Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Vermiculture and Vermicomposting in the Philippines


Hi Guys..Let me introduce myself briefly first. My name is William Paul Palma and my colleagues in Davao call me Popoy. I finished B.S. Agri-Business major in Management at the Ateneo De Davao University. In 2007, I got interested with Vermiculture for the primary reason that worms are loyal hard workers. Their produce (manure) is always a perfect organic fertilizer. And they don't charge anything for their labor. That's amazing. So I begun to study the Industry comprehensively. In 2008, I started my own vermiculture in our small farm somewhere in Tanay, Rizal, Philippines. I got some snap shots while we were working in the farm which I will show you as we go along, so you could have a better visual understanding about Vermicuture, Vermicomposting and Organic Farming on a large and backyard scale. This is my true story "Vermiculture Made Easy" wpp





Lets start small. Those containers are full of worms which I grow in my condo unit in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines. My place is so limited that I don't have a garden area except for a few flower pots. But this did not stop me from raising earthworms/vermiculture. If there's a will there's always a way. All the materials I use can be found in the garbage like the containers and all the food I collect for the worms are waste materials I got from my kitchen, storage area and paper scraps. In short I never spend a penny for doing this. I just turned trash into cash.You see worms eat microbes such as fungi and bacteria that eat almost all rotten things.wpp

Click picture to Zoom in



This are pictures showing the presence of a few healthy resident worms inside the container. I started growing them on my birthday, December 13, 2009. It's now January 06, 2010 when I got that snap shot and I can see some eggs around. That's wonderful!!! I don't think I can call this a backyard scale perhaps the best term is cabinet scale because I store the containers inside a shelf. This only show that in vermiculture, you can start big or small depending on your preference. All you have to do is to get some worms, the rest could be for free. If only all filipino families/residents are doing vermiculture at home, we can drastically reduce 30% of the garbage in our country. Not all countries are lucky enough to raise worm due to their unfavorable weather. In tropical counties like the Philippines earthworms (African Nightcrawlers) thrive excellently. wpp

Here are some facts and studies made about Earthworm. There are around 4000 species of Earthworm worldwide and 400 of them can be found in the Philippines. In 1982 Dr. Otto Graff introduced African Nightcrawler,( Eisenia euginae or Eudrilus eugeniae) in the Philippines which originated in West Africa. African Nightcrawler ( ANC ) are classified as annedila ( segmented worms ) and oligochaeta ( few bristles). They feed on litter at the surface without borrowing on the soil ( Epigeic ). Breathe through their skin. That's why any presence of oil in their feeding ground is discourage to keep the worms from choking to death when oil stick to their skin. Each worm have both male and female sex organ ( Hermaphroditic ) but they still have to mate with other worm at least once in their lifetime to start the reproduction process. Feed on microbes ( fungi and bacteria ) thought it looks like they are the one's eating the waste materials. ANC can lay 3-7 eggs a week that will hatch in 2 weeks and mature in 2 months, with a life span of 1-2 years in the wild and up to 10 years if properly nurtured and cared in a contained area. ANC can grow up to 12 inches in length and weigh up to 3 grams'. They feed on kitchen, agriculture, livestock, wet market waste, and almost anything that is biodegradable. They can also consume up to 100% of their body weight and excrete the same amount per day. With proper nutrition, Earthworm Manure (vermicast) is known to be the best odorless organic fertilizer in the world.It is the Super Soil of the Earth. In China the meaning of earthworm is "Angels of the Earth". They are cold blooded, thrive best in tropical areas like the Philippines. ANC will die of coldness at temperature below 12oC. ANC will live and reproduce at temperature between 24-28oC. ANC love wet area with a moisture of 40-80%. This kind of moisture is just enough water that the waste material can absurd without any water drops. Too much water may drown them. Less water may dry and kill them. There is no known symptoms of disease or sickness of Earthworms. wpp

These are some of our worm beds located in Tanay, Rizal. We started in January 2008 by placing two kilos of African Nightcrawlers(ANC) on each bed overflowing with food for the microbes because Earthworm eat the microbes. Then we harvest and collect the vermicast(earthworm manure) on each bed every 45 day. After harvest, we prepare another bed to distribute the worms into two separate beds because the worms have already increase in size and numbers. The same procedure will be repeated on the next harvesting period unless the worms are sold to the market.wpp

