Time

You have given them the proper spacing, temperature, feeding and brooding care. At 21days, they are set to the range and just have shelter for them to run to when raining. They are allotted the suggested 1 sq meter per bird for ranging area.

You forgot to count the days for harvest time....Now you walk through the ranging area and you notice that the area is almost bald. Take some to get average weights. You'll be surprised that they will now be close to your 1.5k...must be about 50days now?


Be observant...senses will still be your best guides.

Lipa Trip

Abs-Cbn's DZMM's, Sa Kabukiran has scheduled us for a seminar in Lipa, Batangas. IF I am not mistaken, November 21.

Will post details when I get them.

Import?

Is that what we need to do? Import meat?

I had been meaning to touch this topic since last week when talks were all over again on the airwaves that the government plans to import pork and chicken for Christmas.

Sure, we and so do the other dayold chick producers, import the Parent Stocks. But that is to make sure we get the commercial quantity, as we can't get that from inbreeding and cross breeding. But, the rearing of the Parent Stocks, the production of dayold chicks and the eventual grow out of the chickens are done in the Philippines and that gives us jobs.

Every Christmas season, the agriculture industry finds ourselves importing when they "see" a shortage. Flooding the market, then because there is an oversupply because of the panic importation, that will bury the farm gate prices of our locally produced pork and chickens.

That is one of the reasons the entrepreneurs don't get their GO GO GO blood. They are always preempted by importations.

Thing is...SO WHAT if we have a shortage? Can't we live with what we have? We should be disciplined to make do with what we have. IF we want more, THEN we should grow it or plan for it.

Try planning ourselves. We can't rely on others to always think for us. We have to think for ourselves so we can help the bigger us. By then, you don't assist others by doleouts but by example.

Idealistic it may seem...but, it has to start somewhere. Am just like "huh" if the news can make people really believe that the shortage is because of xxxx, then we should do yyyyy.

Make do with what you have.

A Little Of Everything

is all we need. Our vegetable patch. I hope you learn to grow your own food too.


If we get cutoff from other areas, I know we will be able to eat and survive. I wish others can say the same thing.

Plant...you can't have an over supply. You may sell to others.

Look Ma, No Housing

The housing for these layers that bring your fresh golden eggs on the table, had been blown away. We had moved other grow out batches in new ranges, to let areas rest and revive itself. These layers were left as they are a playful lot and harder to transfer as it will stress them.

But then, what you procrastinate on, God makes sure is done. Washed away and now letting the Sun do its disinfecting and revival on the ground.

There is a more interesting video taken (taking time to upload). That of the sounds that layers make. You know you got egg laying hens when you hear that. It is music to my ears....putak putaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkk putaaakkkk :)

Clean Water

Cleaning and moving ranging areas after the storm....the Sunshines will fend for themselves in terms of foraging for food. Sure, same with thirst. They will find a way to quench it and find their water. But it is most helpful that you have a dispenser for them.

We did this for the ranges during Summer. One, to make sure that they have water at will. Two, to have clean water. Three, so we can mix probiotics in their drink. Four, to ease up work for caretaker and not have to change and clean waterers all the time.

So now, the care taker just cleans and drains the drums. He mixes the probiotics in the fresh clean water daily. No more individual waterers to take care of.

So simple. Take a drum with drain for easy cleaning. Set it at a height that is convenient. Make sure of clean source of water is available, for cleaning and drinking. Install your nipple drinkers to a PVC pipe. Attach the PVC pipe from the drum to a length that won't sag.


Voila! They nudge the nipples :) The Sunshines go to them to drink and play :)


Even after the wrath of the typhoon....they can get mud all over, but they are assured of clean drinking water.

You do away with dirt in their water...they have to be acrobats to step on and poo on their nipples.

Think Tanks

I can spot them easy. They are quietly busy working...or rather, noisily being quiet in their endeavors. There is a certain buzz as he passes by you. Normally they work individually and they don't bump into each other as they are good by themselves and are confident. No need to talangka one another.

Yesterday, I was going to meet a staff of Senator X, who met me in a trade show and asked staff to contact us. We had been speaking on the phone and texting but will meet at Shangrila for some details. 1st call he made to me the other day was just to make sure he got the right number to call as referred to him. A few minutes later, it was to set up the meeting two days later. Next time we were texting as he was informing me he was in traffic and will just be a little late. Next, he informed that he was entering Shang parking and how will he recognize us. As we were entering the restaurant, there was a young man, gliding and galloping at the same time. Ruggedly casual but very proper. He approached a table immediately surely to ask if that was Doc Rey :) I then walked up to him as we entered and the meeting went on.

