I am a bit broke nowadays because our vegetables are not doing well with climate change. Many newly planted vegetables did not make it because of the frequent rains and typhoons. They wilted, and some newly formed fruits just fell on the ground after browning. Insects are rampant, too. I think frequent rains could initiate growing numbers of insects and worms. I think, just like us humans, insects and pests also love to eat when it's cold on rainy days.
Good thing there are still some vegetable varieties that keep on thriving and surviving. The red okra is doing fine together with the red string beans that are now starting to crawl to the straws my students created into a not-so-sturdy trellis.
I formed groups of my students and assigned them to our plant plots. These students help each other to make their assigned vegetables thrive and be healthy. They work hard for it, in exchange for their grades and, of course, first-hand, experiential learning of gardening.
The sponge gourds are doing great! They seemed not affected by the climate, and they bear many fruits as they enjoyed climbing the miracle fruit tree and the cassava plants. Sponge gourds are best for making soups, and the best partner of any misua recipe. Its distinct, yet mild, smell gives the dish a unique, appetizing aroma.
My students try to get ahead of others in harvesting our vegetables, especially the girls. They love to sell their harvests to the teachers, and the sales are intended for the feeding program in school. Of course, they are the recipients of the feeding program. Literally, they reap what they sow, and they eat what they reap.
We removed the old crops that we planted at the beginning of the school year. They looked old and didn't bear many fruits anymore. Good thing my students, girls and boys, are really hardworking enough the clean up their assigned plots, plant seeds to grow new vegetables, and apply organic fertilizers to aerate the soil.
One of the good things about teaching in rural schools is that students are easy to manage, there are only a few inside the class, and they don't complain when working in the garden. They don't care if they get soiled or when the sun is hot. They work very well in the garden.
Until today, I wish there were a balance between rainy and sunny days. Our plants need water, but not this much. They also need the sunlight.
In the end, I still believe that gardening teaches us many things. Even with the heavy rains, the strong winds, the insects, and all the problems we face, there is always something that survives and gives us hope.
My students and I continue to learn every day—from the plants, from the weather, and from each other. I just pray for better days ahead, with just the right sun and rain, so our vegetables can grow well again. But no matter what happens, we will keep planting, keep trying, and keep believing that good things will grow.