Mama's office runs a Kitchen Garden project at an orphanage. It's been ongoing since 2008 I was told. Besides exposing the kids to good farming practices (that sounds so grand, eh?), the project has helped reduce kitchen expenses as the orphanage doesn't have to buy vegetables anymore. Mama has been thinking of ways to improve the project, thus her visit there. I was more than happy snoopervising her. Besides, I love the smell of grass, herbs and flowers...not forgetting the bugs (and birdies) available. Here are some of what's growing in the garden.
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| Calamansi is called limau kasturi in Malay. It's smaller in size than the normal lime (limau nipis). Usually used to flavour chili condiments or drinks. Put about 6 calamansi in a blender with about 200ml water, buzzzzz. Then pour into a tall glass, plonk in 1 dried plum, about 10ml sugar syrup, some ice, mix and then drink....slurrrpppp! |
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| The banana patch and pandan in the background. Michael's eyes lighted up when he saw the big clumps of pandan. |
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| The vegie patch - there's snake beans, okra dan bok choy. |
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| The tapioca patch. People here eat the tuber as well as the young shoots. |
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| Aaahhh...I hope we'll get a good harvest of pineapples soon. |
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| Some healthy looking kaffir lime trees. Ooohh....we haven't had tomyam for a while, Mama... |
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| Interesting coloured banana...I don't know the name for this variety. |
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| A closer look at the snake bean plants. They have begun to bear fruits. |
Nicole's 2-cent: A lot still needs to be done. Mama wants to teach the kids composting and start a no-dig patch. We'll start in September, she said.
purrr *giggles*
