It is true that you can save a lot from growing your own food. Don Bustamante, 45, a photographer by profession, can attest to this since he used to be reliant on markets for food, but is now an urban grower himself.
Bustamante started growing vegetables after he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2015. Following his doctor’s advice to cut down on rice intake, he became a heavy consumer of vegetables, spending about P3,000 per week on veggies alone.
With all the expenses and the financial needs to sustain his family at that time, Bustamante shifted from buying veggies in stores to building an edible garden in his residence. His growing space sits on a 4×7 meters rooftop in Taguig City.
He said in Taglish, “One time at the grocery, I came across seeds for planting. So I thought to myself, ‘what if I plant my own vegetables to save money or at least reduce our budget for vegetables?’”
He bought a pack of pechay, mustard, and lettuce seeds that he tried planting later on. But because he had no initial idea on growing crops in general, his first attempt failed. He read books and articles, asked other gardeners for tips, and applied the practices he learned to know what works best for his garden.
After getting the hang of it, not only was he able to find a sustainable way to provide safe and nutritious food for himself and his family, but through gardening, he also found a new source of income and career in vlogging.
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