The size of the bed is 3 hollow blocks (CHB) by 6 CHB. I'm not so particular with the size and of the bed but rather the shape, location and materials available to be use in making a bed. I always consider the lowest possible cost and the safest area to place my vermiculture. I secured the top portion of the bed with black fishnet to prevent predators from eating the worms or destroying the bed like snake, frog, dog, chicken and even trespassers around the vicinity. Those green leaves on top are lettuce rejects which we harvested just recently. In vermiculture nothing goes to waste.wpp

We collect cow/carabao manure as one of our food recipes for the worms in the farm. Normally I mix cow/carabao manure with compose rice hay on a 1:1 ratio. This mixture is perfect because it contains all the micro-nutrients that will produce an excellent vermicompost. But there are a lot of mixtures that would also provide the same result. I just decided to choose this mixture because it is abundant in the area,and they are free for the taking. Oh I love the word FREE. It is best to get cow manure from grazing animals than those being raise in a herd/pen because owners usually treat them with chemicals that might affect the quality of our organic fertilizer/vermicompost.wpp

After collecting fresh cow/carabao manure in the field, we dry them for at least three days to make sure that it is completely cool otherwise it may harm the worms. Most animal manure are excreted in warm or hot temperature.wpp

Water is vital in the survival of Earthworms. Too much water will drown them while too dry will kill them. In a contained area like the picture shown makes the flow of water very unpredictable. During the summer heat, regular watering should be administered. However, during rainy season, the bed must be covered plastic sheild to prevent the bed from overflowing with rain water. If you decide to follow the kind of bed I did as shown above, just make sure you prepare your bed on a higher ground. I had a bad experience on this during the Typhoon Ondoy in October 2009 that hit our farm in Tanay, Rizal, Philippines. Ninety percent (90%) of our beds were washed away because I under estimated the amount of rain Typhoon Ondoy brought us. I thought that I have placed all the bed high enough against the flow of the heaviest rain I could think of, but I was wrong. Because of that tragic experience, I learned a lesson that I want to share with you, that not only should we take pride on the beauty of nature but also to pay respect and be more prepared for the power of destruction nature possess. Anyways, they said this kind of disaster never happened before. Now that it has already begun, we have to take more precautionary measures and put all this things into consideration. Truly indeed, in the field of Natural Agriculture, nature can be our best friend and may become our worst enemy.wpp

After harvesting this rice field, I store the hay and leave them to compost for 3-4 months. Then I mix them with cow/carabao manure at 1:1 ratio as my recipe which I prepare for the worms during feeding time. Normally, farmers simply burn the entire haystack after harvest. This is the fastest way for them to eradicate their garbage which we all know how much destruction it would contribute to our long deluded environment. In Vermiculture, we not only contribute to the reduce, reuse and recycle (Bokashi) of natural waste materials but also help in proper disposal of unwanted trash in a very environmentally and friendly manner. wpp

Sacks of collected vermicast (worm manure) are being stored for commercial sale. Some of them will go back to our farm to be used as fertilizer in the next planting sesson. wpp

A bunch of lettuce (mini romaine variety) ready for harvest. Here, we use 100% vermicast as our soil and fertilizer in preparing our seedbed. We buy the seeds from a commercial store to ensure best quality. Two weeks after seedlings are left to grow in a seedbed with proper care, they become ready for transfer to thier permanent plot until harvest. wpp

This is how we transfer the seedling into the plot. But before we can transfer, the plot must be cultivated well and mix with vermicast just enough to see that the soil becomes loosen and looks dark or loam. This procedure is repeated for the next four planting cycle then we resumes the same procedure after two years or when we notice that production is beginning to decline. However, continuous addition of fertilizer won’t harm the plant nor the soil since there is no overdose of vermicast. In fact we use 100% vermicast in our seedbed. No natural soil added. wpp

The left plot is an array of lettuce (mini romaine) about two weeks old while the other two plots are less than a week old. The size of each plot is 30 x 1.5 meters which could accommodate up to 1200 seedlings. Each plot can produce up to 50 kilos of good harvest.All unwanted stems and leaves have already been removed. Right now the price of lettuce in the commercial market is Php 380.00 to 420.00 kilos. The best time to harvest lettuce is within 20 to 30 days upon transfer of seedlings to the plot. The older they grow the bitter taste they become. If left to grow, older lettuce will begin to bare flowers which then produce seeds after 90 days upon transfer and start to wither after the flowers mature. wpp

