Bicol family uses quarantine time for planting, gives away vegetables to neighbors

As people are restricted from leaving their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a family in Bicol resorted to backyard gardening to grow vegetables during quarantine time.

Nancy Imperial Furio, a 50-year-old housewife from Rongos, Libmanan, Camarines Sur, spoke about how their family has been spending quality time at home while in quarantine.

“Dahil po sa ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] mas napalawak at napaganda namin ang aming munting bakuran [sa labas ng aming bahay],” read Furio’s post.

(Because of the ECQ, we have expanded and improved our small yard outside our house.)

https://www.facebook.com/nancy.furio.3/posts/1112559365770320

Five of their six children, namely Billy, Louise, Cesar, Benjamin and Obet, have been hands-on in vegetable gardening since their classes and work were suspended. Meanwhile, her daughter May Ann is currently in Mandaluyong, as she was not able to go home before the lockdown.

Her husband Garry Furio, 54, is a rice farmer whom she also acknowledged for being supportive and helpful.

“Tulong-tulong po kami araw-araw sa pagtanim, pagdilig at pag-alaga sa mga [pananim na] gulay. Malaking tulong po ang mga naaani namin pandagdag sa pagkaing naihahanda sa hapag-kainan bawat araw. Nagiging bonding time din namin ang pagtanim,” she said.

(We help each other daily in the planting, watering and taking care of the planted vegetables. These additions to our food are a great help in our meals prepared each day. Planting has also been our bonding time.)

Their family actually began planting in their yard a few years ago for their own daily consumption.

“Naging inspirasyon ko po ang aking yumaong ama na mahilig sa pagtatanim at gusto ko rin pong ma-maximize ang lupa sa likod-bahay namin para magamit ito [at] hindi hayaang nakatiwangwang,” she told INQUIRER.net in an interview.

(I was inspired by my late father who loved to plant, and I also wanted to maximize the land in our backyard, for it to be used [and] not be left idle.)

Among their  vegetables are cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, water spinach, lemon, cucumber, bitter melon, string beans, pumpkins, melons, peppers, sweet potatoes and many more.

The Furio family uses old and used bags as alternative pots in their backyard garden. Image: Nancy Imperial Furio via Facebook

Cabbage plots planted by Nancy Furio’s children as they spend their quarantine time growing vegetables. Image: Nancy Imperial Furio via Facebook

Since the enhanced community quarantine was implemented, the Furio family already harvested approximately 10 kilos of cabbage and 8 kilos of pumpkins, which they were also able to share to their neighbors for free last May 1.

“Umabot po sa halos 35 na pamilya ang nabigyan namin ng pechay at kalabasa,” Furio said. (We have provided about 35 families with cabbage and squash.)

Furio also shared some tips for those who are planning to start their own vegetable garden at home: be hard-working; use recyclable materials such as containers, pitchers and casserole as pots; and be creative about maximizing space. Lastly, she also advises people to make gardening a hobby.

“Totoo po na ang nagtatanim, hindi nagugutom,” Furio stated in her post. (It is true that those who plant will never grow hungry.) JB

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