FAITH Training Program
Objectives of FAITH
FAITH aims to provide knowledge and skills on urban and rural gardening of commonly eaten nutritious vegetables and fruits as well as small animal husbandry to urban and rural poor families.
The project provides seeds or seedlings for planting of preferred and commonly eaten vegetables such as Malunggay, Alugbati, Camote tops, Kangkong and Pechay (also known as MACK-P) and commonly eaten fruits such as Bayabas, Kalamansi, Papaya and Banana.
FAITH gardens aim to reduce food expenditure for families, while maximizing the use of small spaces, limited water and time using the Magic Square Garden and container gardening methodologies.
The 3-day training comprises of lecture/discussion, hands-on/demonstration and sharing of experiences. Topics include:
- Magic Square Garden is a one-square meter plot planted with “plant and forget” and “die hard” type of plants Malunggay, Alugbati, Camote tops, Kangkong and Pechay and can accommodate 20 to 30 plants
- Container gardening or the planting of different kinds of vegetables in indigenous materials like plastic bags, cans, used tires and other containers
- Companion Gardening / Mixed Planting or the planting of vegetables in one area together with medicinal plants, herbs, spices, ornamental plants with strong scent to repel insects
- Composting is the decomposition of plant remains and other once-living materials to create an earthy, dark, crumbly substance that is excellent for enriching the soil.
- Organic Spraying is the use of indigenous material such as hot pepper, powdered soaps, medicinal plants, herbs, spices and water to eliminate insect pest
- Cultural management includes land preparation, seedling preparation, transplanting, watering, weeding, mulching, cultivation, fertilizer application, seed collection, seed storage and replanting
- Nursery is a place where plants are grown for sale, transplanting and experimentation
- Market Garden is an income-generating project of a community for growing vegetables to be shipped to local or nearby markets
- School Garden is a teaching and learning setting where school children can learn skills and benefits of growing different types of vegetables
Participants will be provided booklet on vegetable and fruit gardening as well as fish, poultry and small animal husbandry.
Train the trainer
The FAITH model encourages graduates to go on and train the heads of the priority families in their area. Participants will be provided a FAITH manual for their reference, containing detailed information on the planting vegetables and fruits and their nutrient content.