Plants covered under a green house provides so many advantages specially in the control of sunlight, wind and rain. However, the best alternative to replace green house is through the use of mulching method. Mulching is by putting dried/compost legumes around each seedlings. It retains moisture, serve as shade, absorbs more water, help loosens the soil and also serves as fertilizer for the next planting period. wpp














76 comments:

  1. Hi there! Interesting to compost in gallon containers. I might try that. But how did you get all that material in when the container opening is so small? Can you talk about how you maintained those containers (moisture, air, feeding, etc)?

    Thanks!

    Check out my worm adventures too.

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    1. As i said all things that decompose are edible to worms. However it be better if we could improve their diet to produce healthy and happy worms

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    2. As i said all things that decompose are edible to worms. However it be better if we could improve their diet to produce healthy and happy worms

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  2. how do you make sure there are no (or get rid of) cocoons in your harvested castings? in your experience, have you been required of making sure there are no cocoons present in your packaged product?

    btw, are you related to Jay Palma (Maa DC/GSC)? dabaw pud ko.

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  3. nagpaseminar si binay sa makati nyan...marami na kaming mag ganito sa makati...malakaing tulong talaga kasi bawas kaalat at kikita kapa sa compost..

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  4. Hi there Sir,

    You said paper scrap. Do you mean that we can feed paper to the worms? What kind of paper? I have many office scrap papers that have been printed with regular ink. Is that ok?

    In our place in Batangas, animal manure is hard to come by. What is abundant are grasses, leaves,woods and others plant byproducts. Are those ok?

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    1. Those are okay -they are called browns as compared to greens w/c are vegetable wastes and fruit peelings. By all means compost them! The key is to maintain moisture and good air flow (aerobic). I also share my own experience with vermicompost in http://www.kalantasgardens.com

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  5. Sir Palma, do you mix soil in the beddings of the worm?

    if yes how much soil do you mix? how do you seperate the vermicast from the soil beddings?

    thank you

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  6. sir palma;
    can I visit your vermiculture farm in tanay? for me to get some ideas. my phone number is
    0915- 2006675 thank you very much!!

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  7. I am interested in setting up my own vermi farm. Where can I buy ANCs?

    Salamat.

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    1. I am trying to spread the word of vermicomposting in Metro Manila. Help expand my friend's business by buying worms from them by messaging urbanvermicompostingph@gmail.com or text 09178900543. I bought my worm farm kit for 400 pesos. You can buy 2 other sizes for a little more. By the way, the farm is in Metro Manila. Thanks!

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    2. hello, how much is for instance a kilo of african worm? i wanna know and want to sell it here in the \bicol \region...

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  8. Thank you so much for this very scientific and detailed article on vermiculture and vermicomposting. I just want you to know that this will go a long way in helping the agricultural communities we are training to do this.

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  9. I started vermi farming few years ago but I don't have regular buyers. I still continue for believe this would our farmers.

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  10. hello! we are looking for earth worm supplier, for fish feeding. please email me. thanks

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    Replies
    1. we are selling ANC & vermi cast..Pls contact us Nos. 09104149992 or 09106448271

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    2. taga North Cotabato po kmi, those who are interested to buy vermi cast(waste worm) or ANC you may contact us at 09106448271 or 09104149992... thanks ..recent customer from zamboanga of 85 kilos vermi worm...

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    3. How much po per kilo ng anc sir ? Pls txt me at 09498185292. Art/davao city

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    4. Hi… Good day po... I sell vermiCast, vermiWorms, and pure vermiCompost Potting Mix in Davao City…to those interested po, pls contact this no. 09988814451(smart), 09068657068(globe/tm) for details and inquiries…Salamat po…

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  11. Hi, we have a small garden where I planted a few veggies. I have started making vermi tea and am looking for a "credible" source of vermicompost/vermi castings. Do you sell? For now, I'm looking at about 20 kg.

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    1. meron po mam. wer po location nyo? nasa north cotabato po kasi ang farm namin...

