It was over five months ago when we had our first trip to Mulao, Compostela. On that trip, we took a survey of the prospective site for our demo farm on organic farming. And it was the height of dry season and the searing heat of the sun baked the soil and caused shallow-rooted plants to wilt. A sight remisniscent of a great drought during the early 80’s.
Nonetheless, I was impressed and others seemed impressed too. Not by the wilting plants and the cracking topsoil now heavily dessicated as a result of intense heat that scorched everything on earth. However, as a farmer, I can tell if the soil is rich in essential nutrients needed for the crops to grow well, judging on the kind of weeds growing in it. So I readily concluded that Mulao could be a great site for our demo farm.
Five months onwards, last Saturday, September 8, we had a chance to visit Mulao again. This time, it’s the height of rainy season, a stark contrast to the dry season we had experienced on our first visit. In fact, right after we checked in our modest shelter, a heavy downpour came and momentarily dampened our spirit. But no, we shouldn’t curse in the rain. Rain is a sign of life to come.
Mulao and its surrounding environs were full of life. Everywhere I look was green, except for a few patches of land planted to corn ready for harvest where the dominant hue was a light golden brown. A sign of bountiful harvest I must say.
Green hues blanketed all over Mulao, from the surrounding mountains down to the valley. Quite a
feast to the eyes. I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the lush greenery I snapped a lot of pictures with my digicam (as you can see here) to prove my point.
The verdant mountains of Mulao now feeds the stream that runs through the barangay back to life. And the marginalized farmers of Mulao couldn’t be happier as they went about their farm tilling the soil preparing for another cropping season, hoping for another bumper harvest, God willing.
