HYDROPONICS:

From the Garden to the Kitchen to the Table

To survive, the first humans were believed to have settled in one temporary place where adequate food supply was accessible and transferred to another if the supply ran out. For hundreds of years in the past, it remained the primary rule of survival, not until humans discovered the use of land cultivation. About 12,000 years from now, when they have cultivated the soil to grow crops, dramatic changes in society, including civilization, have materialized. Since then, agriculture has always played an immense role in meeting the demands of humans.

Thousands of years have passed, and the world's population has reached over 7.9 billion. What is intriguing about the human population is its direct relationship to food production. As the population on earth increases, the production of food alszo increases. The problem does not stop there; with the increasing human population, residential areas continue to expand.This is a big challenge from the viewpoint of agricultural sectors as it will be difficult to supply food with the problem of having insufficient land mass to plant on.

Adding to the chain of problems are the situations brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It results in labor restrictions and availability, a decline in restaurant demand, and market disruptions to the agricultural systems. With the incapability to transport supplies, farmers ended up discarding their harvests. Besides this, the pandemic also led to restrictions on consumers' access to food markets physically. As the pandemic puts limited access to food markets, it poses a challenge for families to provide food on the table. Although giving ayuda or assistive support from the local government unit has been a beneficial move to ensure that the people of the community have access to food while restricted in the comfort of their homes, canned goods and instant noodles can be lifeless and dull.

Meanwhile, three young Isabeleños realized that inasmuch as the pandemic stimulates the public to stay indoors, home gardening is an adaptive way to fit into the new normal lifestyle and may solve the food supply problem. Recognizing the substantial benefits

byJimuelC.Sagario

of home-based farming to the current social predicaments, these young men came up with an interesting business that also sparked new learning in the general community.

Most typically, plants are grown in a soil medium. In conventional soil-based gardening, watering is necessary, which can sometimes be laborious and problematic. Irregular watering could lead to dehydration, and, on the contrary, over-watering could lead the plant into an overly hydrated state, both of which may kill the plant. Also, soil-based gardening could be challenging with problems such as urbanization, land fertility problems, and the threat of global warming to water sources.

As a part of the evolution of agriculture, an alternative option to growing plants has been uncovered, gaining popularity among farmers and hopefuls—hydroponic gardening. This technique employs the advantage of nutrient-rich water, and no soil is required. It is a unique method in that it only requires water. Therefore, it also saves space, an answer to the land unavailability problems in agriculture.

In Alicia, Isabela, three college students drew interest in this emerging trend budding like a plant. Hydroponic gardening may be fresh to several, but this innovative technology has already gained remarkable public comments. Many television programs have featured it as a timely profiting source of income. Hence, despite being enrolled in distinct college degrees from different universities, as childhood buddies, Cee Jay D. Del Rosario of Isabela State University

Cauayan City, Jerome C. Arcangel of Isabela State University Echague, and Darren Kyle C. Mabagos of Philippine Normal University North Luzon were fastened by their mutual hope. They recently used the hydroponic method to grow a variety of lettuces with a vision that it would be a popular hit to the public one day. They named their business Hydropaps Lettuce In A Cup and have been selling their hydroponically grown lettuce in their municipality and its neighbors for a very affordable price. Hydropaps' first harvest was sold out, and people have followed their sprouting success since then.

Since the method is a space-saver, one can now grow their farm in their backyard, rooftop, or any small space at home. One has just to have a creative mind in using alternative materials and become resourceful in designing their greenhouse to make their hydroponic farm budget-friendly. Others are using vertical farming to grow plants hydroponically. It means that hydroponic gardens can still be maintained even in crowded places. Considering a farm at home is a good investment as it offers plant products from the garden to the kitchen to the table, or for some, like the three college students of Alicia, earn money and build a future.

Aside from responding to the problem of lack of farmable land, hydroponic farming also combats the issue of water conservation. This new technology allows farmers to recycle their water supply. It implies that by using this alternative farming that promises organic and greener agriculture, one can now farm, rain or shine.

"Plants can still grow in hydroponic systems even in the absence of direct sunlight if growing lights are used," Hydropaps explained another advantage of hydroponic farming, emphasizing that the method can grow plants independently of weather conditions. Especially in an era where products and food prices have become gold and are still continuously rising, one hungry family in the dark will continue to starve to death. Battling world hunger is very challenging. The challenge has even been augmented in a world restricted by a virus. Therefore, with its capacity to counter agricultural problems such as weather conditions, water conservation, and lack of farmable land, hydroponic farming as an option can be an excellent solution to thinning the challenge. With hydroponic gardening as a project for every community, each family may be able to provide food from the garden to the kitchen to their table.

A piece dedicated to our EIC

Oh, My Damsel

by Preszi

Oh, how lovely

The way just she is

A damsel delicately

Embellished with gentleness.

Hush, please whisper

How can someone have life?

Oh, to be precious

Brimmed with beauty and finesse.

Oh, damsel, damsel!

Another yet to bloom

Oh, damsel, damsel!

Another yet to spread.

Wings that have always been high

For one must take pride

Hush, my damsel, how can you be still

So dear in my eyes?

Even it’s Odd

by John Amiel C. Gaspar