I love the citylife. But truth be told, one of my lifelong dreams is to live in the countryside. Imagine waking up to clean air, surrounded by nature, and having easy access to organic food — every single day. So I could not contain my excitement to find out that for the last leg of Lakbay Norte 9 was going to be a daytrip at Our Farm Republic. Here’s what we did in this organic farm located in Mangatarem, Pangasinan.
What is Our Farm Republic?
Our Farm Republic is a 5.8-hectare agrotourism destination and one of the must things to do in Pangasinan. It’s located in Urbiztondo Rd, Mangatarem, Pangasinan and is a integrated, diversified, organic farm. Its roots trace back to August 2010 when it was opened by Ms. Lea Santiago, a former Counselor of Marikina City.
With no prior exprience in farming or whatsoever, Ms. Santiago started building her colorful farming story by simply knocking on the doors of government agencies like DAR. And slowly but surely, the farm took shape, learning the ropes through trial and error.
Today, Our Farm Republic is a thriving farm serving organic produce, livestock, and edible flowers. And soon will be a TESDA certified training center for stay at home mothers.
A Hearty Lunch of Organic Food
Our daytrip began with a hearty lunch of organic food prepared by Our Farm Republic. For starters, we had bowls of creamy squash soup. I loved the sweet-milky-salty combination, with a dash of pepper. Of course, one cannot be impressed by the vibrantly-colored Flower Salad (with Blue Ternate and sweet-sour homemade vinaigrette dressing) as well.
For mains, we had the Chili Chicken Adobo and Turmeric Rice. My favorite, however, was their Vermicelli Verde. A lighter yet yummier version of the popular pesto. Imagine thin sotanghon mixed with the very flavorful pesto sauce and garlic.
So good that I vowed to make my own version at home very soon. We quenched our thirst with their refreshing ternate and berry juices. Then sealed our appetite with the rich champorado topped with tarnate. SARAP!
The Organic Farming Experience at the Farm
After our sumptuous lunch, it was finally time for us to live our ‘Farmville’ fantasies around Our Farm Republic. With straw hats on our heads and woven baskets on hand, we first made our way to their composting site.
There, we learned the basics of fertilizers, composting, and plant care. in A few meters away by foot revealed the farm’s prized spot: The Garden. Rows and rows of fresh produce filled with organic fruits, crops, and vegetables.
We all giggled, ran, and laughed as we snaked our way through the field – snipping (and tasting) Macopa, Eggplants, Cherrry Tomatoes, Lemons, and whatnots along the way.
I had a wonderful time picking calamansi and cherry tomatoes. Which I only paid 40 pesos for.
My fresh produce haul from Our Farm Republic: Cherry Tomatoes and Calamansi
While the others picked eggplants and lemons instead. The wild boars were so cute too! And I also loved the fact that the garden’s trellis were decorated with heartwarming, inspiring quotes and messages.
Hungry after your quick farming experience? You can also opt to have your garden picks cooked and juiced afterwards. 🙂 Or should you wish to stay a little longer, the farm also has available lodging at reasonable rates. Wake up to the sound of nature and smell of a warm and hearty breakfast.
Where is Our Farm Republic?
The farm is located at Barangay Torre II, Mangatarem, Pangasinan. Open Monday to Saturday from 9:00AM–5:00PM. For inquiries, call or send an SMS to 09478532342 or 09171697037. Or contact Our Farm Republic via Facebook for rates and availability. #PasyarPangasinan
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