993 April, Journal of Applied Phycology

Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) has devastated parts of the Philippines, leaving thousands dead and millions lacking food, water, shelter, power, communication, and livelihood.

As you know, we go through this kind of disaster pretty much every year, and tons of plastic and instant food are sent in relief goods. We understand the need for these instant-use goods, and there's definitely a place for using them in first-response situations, but we also need to figure out sustainable long-term solutions to mitigate waste and to be better prepared for the next disaster.

Sustainability means improving health (physical and psychological), reducing waste, helping the environment, restoring livelihood, and providing education in order to help people in the long-term. Specifically that means reducing single-use plastic materials, using nutrient-dense low-cost practical nourishing local foods, using clever multipurpose items, and empowering people with clean technology and the means for them to begin rebuilding. In addition-- efficiently organized, wisely budgeted operations are also part of sustainable solutions.

I know it's difficult because instant, single-use items (usually wrapped in throw-away plastic packaging) are so much easier and cheaper. People are finding ways to creatively work around this, and are taking steps towards less waste. It's challenging to create a "perfectly sustainable" or "zero-waste" system, but one can at least take steps toward this direction.

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A constantly updated list of sustainable relief/rebuilding efforts -- PLEASE contribute your suggestions! We want these ideas to be SHARED, COPIED, and IMPROVED upon.
Last updated Feb. 3, 2014.

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PROJECTS & MOVEMENTS

Green ReLeaf is about long-term sustainable rebuilding, deploying seedlings to help families rebuild their farms and gardens of edible veggies.

Gawad Kalinga and Habitat For Humanity are both about empowering locals to rebuild their own communities.

Balik Dagat is restoring fishermen's livelihood by sponsoring boats made by the local boatbuilders and the fishermen themselves. "Boatbuilding is subcontracted to local villagers who are also fishermen, craftsmen and boatbuilders. Boatbuilders build the hulls while beneficiary fishermen take care of their own bamboo outriggers and fishing gear. It is important that owners do the completion of the boats by installing the bamboo outriggers for a sense of ownership and craftmanship,  and determining the final adjustments and balance of the boat." As of Feb 2014, they've reached their target of 200 boats and capped fundraising. Updates are being posted.

The Peter Project is restoring fishermen's livelihood by giving them boats. Any amount donation accepted. Each boat costs P20,000, inclusive of community organizing and monitoring costs, and donors are given a monthly report of the fisherman's catch.

Adopt A Small Island Initiative focuses on the long-term recovery of small island barangays, particularly by providing boats (estimated cost at P15,000 each). Donors may request for updates on their "adopted" islands.

Save Philippine Seas, a marine environment preservation org run by "chief mermaid" Anna Opposa, is raising funds for Malapascua in Northern Cebu, to go to the rebuilding of the schools and the spirits of the students and teachers

ChildFund provides Child-Centered Spaces and psychosocial support to help children cope and recover after an emergency. They also help rebuild schools and vital social infrastructure. They've already set up at least one child-centered space in Leyte, with trained social workers and volunteers to provide children and their caregivers with psychosocial support, along with learning activities, games, songs and dance.

Solar-powered lights to light up hospitals and evacuation centers, from a youth-led organization providing solar-powered lights to impoverished, off-grid Filipino communities.

GreenFocus Inc. (partnered with One Million Lights PH and Malong Ni Mama) is donating WaterBoy units that create potable water out of air, so no water sources needed.

Wakawaka solar lamps: buy one, give one to the Philippines.

Waves For Water will be delivering compact portable water filtration systems thru the Romualdez foundation.

Help send LIFESAVER 15,000 Litre jerrycans to the Philippines to provide clean sterile drinking water to a village of 50 for over 6 months.

Send Lifestraws (pocket-sized portable water filtration systems) to typhoon victims to provide them a quick and safe way to get clean water from most water sources.

Project LightLine has University of the Philippines students recycling old chargers and batteries into disposable energy sources.

Malong Ni Mama, by Hannah and me, focusing on using local multipurpose health-promoting products with less wasteful packaging, for Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

#SlippersForSurvivors by Kage Gozun provides locally-made slippers, helping people keep their feet clean and safe as they walk around in dangerous debris-filled areas. Also partnered with Malong Ni Mama.

The Great Panty Drive provides clean underwear to typhoon survivors, helping improve sanitation and health, as well as giving them the peace of mind of having a fresh change.

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IDEAS

Some helpful tips in the conduct of humanitarian operations by Milet B. Mendoza, Humanitarian and Development Worker

How to use t-shirts to wrap relief goods (instead of using plastic bags) - photo demonstration

Paulo Alcazaren says: "Let's rebuild Visayas but in a better way inspired by the past. We built Gabaldon schools 100 yrs ago why not now?"

Pack relief goods in water containers (instead of using plastic bags) because the large water containers are very practical and reusable - photo demonstration

Paula Aberasturi writes about bamboo greenhouses, mulching, crop covers, canals and ditches, etc., and says: "Sustainable agriculture [can be] a mitigation and adaptation approach to unpredictable weather."

At Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm's National Workshop for Organic Farming, Nick Perlas explained that the pineapple crop's yield is enough to lift its farmers out of poverty; and during a flood/typhoon, planted pineapples can be submerged for as much as 5 days in water without suffering damage.

Mangrove restoration saved our lives and our economy, says villager in Northern Samar, Philippines

Ginggay Hontiveros' tips for volunteers to help effectively

Tony Oposa's rainwater catchment suggestions-- modular, scalable cost, easy construction, effective mitigation of flooding

In Bantayan Island, Cebu, a windmill was put together by locals using simple materials and techniques in order to generate electricity. (Details pending, info via Clara Balaguer.)

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Please do comment and share your ideas for making relief and rebuilding efforts more sustainable! :)

This year's list of sustainable relief efforts was originally posted on my Facebook.

On a related note, I've also posted a list of Home, Herbal, Natural Remedies and First Aid, as a guide for people stranded at home to due floods, or those without access to medicine.

2.5 tbsp unsweetened nut butter (your choice of almond, peanut, etc., and adjust amount to taste)