It’s Easy to Feel Happy and Motivated When You’re Surrounded by Nature and Growing Your Own Crops Like This.

There’s something special about living close to the land. Seeing all the plants growing around you really helps lighten your mood. It takes away stress, especially when you look at the wide field full of healthy crops.

Eggplants grow well in our soil.

My brother is very hardworking when it comes to our farm. He planted eggplant and after a few months, we can already see the fruits coming out. It makes us happy to see the plants growing well. We cook some at home grilled, fried or added to stews. The rest, we bring to the market to sell. But during the rainy season, many worms start to appear, especially if he doesn’t spray insecticide. That’s why he always checks the plants to make sure the fruits stay clean and smooth. If you buy, you need to check if there is no worm inside the fruit. You can press it and feel something hard. Sometimes, you will also see small holes on the skin.

Some fruits grow in different shapes, but they can still taste great.

From the start until harvest, bell pepper needs extra care to grow healthy. If we don’t check it often, some fruits grow in the wrong shape, especially when there are too many on one plant. Like in the picture, one of them is not straight. But that’s okay not all vegetables grow perfectly. The ones that are not good for selling, we still use for cooking, so nothing goes to waste.

Pumpkin is good for the eyes and the heart.

This is how it looks when the pumpkin is still small. Little by little, it gets bigger. It’s really nice to look at the skin is smooth and clean. My favorite way to cook this is in coconut milk, with crab added in. The taste is so creamy and flavorful, I always end up eating a lot of rice with it. There are also many other dishes you can cook with pumpkin here in the Philippines. One of them is pinakbet, where it’s mixed with eggplant and other fresh ingredients.

This cacao caught my eye while walking near the farm.

This cacao plant is not ours, it belongs to our neighbor’s farm. But I liked how it looked, so I took a picture. A lot of people love chocolate, especially kids. You can see how happy they get when they eat it. When the cacao pods are ready, they are picked from the tree. The seeds are taken out, then dried under the sun. Once the seed are fully dry, they are roasted. After that, they are ground and turned into chocolate. Other ingredients are added but only the chocolate makers really know the full process.

What Do We Use Spring Onion For?

Do you also like using spring onion in your food? I really enjoy adding it, especially as a topping. Even if the dish is simple, putting fresh spring onion on top makes it look more colorful and appetizing. It’s one of my favorite ways to make food more attractive, especially when I cook sotanghon soup. The smell is so good and it makes the soup taste even better. Sometimes, I also add boiled egg and a little garlic oil. With the green onion on top, it becomes the perfect for me.

This is not just a spice it's also natural medicine.

Ginger is a very helpful plant. When I have a cough or my throat hurts. This is my favorite drink when I feel sick. I just add hot water, a little honey and some slices of ginger. It makes my throat feel warm and smooth. It is not sweet, but I still like the taste. Ginger is also used in cooking, like in chicken curry and other dishes.

It tastes bitter, but it gives strength.

Bitter gourd or Ampalaya is one of the best vegetables for the body. It may taste bitter but it gives many good things like vitamins, iron and fiber. I bought it fresh today because my husband enjoys eating it. I will cook it with pork and egg for our meal. This green vegetable helps the body by lowering blood sugar and cleaning the stomach.

No place like a peaceful farm with a great view.

The view in this place is really beautiful. Who wouldn’t feel motivated to work when this is what you see every day? And the corn you see growing there was planted by our own family. Many people who visit this area say the surroundings are very peaceful and relaxing. They like to walk around, take pictures, and just enjoy the fresh air. Some even say that staying here helps clear their mind and forget their problems for a while.

Note: Photos taken by me and edited by Canva.