Unleash your green thumb to grow your own urban garden
You may have heard of the terms “plantito” and “plantita”. In fact, you may already even be one without knowing it. During the pandemic, these colloquialisms have popped up so often and with so much enthusiasm that they’re almost impossible to ignore and their true- to-life implications nonetheless significant. For those living in the concrete jungles of the Philippines, plants that bring a sense of comfort can be difficult to find. This innate affinity for the verdant is neither trivial nor illusive; in fact, it’s biological.
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“Many have come to realise that the connection [they have] with plants was something [they] got a lot of relief from,” comments Nicolo Aberasturi, president of Down to Earth Philippines. A family farm located in Bukidnon, Down to Earth Philippines has brought the rural to the urban through gardening workshops, organic meats and teas, as well as their own installations of vertical home gardens. “Some people who are blessed with a little patch of land in their backyard have been growing so much [greens] that they hardly buy from the markets anymore,” Aberasturi comments.
He also claims that to many, gardening has been a coping mechanism during such uncertain times. “It really helped them with both their mental and physical health,” he adds.
These days, there’s been a growing interest in urban gardening. Some opt for ornamentals such as succulents, while those more inclined to pragmatism turn to edible plants such as vegetables, herbs, or fruit. If you’re fortunate enough to have a patch of empty space at home, consider dedicating it to growing your own greens.
While nurturing a plant in smaller homes or apartments can be challenging, Aberasturi assures us that it is still possible. “One of the problems with urban gardening is lack of sunlight,” he notes. As such, many of the plants grown in Philippine homes are tropical ornamentals such as the evergreen tropical vines monstera plants. Aberasturi suggests choosing tropical indigenous plants that easily adapt to shadier environments. “A good example would be waterleaf spinach, alugbati and okra. Okra can usually thrive under shade because of its big, wide leaves which allow it to grab more sunlight so it can grow in environments with less sun.”
