There are five bases in the Philippines and one base in Japan.
There is also Bang Kong Kahoy Valley in Mt. Banahao as a cooperation site, which is one of the ideal locations of Mind if the Earth .
Philippines
The production bases are scattered at least 2 hours away from Manila. These areas look like livestock such as pigs and goats are carried out at even each household, and forests or even a lot of fruit trees such as bananas and rambutans are also planted in areas along the main road. Therefore, I feel that the circumstance is very close with plants and animals in everyday life.
While development is progressing and the number of residential areas is increasing, I feel that the lack of awareness regarding hygiene and environmental considerations is gradually threatening their lives. The high circulation ability of the land is attractive, so it looks like you will be able to achieve an ideal cultivation cycle if you can get closer to it…
The activities of Mind of the Earth Philippines are mainly aimed at presenting sustainable solutions to the problems mentioned above as model cases.
Santo Tomas
Our all activities started from this base in San Miguel, Santo Tomas, Batangas, about an hour and a half from Manila.
Development is progressing in recent years and there is a movement to transform the fields around here and the mountain side with good environment into residential land.
An alley that is too narow to pass cars each other, entering one from the highway.
When you open the green iron door, there is an orderly semi-natural space where high trees grow. Neighboring children climbing trees and picking fruits, free-ranging grass-eating horses and cows. Mt. McKinley right there.
This is the base in a little jungle surrounded by a fence.
Main activity
Accepting guests as a small-scale livestock farming and a base for staying.
Accommodation circumstances
See this article. *Articles are still Japanese only, sorry. I’ll translate little by little*
Currently situation
They try to bleeding native pigs and chickens there. The pandemic of Covid-19 make their work hard and it’s necessary to think to live well there.
What’s New
- African swine fever -豚コレラ-
- Dear people who mainly engage in agriculture in the Philippines, and people who want to protect the harmony with nature
- Dear members in the Philippines
Bilog Bilog
Base BilogBilog is located in a hilly area. Where is about 30 minutes drive from Santo Tomas, in a sunny place with a good view.
When you turn from a quiet, cozy road lined with houses, you will come out on a straight road to Lake Taal, which has a volcanic island in the center. Along the way, a 2 hectare farm is on a land slightly higher than the others.
You can see the famous Tagaytay in the summer resort, and it is about 30 minutes if you want to go.
Main activity
It is run with a worker family as a production base for livestock and agriculture.
Accommodation circumstances
We have plans to develop here as a base where guests can stay, but we have not started yet.
Facility overview
A Kubo (hut) was built as a resting place and warehouse by donation from Japanese members. The kubo has a bucket-style toilet that can also be used as a shower room in 2017. The following year, they built a water line.
Electricity is still waiting for construction.
Currently situation
They got a huge damage by the eruption of Taal volcano and lost papaya, which they had planted. Also, the lockdown by Covid-19 gave some life crisis of the pigs there. Still, the quarantine is eased little and the member keeps caring them and started planting some vegetables right now.
What’s New
- Dear people who mainly engage in agriculture in the Philippines, and people who want to protect the harmony with nature
- Dear members in the Philippines
- About Mind of the Earth
Macalelon
The base in Macalelon is located where approximately 6 hours by car from Santo Tomas and 1 hour by foot from the road.
Macareron is a port town, and the market near the estuary is lined with freshly caught seafood every day. The boat docks are lined with boats of various sizes, and are lively with fishermen, merchants, and customers coming and going.
The base is located in the backcountry of the paddy rice growing area, which protects people’s staple foods with unchanging farming methods and scenery that spread up this river.
Main activity
They produce rice every four cycles. And we were conducting small-scale experiments on the cultivation of Japanese rice.
Accommodation circumstances
Since it needs a long-distance driving, basically we will stay at the member’s house.
Facility overview
Their handmade house made from bamboo and wood is quaint, cozy and wonderful. Also, it is surrounded by rice fields and forest.
Currently situation
They got a huge damage by the pandemic of Covid-19 and the activities have stoped right now.
What’s New
- Dear people who mainly engage in agriculture in the Philippines, and people who want to protect the harmony with nature
- Dear members in the Philippines
- About Mind of the Earth
Tiaong
Coming soon.
Main activity
Producing some kind of vegetables.
Accommodation circumstances
Coming soon.
Facility overview
The land is the largest one of the member in the Philippines.
Currently situation
They produce some vegetables like eggplant or okura.
What’s New
Calaca
Calaca is a two-hour drive from Santo Tomas around Lake Taal.
There is a pool, a beautiful hotel, a tropical landing, and a place surrounded by palms.
Main activity
We are conducting cultivation experiments of various vegetables and full-scale cultivation of papaya.
What’s New
- Dear people who mainly engage in agriculture in the Philippines, and people who want to protect the harmony with nature
- Dear members in the Philippines
- Caraca
Bang Kong Kahoy Valley
There is a community called Bang Kong Kahoy Valley in a gentle valley between Mt. Banahao and Mt. San Cristobal.
Bang Kong Kahoy Valley
People who have lived in this area for generations are engaged in diverse activities to protect nature and the environment.
It is a genuine that the natural water drawn from Mt. Banahao, which is described as a giant water bottle. You should be able to feel the dynamic and lively energy of the living things in the Earth if you stands on the land.
They are running a big projects. That aims to heal both physically and mentally through the water, food, air, and interaction with people.
Some of the members who have been to the field have a long relationship with this community.
We really hope to continue to maintain good relationships.
Video archives
We make some videos with simple edit and publish it on youtube so that anyone can see it. They are viewings and scenery of activities that we would like to show to members who have difficulty coming to the sites.
Japan
It is a story of the past that is Japan as an economic powerhouse. I feel the current reputation from other countries in Japan keep declining.
On the other hand, many activities are occurring at the local level and within the individual range.
It looks like starting to break down that are important things for living, the environment, energy, food, human rights, poverty of the vulnerable, etc…
We probabry have to think seriously about “what is richness?”
Ton of the issues that we are front in is cause by humans in the end.
We try to believe that we can create a diverse and valuable rich place if we can utilize the characteristics of the land and protect and connect them. We try to believe that we can live regardless of convenience and efficiency. Many problems will be resolved if everyone can live with peace of mind.
The establishment of bases in Japan is just beginning. We are broadly recruiting candidates for activity bases, participation in activity bases, application for members, application for activity members, etc.