Storytelling got to me again.....

Point is: The think tank staff of people are very important. We get to meet a lot of them and you can literally judge a man by his staff. The more experienced and intelligent men have far better people working for them. Well I guess, it will be hard to put one over an experienced man :) You see through put ons and know passion is real. There are no pretensions about knowing everything. On the contrary, the intelligent person is hungry for information and listens with wide eyes.

We see it all the time. We get to plan and interact with great minds. No underlying tones of corruption...just honest to goodness developments.

Where are the loopholes for the grand blueprints? Implementation!!!!! This is where the corruption lies. Middle men, traders, accounting, the supposed checkers, the caretakers....all can kill the best projects.

The think tanks dream big but start small and progessive. The alipurongs want to start big for one shot deals.

The standards for hiring has to be set, even at the ground level.

Mike test...1.2.3

Developing

Neverending. Continuing. Forever.

Our ball has not stopped rolling. We have to always be changing for the better and development and marketing never ceases. You can't market stale ideas and products so new ideas have to always be cooking.

The past days, the word "Cooking" was the key word for me. Yesterday we visited Animal Products Development Center of the Bureau of Animal Industry. Most helpful team! Does the DA pride and Joy :)

We toured around the slaughtering facilities, waste disposal systems the meat processing section and their training areas. They met with us regarding the products we want to be developed. They had a more than tight schedule, what with the Christmas season etc etc. But, they gave in to our request to squeeze us into their development and processing schedule. Ahhh, you know me by now? Why wait for a schedule to process after development when I trust that they will come up with good products. So, why wait for 2010? I asked them already for processing sched to meet Christmas offerings.

They knew exactly what I wanted as we started describing our grass fed line of Sunshines. They are equally excited to develop recipes that are chemical free.

Niche marketing...

Healthward

Started the day to go to the farm. After a storm, you go out to assess situation. The morning got me several photos to post and discuss for other topics.

Great exercise and brought home some goodies of Dayap and other fruits.

Rare that we get to eat a a big breakfast, but today will be different. We bought hot pandesal. Opened a can of corned beef, and Doc Rey made an omelet.

While all that was in the stove top...I cracked my appetizer. Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwww I miss my homemade leche flans! They always thought I add some color to my flans to get that deep deep orange color. Fresh photographs best.


"Oh, Yes....I take it raw"

In Pairs

I don't know why, but my mother's instruction to me in planting in pairs stuck to me. Wonder if she took the "two's company, three's a crowd"!

As a young girl, I remember asking her why that was so...and hopefully I recall right, she answered:

1) It balances landscape outcome. Maybe that is why 2s, pairs are synonymous to Even Numbers...it balances. Left and right. Back and front.

2) We were such fruit lovers, that produce from one (1) tree will not be enough ahahhahah

3) If one (1) tree doesn't fruit well, you still have another

4) If one (1) is damaged by a storm, you still have another

I may be blabbing here now if I go on. I think the only real logical answers were the ones stated. But that 2s carried on to me..really! I buy trees in 2s and in several varieties. Actually, in almost everything, I panic buy and get all colors when I like something.

When I get the chance to do tree shopping, I cart a loot. I got these from Teresa Orchard of Zac Sarian.

That must have been about two (2) months from now. They are all settled now, in Isabela soil.

Do...if you can..plant everyday. Before you know it, you are reaping the sweetest and the freshest of them all! Remember....no chemicals please.

Does It Pester?

We grow our own food. Much like the majority, we don't have greenhouses to protect them from insects. Chemicals are a booboo...so we get great vegetables. It takes care to produce anything worth your while.

Complete with some dimples, incidental insects and pests....they are washables and ready to eat raw.

The ones you don't care to wash nor partake of....your Sunshines will be hovering around you to give to them!

Be wary of perfect looking ones...they may have been dipped in pesticides even as buds :( Try playing with worms around the veggies. Instinct tells the worms to run the other way, to save themselves from the chemicals.

Know What You Are Eating

Dinner last night was so good...why?

1) Sweetest and juiciest Atis. Those large, eyes.

2) The Guayabano was firm when sliced. Picked with a fork to eat and they gush out with the perfect sweet sour blend. They come up with the fork, with no resistance, yet firm and not smudgy.

