Now that we have had a little time to sort out all the details and mostly finish the transfer of the land to my control as well as look over the property much better.

Here is the first of hopefully many updates.

At this point we are starting to fence in the main field to keep out the goats and ox that the neighbors often allow to roam free (a common practice in this area of the Philippines) from eating the crops. As well as putting some soil treatment on the ground.




Our next step will be to plow the rows and plant the first of the crops. Most likely Sunflowers around the fence edge. As well as well as a plant locally called cosmos flower (I'll try to find its official name when I get a full time internet connection) around the edge of the crops. This is an interesting 'trick' of the more professional farmers of the area. According to the agricultural groups the flowers attract the insects which are harmful to the crops first. Thus when the flowers start getting the harmful insects on them. They spray just a few rows in the field working their way out to the flowers rather than spraying the whole field which 'pushes' the insects out of the field. Thus saving a lot of money on the cost of pesticides as well as limiting the use of the chemicals. I am not sure how well this really works but it is an interesting idea that is worth trying at least once.

On the property we also have a few mango trees.

Something I was not expecting to find and unfortunately is rather rare in this area is a nest of honeybees.

Unfortunately the way most people here collect honey is to destroy the wild hive and take the honey. This method sadly kills most of the hive. Which over the years has made the bees somewhat rare in this area. And also lowered the crop yields since the plants are not being Pollinated as well as they could / should be.

Thus another project that has fallen into my lap will be bee keeping and teaching people how to collect and maintain the hives. Not to mention making the "portable" hives so that the bees can be taken closer to the fields as the crops start to flower. This way the crops can be pollinated easier by the bees creating a higher crop yield as well as producing more honey for the bee keeper.

It is exciting all the opportunities that are presenting themselves on this little piece of property. Truely, it is almost overwhelming the potential of that is on this land. While it is tempting to try to do many of the projects at one time, that would over extend my money and in the process cause all to fail. Thus I will just take it one step / area at a time and get each going little by little.

It is truely amazing how Our Creator hands us opportunities if we are just willing to see them, pick them up and build up what He gives to us.