The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) is modeling “foodscaping” that merges decorative landscaping with sustainable gardening.
UPLB researchers are advocating edible landscaping with the belief that “No Filipino should be hungry” and can go the way of sustainable gardening.
UPLB’s demo garden for foodscaping shows how planting and growing organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, and medicinal plants can result in beautiful landscaping.
The late Dr. Leonido R. Naranja from the Crop Science Cluster of the UPLB College of Agriculture (CA-CSC) started the concept and executed the project back in 1999. CA-CSC is now the Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS-ICropS).
Dr. Naranja’s edible landscaping resulted in UPLB partnering with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) and the High Value Commercial Crops Program (HVCCP) to create two demo-gardens at the DA-BAR grounds in Diliman, Quezon City. Although Dr. Naranja passed away in 2010 the project did not stop.
Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. of UPLB, resumed the project with the help of Bryan V. Apacionado, Maria Charito E. Balladares, Ryan Rodrigo P. Tayobong, and Norma G. Medina, of CAFS-ICropS.
The UPLB Chancellor’s team then proceeded to promote “foodscaping” through trainings and seminars, exhibits and project presentations, and partnerships with institutions.
The demo-garden in UPLB has attracted more and more people who are interested in the project including ambassadors, and government representatives.
Let us know in the comments below if you want to try UPLB’s way of “Foodscaping” your garden!
With reports from Marclee Agustin
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