3) How can you not know that you will get your needed fill of fiber in this Pechay? This is just a one bunch, or do I say a plant or a whole Pechay? You hold it in your hand like a bouquet..its that pretty because fresh and succulent wehehehehh. I just wishy washied it under tap water, more like a shower for dust in my hands. Tenderly tore it into like 5 pcs from stalk to tip of leaf. You can hear it crunchilyy tear...that fresh. Used my microwaveable dish and set it on high for 2mins. Voila, perfectly steamed Pechay! I had to steam another whole plant as the moment the 1st one peeped out of the door, you knew it was a goner.


So why is it the best? We grew it. In our own farm. No pesticides, no chemicals. You can't compare. Picked off the tree, plants or soil...you get the sweetness of freshness...and the juice...ohhhhhhhh

I hope to get another harvest for tonight.

They Have To Know

You can't sell what they don't know.

Educate the consumer. Explain and teach. Make it available....but of course, let them know first that you have it!

We prepared for the packed comfort food Adobo. Packed rotisserie cooked Sunshines also were prepared for soup stocks and salads. Now the freezers are stocked.

Done with the consumer awareness stuff...at least with the existing clients :) Now, we had to inform them that we have the comfort foods available. Why is is convenient and how to use it. Also, that is perfectly packaged for their dear relatives in faraway lands. They can send them the taste that they grew up with and more!

Effective....we had been delivering, and the orders have started to come.

"Announce and it shall be ordered"

Proof Is Around

Past days saw us working on moving plans and seeing friends and relatives. Now back at the office table and getting calls left and right, I remember that we have worked for years...and yes, hard work does work all the more when you think you are not :)

We got calls about them seeing a farm of someone in faraway....calls and emails from people who have tasted when some relative brought for potluck....texts about seeing our delivery vans and wants to get dressed Sunshines too.

Yesterday I get a text from someone who we haven't heard from for about a year. He asked if our business was ok? I thought to myself...where was he sleeping all these times? hahahhahah

Some friends comment that I work a lot....its not work, I love what we do. The people we meet, the places we get to visit, the things learned..and the food we get to eat....most of all, the friends, the real people you get to keep.

1st Step

We are vacating our Quirino Hway address in Fairview, as business decisions led us to have that side leased out.

As the colored chicks have been a landmark in the area for so many years, we are not letting go of that address, just switching a bit to Regalado Ave cor Quirino Hway, fronting Regalado gate of SM Fairview, signage is Sunshine Chicken. That is actually the address of Organika. Meantime, while we are making the move to centralize to Araneta Center, our booking for dayold chicks and pick up for dressed Sunshines will be in that address.

Even if we will be centralized in Cubao, we won't let go of our Fairview address...for prosperity.

Again...you can find us just on the other side. This time, we are infront of SM Fairview and not beside :)

Flor's Garden

Those are not Halloween costumes....scarecrows...to BOO away the birds in farms :) Very apt for the season. BOOWahahahhahaha

You have to meet Flor Tarriela in person...as her animated conversation will excite you to go into natural farming.

We got to Flor's Garden after lunch and caught them in the middle of Andry Lim's seminar on Natural Farming. Sorry that we can't disturb him for our chitchats...well, we can have our time in Davao when its just the girls and the boys.

We visited first the new baby Sunshines in the circular Jojie's Crib. They were comfortable under the charcoal fed tin can, over their red heads.

You can't miss the collection of culinary and medical herbs here. Notice the "Weedicinal" term. I myself have transformed my garden at home from ornamentals to herbals. Why? Because aside from the fact that it has that wild look I life, it smells sooooo good and it does have practical usage. More of culinary for me...but when I get the cough, we get out our stone and pound on Oregano leaves. One jigger and off goes the cough.

Flor and Jojie Lim took us around Flor's Garden.... walking around the "no smell" pens of Sunshines and pigs. I nibble on some flowers that have been introduced to me in the past.

One thing I picked up here...her use of empty coconut husks as you would use cobbled stones as steps in pathways. They look like river stones. But...when you step on them, you get an air like cushiony feeling. Thinking of employing this in my new outdoor bathroom.

Travelling and farm visits do teach you a lot. I didn't even know that Antipolo had a great landscape on this side. I didn't even know Antipolo existed on this side from Cogeo!

Real Is Sustainable

Seminars are a joy to give...When they are not forced to. When they go there on their own. No frills no treats, pure wanting to listen and learn:
Because of the mileage we do and the cross industries we move around in, we get to meet philanthropists who really move and act on their own.

One such lady has been distributing chicks to resettlement areas, including 10kgs of feeds (half of what the recipient will be needing). At the end of 60days, the recipient returns two (2) adults of about 2 to 2.5kgs live weight. In addition to that, the donor lady's foundation, buys back an additional three (3) adults at PHP150/kg live weight. The rest of the Sunshines, five (5) left to the recipient, may be eaten or sold.

