When I think of Sagada before, I see me hanging for my life "spelunking" in Sumaguing Cave haha. Today, thanks to this OA (organic agri) experience with the ATI-CAR of the Philippine Department of Agriculture, I think of cold days sipping-all-you-can organic coffee and fun times walking or caving. We were given the chance to go to the organic highlands coffee farm of Mr. Osenio Lay-os - another Magsasakang Siyentista (farmer scientist, a recognition for outstanding Filipino farmers who shared successful application of science and technology based on indigenous technologies in their municipalities) awardee (2011).
There's something about the brown sugar too..
They shared the cooperative space with us for lunch. Sagada coffee farmers are part of a cooperative and have access to the market and grinders through this organized group.
They have a small structure near the Sagada Weaving store where they do all the coffee bean processing.
They let us in there and made lunch for us.. :)
This is the machinery they use as a group to grind and pack what is collectively known as organic Sagada coffee!
This is a Sagada specialty called Pinikpikan. That's soup with smoked pork like bacon that will leave a smell and strong flavor in your mouth, chicken and sayote that balances it all.
It was a short ride from there (~20 minutes by car) to Mr. Osenio Lay-os' farm. I don't think they put a name for their farm. It's just collectively sold as Sagada coffee for all the farmers.
There are already lots of lush coffee trees full of fruit at the entrance of his farm. I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to organic coffee farming :D
The variety they have here is Arabica (at least I know the taste of one variety now haha).
We went down a narrow path for more!
I saw these and thought of Christmas hihi.
These will turn red when they are ripe.
They call these Highland Coffee (well because they can only grow at a certain altitude like Sagada).
I suggest you bring boots or rubber shoes or Mojo slippers (not slippery) if you plan to visit a farm like this.
The place was really filled with tall coffee trees and I was at the back so I didn't get to hear more cool stuff about coffee.. Sorry about that.
Small coffee trees are also potted before transplanting to open field.
Some mountain tea leaves are also planted in his property. It sells for around P10 a pack in the market and my dad actually told me I should have bought some because they were good (you can order Mountain Milk Tea in fact in some of the Sagada restaurants).
We went down deeper his farm to check out other coffee trees.
This is like the nursery
and the mature ones can grow as taller than I am haha. If I remember correctly, he said they only harvest coffee once a year. He planted some Tipica Arabica (the mother of all Arabica coffee) and this is his favorite of them all!
We found these huge calamansi / Philippine lemons that you can eat straight, not as sour
and are super good with the pansit they served back at the cooperative warehouse ;)
Here's Mr. Lay-os' compost! Again, very low cost because they don't have to purchase chemicals or pesticides.
I loved the last part because we were able to experience more of Mr. Lay-os' organic farm by eating his produce haha. Somebody bought Sagada corn in the market and said it's good (the sticky and starchy kind, less than P15).
We hang out around Mr. Lay-os' house and found some passionfruit, peanuts and pear!
The violets are passionfruit. The red one is Japanese tomato!
The Japanese tomato is for salads.
Have you ever had passionfruit? I didn't even know we can grow it here..
Then there's the Sagada pear which tastes a bit sour than I'm used to. The texture is also different.
I was a big fan of the boiled mani (peanut) here! They're plump and full and red! Super yummy!!! I kept on coming back for more.. O_O
Thank you for showing us your farm, Mr. & Mrs. Lay-os! =) It's really obvious from the fruits of your farm that going organic makes a difference!
Farm / ATI Organic Farming Learning Site Philippines Details:
Mr. Osenio Lay-os
Address: Banga-an, Sagada Mountain Province
0907-4446139
To visit the different ATI-assisted projects (Organic Farming Learning Sites), you can drop by or ask the ATI Regional Training Center nearest you or inquire through:
Call -
982AGRI (982-2474) for Metro Manila calls
1-800-10-982AGRI (1-800-10-9822474) for provincial toll-free calls using PLDT landlines
Text -
For Smart and Talk & Text Subscribers, send a message to 391-DA (391-32).
For non-Smart Subscribers, send a message to 0920-946AGRI (0920-9462474).
Check out my other Organic Agriculture (OA) Adventure posts:
Check our my Sagada series:
Eat, Walk and Trek in Mt. Province - Things to Do in Sagada and My Mojo Slippers - Sagada Weaving, Pine Trees, Food Trip, Lemon Pie, Yoghurt, Souvenirs and Many More!
Things to Do in Sagada Part 2 - Sunrise, Market, Hanging Coffins, Trek to Lumiang, Sumaguing, Sagada Pottery Training Center, Lake Danum, Sunset!
Things to Bring for Sagada Spelunking and What It is Like Inside the Sumaguing Cave Beginner's Trail!
Things to Do in Sagada Part 2 - Sunrise, Market, Hanging Coffins, Trek to Lumiang, Sumaguing, Sagada Pottery Training Center, Lake Danum, Sunset!
Things to Bring for Sagada Spelunking and What It is Like Inside the Sumaguing Cave Beginner's Trail!