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    2. sir darwin, san po sa north cotabato ang sa inyo? ano pong farm?

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    3. Hi… Good day po... I sell vermiCast, vermiWorms, and pure vermiCompost Potting Mix in Davao City…to those interested po, pls contact this no. 09988814451(smart), 09068657068(globe/tm) for details and inquiries…Salamat po…

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  12. I'm also starting a vermicomposting project at a farm in Tanay near Sta. Maria, Laguna. Can I visit your farm? You can send a private message to lawyerdin@yahoo.com or text to 09178134301. Thanks.

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  13. My father and I started vermi composting 4 years ago. DA provide us assistance in putting up this venture but now, we have problem in marketing and selling our product every month. Our ANC are almost 2tons and they can produce upto 50,000Kg of vermicast. If you're LGU, farm or company has project related to this, you can text or call me. 09209643728. Carlo of Davao City

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  14. hi! im selling ANC for 250/kilo for pick up and vermicompost for 500/50 kilo. pls contact jenny 0927-9864829/09166252598 thanx.....

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    1. wer is your location madam,,,we buy vermi worm

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  15. HI THERE! thank you sir for the info. this really help us in our recent DEVELOPMENT PLAN about organic farming. I will try it in our rice production. Can you give me some tips?

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  16. Hello! I'm curious if you have problems with cockroaches entering the compost. Also do you have problems with flies. The decomposing material will attract bugs won't they? If not, how do you avoid bugs/insects??

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  17. hi there! we are selling vermiworms and vermicompost here in Davao Oriental. any interested please contact us at 09498676676. thank you

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  18. I'm Erick I am interested with vermi culture and willing to start as soon as possible but I don't have anc can anyone sell to me a 1 kilo anc here in Davao City? Please contact me @ this # 09328893137. Thank you so much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi… Good day po... I sell vermiCast, vermiWorms, and pure vermiCompost Potting Mix in Davao City…to those interested po, pls contact this no. 09988814451(smart), 09068657068(globe/tm) for details and inquiries…Salamat po…

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  19. Any interested on Vermicast/ Vermicompost/ Vermi Worm You may Contact us at JLS_FARM@yahoo.com.. My contact no. is 09301539888/09193473365. We are located in Labo, Ozamiz City, Province of Misamis Occidental. Thanks

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  20. I wish to buy worms to start this project. Our barangay trash problem could be resolved with vermiculture. I with to try and show people here that if I can do it, so can they. If anyone here sells worms, please message me. I'm from Pampanga. (0947 893 2726)

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  21. Anyone knows where i can buy Anc or Red wiggler here in Manila? I'm interested in vermiculture and i wan't to try it out on my small veggie garden. Please message me 0917-5061143 Thanks

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  23. I have a small worm farm in Metro Manila, the only one I know of. I am trying to spread the word of vermicomposting in Metro Manila. Help expand my business by buying worms from us by messaging urbanvermicompostingph@gmail.com or texting 09178900543. Checkout http://ancvermicompostingph.wordpress.com for more info. Thanks!

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    1. So many producers in the metrpolis at this time. I heard price of a kilo of worms have gone down to below 200. If your still in that business i sugest that you focuss on its by products like vermicast and its liquid extract. That my friend will make the grapes blossom like diamonds. I happen to lost a place to farm. Make it happen

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    2. Ladies, different area posess a unique problems and advantages in the production of worms. But the best part worms are immune to desease or any form of sickness. They eat anything that rothes or nabubulok. Now your comtribution and imaginative resourcess and marketing atrubutes would spell the money you wish... Good luck!!!

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    3. Ladies, different area posess a unique problems and advantages in the production of worms. But the best part worms are immune to desease or any form of sickness. They eat anything that rothes or nabubulok. Now your comtribution and imaginative resourcess and marketing atrubutes would spell the money you wish... Good luck!!!

      Delete
  24. Hi, I'm in Indonesia.. I would like to learn about vermicompost, my number +6285850957117. Please message me, i will really appreciate. My facebook mahendra priyo sunarno, please add me thank you..

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  26. Good day!
    I'm a student researcher and currently doing research about earthworms. I'm having a problem on identifying on what type of species of earthworms I am using for there is a lack of facilities here where I live to help me.
    I would like to ask for your assistance. Hoping to hear from you soon.