I have computed to her costings, and made her realize that she is not earning at all. She smiles back and reminds me that there was a "cause" in the first place. True, teach the recipients the value of paying back and not simply receiving dole outs.

Doc Rey and I walks around these resettlement areas. You will see that there is hope to the so called squatters in Metro Manila. Given assistance AND they should be reoriented to what is proper business ways.

The lady starts them off with ten (10) Sunshines. The recipients are allowed to repeat AS LONG as they are meeting requirements of MOA. Once you don't do as agreed, you and your immediate family members are banned (I like that...very me)!

We do repetitive seminars for the group that have repeated several times.... by then, you know who are the ones who want to pursue.

Pics From You

I love getting photos from the growers from afar, as it is not normal for us to do farm visits to them.

Bert of Zamboanga is one who loads regularly, in small batches. These are the doable projects. He first took a seminar when he was planning on what to do for retirement. Worked on plans, slowly but surely...... only way...to do it small, slow and right...for sustainability.

Whenever I get an email from him, I open it first as I know it will have nice photos.

I got a batch of pics from Bert the other day...looks like I can use this photo for an AD :)

Radio Programs

Because the radio reaches a broad audience and cross segments, we are excited when we get invited for radio interviews. Guesting invitations had been accepted for various shows.

DWWW's Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura (774, Sun 4:30-7:30am) has Doc Rey regularly as Vet ng Bayan. ABS-CBN's DZMM's Kabukiran (630, Sat and Sun 4:40-6am) guests Doc Rey often and he is invited in their out of town seminars. Both agriculture programming.

Last week an FM station in Southern Tagalog, based in Batangas has met us during Agrilink and wants to feature Sunshine Chicken in their negosyo program. We go there after All Saint's Day as they want a live interview.

Another exciting invitation is by DZRH through Eng. Pol Rubia of AANI. Sunshine Chicken will be on their agriculture show aired Saturdays 7:30-9am, fed nationwide except Metro Manila...:) which is really the market that should be reached.

See you on the air!

Grin When Green

Today must be the day that answers my question about doing green architecture.

I grew up with moss covered fences, lagoons, well landscaped gardens, a lot full of orchids, dayonets, backyards that had been transformed into a huge green house...all these when green houses were not yet heard of...in the 60s :)

Making a move this quarter, had me I had me toying about green architecture. Actually what I have in mind is the homey, Hansel and Gretel type...the one that evokes walk through the forest type. I was asking my archi friend Gigi to help...but both of us got busy with Citem's FAME. I hope and pray she reads this to get her dreaming with me asap.

My searches led me to sites that were like Flash Gordon types...sci-fiction looks...not me. More like I didn't know the proper search words.

This morning, we get to join the garden show of the Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines. My attention was choosing the booth location and marketing Sunshine.

In the afternoon we did our monthly seminar. It is rare that I get to chitchat with the attendees after the seminar. Today was different! I can't pinpoint why, but I stayed behind in Organika while the orders were being processed. That gave me opportunity to do some chitchat which started with politics. My worst topic!!!! Am so apolitical :)

At a snap...it drifted into plants and in a second, this man was describing how he did his wall and chicken coop...with plants! WAIT...all of a sudden I knew what he was talking about.

We could have gone on...but no one was left and he had to travel back to Bulacan.

Thank you for leading me to search through vertical gardens, green roofs etc.

I now look forward to that garden show.,...Why? look at this!

See how the goats live on the roofs? My chickens will love this...surely!

The look I want now will be mine, and not to recreate what Mommy had made me live through as a child. Not that I didn't want it..,.its just that I want to inject my own now.

Garden To Benefit

I was glad that I paid attention to Zac Sarian's announcement today over the radio. During breakfast before Agri Kapihan, he talked about stalls open and if I wanted to get one....we can duplicate the alliance of Agrilink and we can go side by side :)

YES...sure! This will be an exciting garden show for us to explore and learn from the free seminars. Get schedule here.. "Gardening for a Better Environment"

While Zac and I were selecting our spots, some of our friends at Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura also got booths. We all laughed at us having a Friends' Pavilion :)

November 20-30, Quezon Memorial Circle, East Ave Gate. Near the restaurants and parking lot. I noted ingress at November 14...maybe that gives us more time there.

We will have the day old chicks, ready to slaughter, dressed Sunshines and our ready to eat products.