From Samar with ?

CHOCS ‘N BOXES

“Thank you Mr. Mel Santos and the @plantaciondesikwate for offering us scions from traditional Philippine criollo cacao varieties, you’ve done a great job of keeping our national flavor alive.

This particular Criollo variety was first brought to the Philippines by Spanish friars, a reminder of early colonial times but rather than being lost the remnants have been well preserved and is now being propagated throughout the archipelago.

Everything would not have been possible without Nestor Saludo who spearheaded the grafting of these Criollo varieties into our own cacao rootstocks. ⁣
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criollocacao #dairyfree #directtrade #philippinecacao #ethicallysourced #finechocolate #beantobar #glutenfree #healthychocolate #hotcocoa #localbusiness #organic #organicchocolate #beantobarchocolate #sugarfree #sugarfreelife #treetobarchocolate #veganchocolate

2023 Cacao Planting Book

Thank you for spending time to read this post. Our first book entitled CACAO PLANTING: Best Practices from Farming to Gardening was launched 2023. It is available for orders.

Coming up with this book was always a dream. There are reading materials from our friends that has over 300 pages but it would be better if the location was made in the Philippines. May incusive feelings. Dba? Para sa atin ito. 

Several friends from our cacao community has requested seminars and mini speaking events. However, our PDS group decided to immortalize the learnings that you can always refer to when you have questions.

GRASSHOPPER INFESTATION: What to Do?

Insecticides are the first things most farmers reach for when their crops get infested with pod borers/insects.

Usually the recommended quick fix is to use Magnum or Karate pesticides. The proportions is 1 tbs. per 16liters water in a knapsack.

GOING THE NATURAL WAY

All-Purpose Flour

An unusual but effective solution, all-purpose flour will become sticky when grasshoppers try to consume it, causing their mouthparts to gum up and starve the critters.

Simply sprinkle a thin layer on the leaves of your plants, and make sure it isn’t another type of flour (many kinds of flour contain salt, which can harm your plants.)

Garlic or Hot Pepper Spray

Spritzing some hot pepper repellent spray on the leaves of your plants will make them unpalatable to grasshoppers. The downside is that you could find that tomato is a lot spicier if you fail to wash it thoroughly!

Garlic sprays are a similarly natural grasshopper repellent but may be preferable if you plan on consuming part of the plant later.

** It is your choice. The faster way with harmful drawbacks to the environment or a longer alternative.

PDS Cacao Planting eBook 2023

#ICYMI – CACAO PLANTING –  BEST PRACTICES FROM FARMING TO URBAN GARDENING PDS 2023 eBook Launch happened last June 17, 2023.

The pre-launching feelers began February 1, 2023. All designs and content were made in house by PDS CEO Mel Santos and Media & Marketing Director Mia Concepcion.

Now the easy-read eBook has over 160 pages worth of information on different topics related to cacao planting.

Different farmer associates were featured and   shared their best practices in growing the Filipino Aromatico/Criollo variety. They also shared their stumble-blocks and how they overcame such challenge.

Priced at P500, the eBook includes new farming protocols that will surely guide starting farmers. Since caring begins at cacao seedling stage, there are detailed steps, and measurements in the building of a nursery. A must-buy for everyone in the cacao industry.

Place your order/s by messaging us in the PDS inbox or email us at PDSCACAO@GMAIL.COM
Subject: PDS EBOOK
Body:
Name
Address
Mobile #
# of Copies
Payment via GCash/BPI
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FEEDBACK:


Carmen, Manila-based Professor: Hi, I read it and found it to be an informative book. Clear and detailed! It’s a nice concept/style of a book of that kind. Creative, innovative, well-researched, well-backed up by the authorities in the industry. I was amazed how our traditions are still alive and continue to live on in this generation. CONGRATULATIONS!

Lita, Start-Up farm owner, Bulacan: I know nothing about planting cacao. The reason I want to learn about it is that my relatives have started their seedling farm and are earning a lot from it. I have my piece of land I inherited from my parents. The information was easy to understand. I learned new things about planting Criollo. Good thing my relatives can show me the hands-on part to fully understand the process. Thank you for a good read. Thumbs-Up!


“So that was the book you were so busy working on. I read a chapter, kept going until I saw the closing! Mia, you know I only read a paragraph to know if it was worth the time. I could not stop! Educating, and definitely creative.” – Brian, Parañaque


“Thank you Mel for opening my mind to the importance of Cacao Planting! I am ready to prepare my land with the coconuts, and bananas then I will buy the grafted seedlings. – Joe, Calamba



2023: Climate Change & Our Cacao

A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

Global climate models project a continued increase of temperatures and changes in the land. The ecosystem conservation
efforts will benefit the climate change impacts.

That is the overall dilemma of the production of chocolates. Our country, being right in the center of the equator, has strategies to follow as well.

Over the years, our association has cultivated a delicate variety called the Criollo. These are remnants from the cacao strain during the 1800s — the Manila Acapulco Galleon Trade.

We have gone near and far to locate mother trees bearing the white beans.

Since then, typhoons have bombarded our lands and brought us back several steps behind. the wet season is the time for planting however, being submerged in deep waters does not help. Even the dry season when we are scheduling to harvest doesnt even come regularly.

The change in our climate is indeed a challenge but we show optimism even though our land is experiencing the effects we are having now due to deforestations and carbon prints, we remain steadfast that the propagation of the Filipino Aromatico® continues.

2023 brings us hope and continued determination that we can overcome this difficulty.

Plant the Filipino Aromatico® and continue providing seedlings for everyone. Keep us in your minds that we are always here to educate and help as much as we can.

Schedule a meeting via Zoom or FB messenger for mini seminars with us. Better yet, always check on our page for schedules.