(SPOT.ph) The extended global pandemic as well as the looming threat of the climate crisis have reminded us to go back to our roots when it comes to food security, sustainability, and conservation. People who were forced to stay home started planting their own vegetables in their empty backyards and rooftops or their own herbs in container gardens. Then there are the urban farmers of Bel-Air, a group of homeowners in Makati who came together to turn an idle piece of land into a community farm. Their initiative has since been adopted by various groups and spaces, which includes, most recently, Bonifacio Global City. It hopes to encourage urban dwellers to grow their own food by providing a space to do so.
BGC Urban Farm, which officially launched on March 24, is located across The Flats along 5th Avenue. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. to anyone who wants to get into urban farming, BGC resident or not. You can either adopt your own pod (1 meter x 1.2 meters) for P999/month or volunteer to be a weekend farmer for at least an hour a day.
Partner farmers are also around to teach you the ropes of urban farming; and there’s a small farm store, where you can purchase your farming essentials. Vegetables produced from communal areas of BGC Urban Farm are also up for sale.