Organic Urban Gardening 102 Seminar at Cedarhills Garden Center

Organic urban  gardening is getting popular in the country . One of the place that conducts a monthly seminar about organic gardening is Cedarhills Garden Center located along 57 Mother Ignacia Street , Quezon City.

This garden center is located near Saint Mary’s College, ABS-CBN channel 2 , Fisher Mall and is located just at the back of Capitol Medical Center.

some of the basic materials and hand-outs

Cedarhills Garden Center is fairy accessible to all modes of transportation. Must say that i am one of the regular ” suki” of the center. I have blogged and wrote a couple of articles which features this center.

tillandsias

This is a one stop shop for those interested with a plant, pots, orchids, tillandsias, cactus, garden supplies , organic mix, fertilizers and even cut flowers from some tenants like Waling Orchids by Puentespina.

The garden center is also known for spreading organic gardening . One can convert ordinary kitchen waste into organic compost material.

 Seminar Topics

Cedarhills Garden Center had several interesting topics that are offered to the general public , gardening enthusiasts and those who wanted to know the basics of growing plants.

1.) Organic Urban Gardening 101 – a 4 hour seminar /workshop with hand-on training on how to prepare organic fertilizer EM, seed soaking and germination, short power point lecture, seedling preparation and plating in seed bedding. This comes with hand-outs, hands-on planting and some free seedlings.

power point presentation

Kuya Gerald Sioco – seminar / workshop facilitator

2.) Organic Urban Gardening 102- a 4 hour seminar/ workshop which is an upgrade on the first module. This comes with lecture and talk, EM ( EMAS) technology preparation, seed soaking , sprouting , seed planting, benefits, planting in containers, transplanting, cutting, bed planting, composting, fertilizer application, pest management, plant ailments, transplanting. There is also a short tour of the facilities and identification of plants.

3.) Basic Cactus and Succulent Workshop – a 4 hour seminar / workshop with introduction to cactus and succulents, pest and diseases , plant classification and dish garden preparation with hands-on demonstration.

planting box

All the seminar/workshop have hand-outs, free snacks and certificate of participation.

Since the seminar area is not big, their minimum number of participants is just about 12 to 20 participants per workshop.

benefits of growing your own produce

soil ph level and types of plants and produce which are compatible

old toy truck is transformed into an interesting planting pot for ornamental plant

begonia planted on an old car tire

planting box with planted herbs , kangkong seeds and pebbles for decoration.

vertical garden using soft drink bottles 

 Seminar/ Workshop Flow

1)    There are exclusive of about 12  participants which were composed of online writers, media, students and interior specialist.  The workshop area has 3 tables, so that makes 4 participants in each table.  Each table has an assistant that will help participants during the workshop. Seminar schedule are normally posted at their FB page. Due to limited area, the maximum participants per session is just 20.

2)   Innovative presentation- Power point presentation, hand-outs , kits and hands-on activities.  This workshop is 80% to 85% hands on.

3)  Participants can borrow gardening kit .  Everything you need during the hands-on activities are provided. dio-it-yourself EMAS,  soil compost , water, soft pots, plant label , seed packet, plant box, seedlings and pebbles.

4)   Attentive to the participants needs.  Cedarhills Garden Center Apron (so we won’t get dirty), OFF Lotion (so mosquitoes won’t come near us), bag container (so our things are safe and won’t be dirty).

5)    Take home kits.  All the things we did in the workshop were given to us to take home.  Try to bring virus free USB portal, if you want to get free copy of the power point presentation . If you forgot to bring USB portal- an active email will do.

6)  Snacks and Other Perks – No one will get hungry since snacks are provided to the participants( part of the workshop package) . Participants must be attentive to details as a short Jeopardy q and a portion contest by the facilitator. Lucky participants can win exciting herbs or plant.

7.) Post-Workshop Assistance.  One can send an sms or an email for questions at their hotlines.

Father’s Day Promotion

Father’s Day Treat

For those interested with the workshop 926-2707 or 0907-ORGANIC to register.
*Up to 20 slots per session. Reservation applies upon payment.

How to Commute:

1.) From Quezon Avenue southbound – There are jeepneys which ply the Quezon Avenue ( route Fairview to Quiapo). ( Capitol Medical Center) try to cross the foot bridge toward Scout Magbanua street and then turn left  short walk toward Mother Ignacia street.

2.) From Quezon Avenue northbound- There are jeepneys which ply the route – take off at Scout Magbanua street ( Capitol Medical Center) and then turn left  short walk toward Mother Ignacia Street.

3.) MRT Quezon Avenue- There are tricycle routes which ply within Mother Ignacia , Panay Avenue and Timog TODA – tricycle drivers will charge -between Php 30 to Php 50 for special fare.

 

 

 

 

 

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Blooming of Aerides savageana in Cebu

 

Aerides savageana is another orchid that is currently in bloom at the farm of Mr. Jaime Chua ( landscaper, orchid collector ) in Cebu . According to the owner, the orchids were acquired about 3 or 4 years ago as a medium -sized orchid. With special care and good fertilization techniques, his Aerides savageana bloom in mass this blooming season.

Aerides savageana naturalized on a living tree within the farm compound

This orchid species was described in under the author A.H. Kent but still relatively confused as Aerides odorata or Aerides quinquevulnera variety purpurata.

The common name of this orchid is  Savage’s Aerides ,foxtail orchid.

This orchid species is fairy common and its blooming season is quite variable, normally it blooms during the onset of the rainy season around late May to August which is also the blooming season of the more common Aerides quinquevulnera which is common throughout the country , Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

There are times that this orchid species is quite plentiful in sunday market particularly in Centris – Quezon Avenue . Sometimes forest gathered orchids  are also sold at the famous Bayanihan street near a popular restaurant chain near Baclaran church.

There are also orchid being sold at Quezon Memorial Center – plant area. People would refer to these forest or jungle collected orchid species as Gubatum harbatum or Gubatum hablotum subspecies collectum to sound more scientific.

This is one of the 8 to 10 Aerides species that is said to be found in the country. There are also color variations.

Note : All photos are from Mr. Jaime Chua and permission was sought by the author.

Bibliography and Online References:

 

Orchidiana Philippiana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984

Kew Plant List : http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-4169

IOSPE : http://www.orchidspecies.com/aersavageana.htm