2nd Runner-Up, Growing Seed of Hope Photography Contest
It was during our recovery from the striking Marawi Siege when I started from a simple initiative of planting Chayote in my backyard. It only occupied a small landscape as I only intended to have sufficient sprouts for our table. From there, I have seen how ravishingly a little seed can become with the pampering of a delicate hand and the sustenance of the nature itself- the sun that provides sunlight to it, the rain that pours water over it, the soil that supports and stores its nutrients.
I have become more appreciative of sustainable gardening as I start to reap good harvest and learn making different dishes from a single ingredient- the Chayote. Every sprout from my little garden became an avenue for me to outgrow more herbs, vegetables, and fruits. It has become one of our primary sources of food, most especially in the middle of phenomenal and unforeseen circumstances like this virus outbreak. Not only was I able to cut cost for our food spending, I was also able to feed my family with fresh and pesticide-free vegetables and fruits.
It isn’t just gardening at my humble backyard, it is more than that. It is sustainable gardening; it is creating greenery surrounding for a healthy living; it is promoting eco-friendly way of consuming bounty from our nature; it is protecting our environment through sustainable gardening; it is preserving our Mother Nature for future generations; it is living the healthy way while being efficient at the same time. Verily, in every growing seed is a hope imbued within it. It only takes a tender hand to make growing seeds turn into a garden of hope.
