Philippines: From jeweler to farmer: Renowned jewelry brand owner farms in the city amid pandemic
Despite not having initial knowledge and experience in agriculture, Gutierrez and his workers were able to transform the 530 sqm lot into a productive area with the help of experts and professionals in the industry.
By Vina Medenilla
Manila Bulletin
July 29, 2021
Excerpt:
When the community quarantine was imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19, Gutierrez found himself securing food for his family and at the same time providing alternative jobs to some of his employees in the retail business.
“One morning, I was walking along the street in the village where I live and chanced upon an empty lot full of overgrown cogon shrubs. I called up the owner and offered to clean the area in exchange for her allowing me to start a family garden,” said Gutierrez.
The owner agreed to his request, allowing him to plant in the vacant lot, free of rent for two years. “I saw this as a sign that there were bigger opportunities to follow.”
This led to the establishment of the Urban Farmers of Belair last August 2020. Found in a luxurious village in Makati, the social enterprise was built with five objectives that Gutierrez also calls “five pillars.”
These five objectives, or pillars, are as follows: (1) to maximize the idle land, (2) to find creative solutions in dealing with challenges in waste management with the least amount of resources, (3) to create jobs that will augment the livelihood of displaced workers, (4) to bring the Bel-Air community together with a common interest—food and gardening, and (5) to adopt a charitable model and support poor communities around the area through the farm sales.
