Hindy Weber Tantoco is in head-to-toe denim, green Wellington boots and a straw hat. She balances delicately on a low-hanging branch. Behind her, three piebald cows and a pregnant carabao look none too happy being roped into a photo shoot. Bugs abound, the heat is relentless, and a large black pig moseys about nearby. Yet, Hindy is angelically, glamorously, insanely flawless. She makes farming look good.
We are at her farm in Laguna, the birthplace of Holy Carabao produce. Hindy’s natural beauty only emphasizes the organic feel of the farm, in spite of the juxtaposition this striking woman makes in such rustic surroundings. The features of the farm are anything but skin-deep, however, as Hindy is quick to communicate.
Little bit of help from my friends
Holy Carabao, which Gippy and Hindy Weber Tantoco began in 2007, is the first door-to-door delivery service of organic produce. Currently, the produce can also be found at S&R, Rustan’s Fresh supermarkets, and at the quaint Holy Carabao shop in Poblacion, Makati.
Holy Carabao follows regenerative farming, a new sub-section of agricultural science that enables the restorative capabilities of the earth. In simpler terms, regenerative farming allows the earth to generate itself with little interference from outside forces. That translates to no pesticides, no toxins, no GMO practices; not even any store-bought organic soil. The biodiversity of the Holy Carabao farm feeds everything inside the farm, for a tidy and self-reliant ecosystem. Even Gringo, that big black pig, is fed from within the farm: “He’s vegan,” Hindy chuckles.
Some of the positive repercussions of regenerative farming include healthier, sustainable produce, of course – but, as a 2014 Rodale Institute report clarifies, “Organically managed soils can convert carbon CO2 from a greenhouse gas into a food-producing asset.” Greenhouse gasses diminish, and we take a small step towards ameliorating climate change.
The farm follows nature as closely as possible – but implements modern science to boost productivity. For instance, crops are planted in a gentle zig-zag pattern to assist irrigation, and the soil is so enriched that it becomes self-sustaining. It’s going back to basics – but with a sprinkle of modern thought and current discoveries to help Mother Nature along.
Guerilla Farmfare
Hindy turns impassioned: “Did you know that 62 percent of the people below the poverty line are farmers?” She continues, “There’s a saying – you can tell a lot about a society by who gets paid the most. In some countries, doctors and farmers are paid the same.” Imagine the possibilities for an archipelago like the Philippines, which is agricultural in nature. However, by underpaying our farmers and not concerning ourselves with their welfare, we give off the impression that “our food is not important to us. We won’t blink buying a designer bag, but we won’t take care of our farmers. It’s crazy.”
Hindy refers in particular to the uphill battle that is the agricultural revolution. Filipino farmers are afraid to participate, out of fear for higher prices and lower sales. Filipino consumers prefer to buy imported kale over local malunggay, which is actually even more potent. Restaurants buy homogeneous-looking vegetables to cater to commercial practices, instead of employing farm-to-table daily menus.
It’s a lot to digest, and a lot to accomplish. But the bottom line is that humans have governed Mother Nature for so long, that it’s time to live our lives being governed by her, and by what she is prepared to give us every day, instead of plying her with toxins just so we get perfect five-inch carrots.
Hindy plans to turn Holy Carabao into a trading post reengineered for modern times. “Assure farmers that you’ll pay them, and you’ll buy a certain volume, and that you’ll sell for them.” This way is how this lovely visionary hopes to push forth regenerative farming: small ripples in a large pond. Lots of small players participating in a good deed, in a sort of guerilla warfare, to one day create a larger impact.
Makeup by Ramon “Chito” Fabello, Jr. and hair by Jeron Tumamak of Creations by Lourd Ramos Salon