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  27. Hi. Do you sell vermicompost here in Davao City? How much per kilo? Thanks! Im planning to start organic gardening.

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    1. Good day! Did you proceed your plan of having organic gardening?

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    2. Good day! Did you proceed your plan of having organic gardening?

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    3. hello...i sell pure vermicast,organic compost mix and vermiworms in davao city...you can contact me thru dis no.09988814451

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  28. good day po sir william, i was born in Cagayan de Oro City pero when I was 19 we migrated here in manila and recently we live in taytay rizal with my wife. Bisaya sad ko sir. kahapon lng ako naka bili ng ANC in antipolo worth 600 with starter kit, i will observe this week kung mag work out para mag dagdag ako ng ANC. nasa tanay ka pala sir, at every saturday nagpupunta ako ng tanay part of our church ministry, ask ko lng sir kung nagbebenta ka ng vermicast? at kung magkano per kilo? january this year nag start ako ng backyard gardening, kaya kelangan ko ng vermicast to fertilize my plants...gusto ko kc organic.

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  29. Hi.. A cousin is interested to buy African Night Crawlers. Any suggestion where to buy somewhere near Davao City? Thanks

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    1. Good mam maricel, nakabili napo ba kayo ng anc. ? Wer po at how much per kilo.hirap po kc ako mghanap sa davao city. Pls help. Tnx. My cp num 09498185292. Appreciate so mch ur help. Tnx.

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    2. Good mam maricel, nakabili napo ba kayo ng anc. ? Wer po at how much per kilo.hirap po kc ako mghanap sa davao city. Pls help. Tnx. My cp num 09498185292. Appreciate so mch ur help. Tnx.

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    3. hello...i sell pure vermicast,organic compost mix and vermiworms in davao city...you can contact me thru dis no.09988814451

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  30. Good afternoon, I'm started and experiment vermicomposting :-)

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  31. anyone interested to buy vermicast contact me through text or call at 09151701550.

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  32. cnu po around metro manila Q.C or fairview please txt me heres my phone number 09053175462 txt me for details how much ANC per kilo also the compost per kilo....

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  33. cnu po around metro manila Q.C or fairview please txt me heres my phone number 09053175462 txt me for details how much ANC per kilo also the compost per kilo....

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  34. Good day. Im looking for a supplier of vermicast. I need about 300 kilos every 3months. My farm is located at brgy. datu ladayon, arakan, north cotabato but im willing ko meet in kabacan or antipas or somewhere near the vicinity of my farm. Pls email me at omardiamel@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. hello...i sell pure vermicast,organic compost mix and vermiworms in davao city...you can contact me thru dis no.09988814451

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  35. I am from Valenzuela and want to buy ANC, please text me at 09778109836. How much per kilo

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  36. Again po heree is my number i want to buy ANC 09207751118 contact me soon po. thanks. Lanie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hello...i sell pure vermicast,organic compost mix and vermiworms in davao city...you can contact me thru dis no.09988814451

      Delete
    2. hello...i sell pure vermicast,organic compost mix and vermiworms in davao city...you can contact me thru dis no.09988814451

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  37. and heto po yong aking email...lanilop15@gmail.com
    kindly contact me po sa nagbebenta ng ANC

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  38. hello po...to those who want to buy po pure vermicast,organic compost mix or potty mix and vermiworms in davao city...you can contact me thru dis no.09988814451..salamat po..go organic farming...

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  40. Great morning!

    I am a student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and I am interested in vermicomposting. We have a project in our organization, PUP Junior Marketing Executives, where we aim to provide a small livelihood for our chosen benefactor/community in Tanay, Rizal. I've read your blog and I was wondering if you can provide help and assistance for our organization in setting up a vermicomposting culture in that community.

    If you're interested sir, please do contact me in my email: belenmajessica@gmail.com or through my phone 09106474589.

    I'm really hoping for your positive response. Thank you sir.

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  41. hi sir Popoy, I'm interested in starting a vermicompost. I'm in CDO, do you deliver?

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  42. Meron po ba sainyo seller ng ANC within Sorsogon vicinity? I want to try vermicomposting.

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  43. My email is furiscalmaann92@gmail.com and cp# 09480189817. Within sorsogon province or albay po. Interested to buy ANC

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