RESIDENTS of three Metro Manila cities are learning urban gardening as SM Foundation recently launched the KSK Urban Gardening for Food Security Project in Pasay, Muntinlupa and Mandaluyong.

The training is focused on the cultivation of vegetables making use of available spaces to learn the basics of urban agriculture; seed preparation and management; utilization Mandaluyong of containers; soil medium; practical drip irrigation; nutrient management; producing naturally fermented solution; vermi-composting and kitchen composting; plant propagation; seed-saving; sustainable cropping; garden management; and proper harvesting. Among the crops planted are leafy vegetables, tomatoes, okra, eggplant, bitter gourd and green pepper.

SMFI is collaborating with its new partner MacPlas Academy, the corporate social responsibility arm of Macondray Plastics Inc. specializing in provision of training for organic urban gardening. 

In Pasay City, the NHA Compound in Barangay 201 is the project site where 150 participants are learning organic urban gardening. Among the participants are 110 4Ps beneficiaries and residents of the compound who are former informal settlers. 

The training program in Muntinlupa City meanwhile is being conducted at the Elsie Gaches Village. Elsie Gaches Village is a center for mentally challenged individuals, and part of their social functioning development is to teach its beneficiaries different productive skills such as gardening. The target beneficiaries aside from 4Ps members are able residents (mentally challenged persons) of the center. 179 are participating in the program with 150 4Ps beneficiaries. 

At the Sanctuary Center in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City, 148 participants are learning urban gardening. The Sanctuary Center is a half-way shelter for female patients recovering from mental disorder. As part of their rehabilitation, the Center teaches its beneficiaries social functioning skills such as gardening.

Also lending support to the program are the city governments of Pasay, Muntinlupa and Mandaluyong. DSWD also takes on an active role providing capability-building lectures focusing on accounting, saving, and marketing, under the Community-driven Enterprise Program, which will help the participants earn additional income from their vegetable garden.

The three urban gardening training projects recently launched bring the number of KSK training programs to 9 so far for 2016.