My friend Tim

Newsflash

Bong Domingo Calling all Davao Cursillistas-"OPERATION TULONG'-Let us share whatever we can for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy-our drop off center is at Felis Resort Complex- Contact persons are Bro.Ding,Sis.Ludy and Bro. Bong

Vegetable Scholarship

One practical way of enabling poor agriculture students to continue their studies is being implemented at the Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte. This is what they call “Vegetable Scholarship.”
Under this scheme, agriculture students who would like to earn some money while studying plant vegetables which they can sell to earn cash. The project was launched by the East-West Seed Company and VSU last year and the results are encouraging.
Four senior agriculture students are currently enrolled in the program. There were originally seven when the project was launched but three have already graduated. The students plant the latest varieties of high-value vegetables on 3,000 square meters provided by VSU for free. The seeds are also provided free by East-West Seed Company.

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Manila floods

Monetary Donations

1. CASH or CHECK
Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross. We can also arrange for donation pick-up.

2. BANK DEPOSIT
Account Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross

METROBANK

Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
Type of Acct. : SAVINGS
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS

Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99
Type of Account: CURRENT

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS

UN Branch
Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: SAVINGS
Swift Code: BOPI PH MM

For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.

Credit Card

Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575:

Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated.

For online donations you may also visit our website at www.redcross.org.ph .

In-Kind Donations

LOCAL
Please send in-kind local donations to The Philippine National Red Cross – National Headquarters in Manila. We could also arrange for donation pick-up.

INTERNATIONAL

Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.
The PNRC does not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods. Though we appreciate your generosity, the PNRC also discourages donations of old clothes as we have more than enough to go around.

SMS and G-CASH (Globe)

SMS
text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)

G-CASH
text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882

Most urgent needs

Food items: Rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable water

Medicines: Paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases

Non-food items: Bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and Laundry soap

Rehabilitation Programs: Shelter materials for house repair

Call Hotline 143 or 527.0000

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Bonifacio Drive, Port Area,
Manila 2803, Philippines

Miniature Herb Garden

Miniature Herb Garden
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your own herb garden one that you can bring outdoors when you want to have a BBQ or indoors when you want to try a new recipe that needs fresh herbs and at the same time fills your kitchen with a natural garden aroma.......

Picture 1(R-L)Garlic chives,Basil,Mint,Rosemary


Picture2(R-L)Rosemary,Mint,Basil,Garlic chives


Picture3-Flooring with strainer


Picture4-drainage hole


Picture5-full view

Field Guide In Honeydew Melon Production

FIELD GUIDE IN HONEYDEW MELON PRODUCTION
1- Soil and Climatic Condition
Honeydew is a hot and dry season crop. The seed germinates best at the temperature of 28 to 30deg Centigrade and grows well at 25 to 35degrees C.It requires plenty of sunshine from seedling to harvesting. Continuous rain will reduce flowering and fruit-setting. Honeywdew thrives best on sandy or sandy loam soil. Soil pH of 6 to 6.8,good fertility and drainage.The location should be free from nematodes and diseases.
2-Seedling care and transplanting
Soak the seeds in clean water for 30 minutes and wrap them in wet cloth or towel. Place it in a covered container which can keep the temperature within 24-29 degrees C until the seeds germinate in approximately 24-29 hours. Sow it in Seedling tray with 104 holes. Good growing medium should be used for growing seedlings. Place the media in the seedling tray first and water immediately,insert one pre-germinated seed in each hole with embryo downward and cover with your medium and water it again. The seeded tray should be placed on top bamboo beds(platform) about 1-2 feet above the ground. To prevent strong wind and heavy rain cover it to protect the seedlings.
3-Land preparation
Plough and clean the planting area and make a flatbed on sandy soils and a raised bed in sandy loam or clay soil. Use 1 m bed,0.5 m canal. The bed should be 15-20 cm high above the fertilized level. Use plastic mulch to cover prepared plots.
4-Fertilization for Every 20 Linear Meter Bed
2 sacks of Organic Matter; 4 kilos Complete Fertilizer;150g Magnesium;150g Furadan;150g Boron; 1 kg Calcium Nitrate; 750g Muriate of Potash.Though Furadan is not a fertilizer ,it is recommended to apply it as basal to control nematodes.
Drenching Schedule
Wks after transplanting
(1) 75g Calcium Nitrate
(2) 150g Calcium Nitrate
(3) 225gCalcium Nitrate;75gComplete(14-14-14)
(4) 75gCalcium Nitrate;150gComplete(14-14-14)
(5) 225gComplete(14-14-14);75g Muriate of Potash(0-0-60)
(6) 300gComplete(14-14-14);150gMuriate of Potash(0-0-60)
(7) 225gMuriate of Potash(0-0-60)
(8) 300gMuriate of Potash(0-0-60)

The above fertilizer is dissolved in 16 Liters of water.Apply 150 ml of the solution per plant.
5-Irrigation and Drainage
Enough moisture is necessary throughout the early period. Irrigate the plants 2-3 times a week to maintain plant vigor.It is best to reduce water when fruits reach the full size during ripening.
6-Pruning and Fruit Setting
Pick off the growing point of the main stem at 4th true leaf stage. Select 3 good secondary branches then cut off the others. Cut off the tertiary branches within the 4th node of primary branches and save fruits from the 5th or 6th node.
7-Harvesting/Handling
Determining index of maturity(60-70 DAT).Some netted on the bottom part of the fruit. Harvest yellow cut type honeydew. The best time to harvest quality fruits for fresh market is before it reaches full maturity, that is about 80% ripen. They taste best 2-3 days after harvest.

Special thanks to Celes of Harbest Agribusiness Corporation for sharing their knowledge on Honeydew production with us.

Home Visit

I and my wife Jo Ann had a wonderful and fruitful time at my home garden with Honorable Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta