Despite having no work during the community quarantine, Triviño was kept occupied, not because of his trucking business, but because he was cultivating crops. He discovered his interest in urban farming upon watching gardening-related vlogs and joining groups online.
He went to the supermarket, bought seeds, sowed the seeds in plastic bottles, and placed them in his then idle backyard. Instead of buying pots, he opted to upcycle old bottles, tires, and crates. “Since I owned the lot, I’m the one who designed and decided what and where to plant the seeds. For me, it’s my little project,” said the urban farmer. To maximize the space further, Triviño attached his bottle planters to the property wall. He also created racks out of bamboo where he laid other bottles.
From a cluttered storage area, their backyard is now a thriving urban farm. He started the project last April with the help of his drivers and helpers from his trucking business. Since his employees had no scheduled trips, Triviño thought of a way to retain their income through his farm project. “They became my help [in building the farm] so at least, they can get their income directly. The bamboo I used was from them too, so everyone is making money. Some of my drivers have bamboo trees on their farms nearby so I bought them.”
Read more at Manila Bulletin (Vina Medenilla)