BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE ABOUT THE PROJECT Sustainable food production is essential for meeting the needs of a growing global population and increasing urbanization. By 2050, 60% of people will live in urban areas, with over 3 billion in cities (FAO 2015). Urbanization presents challenges such as limited land availability, high costs of resources, and environmental issues like soil contamination, pollution, and climate change. In response, urban agriculture has gained global attention as a way to produce local fresh food and promote sustainable cities (Dumat et al. 2016). Quezon City, a highly urbanized area in Metro Manila, has adopted urban agriculture to boost food security, enhance nutrition, and promote sustainable practices. The Joy of Urban Farming (JOUF) Program has been instrumental in establishing community gardens to increase the availability and accessibility of vegetables for urban households. Complementing this effort, the CGIAR Resilient Cities Initiative, under Work Package 1 on Sustainable Food Production, focuses on improving urban and peri-urban food systems by introducing advanced technologies, practices, and services for cleaner and safer food production. It also supports the diversification of community gardens with traditional indigenous vegetables to strengthen their resilience and impact. Indigenous vegetables (IVs), native or naturalized plants in the Philippines, offer significant advantages, including adaptability to local conditions, cultural importance, and high nutritional value. These crops are resilient to climate change and can thrive in poor soils, making them ideal for urban agriculture. However, their potential remains underutilized due to limited awareness and access. Demonstrating indigenous vegetable cultivation in community gardens in Quezon City could help address these issues, highlighting their role in sustainable urban and peri- urban farming. The Demonstration Gardens for Nutrient-Dense and Climate-Resilient Traditional Vegetable Crops in Quezon City is part of the CGIAR Resilient Cities initiative. This project, implemented by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) being supported by the World Vegetable Center (WVC), collaborates with Quezon City’s Joy of Urban Farming Program and the Institute of Plant Breeding at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB- UPLB). Its goal is to test a variety of nutrient-rich traditional vegetable crops in an urban environment. The initiative aims to diversify the crop selection in Joy of Urban Farming community gardens while creating a demonstration and learning space. Schools, institutions, and organizations can explore neglected and underutilized crops with the potential to strengthen garden resilience and improve nutrition families. Doreen Kimayong, Ma. Shiela S. Anunciado, Julian Gonsalves, Emilita Monville Oro, Ronnie De Castro, Pepijn Schreinemachers and Arma Bertuso RESEARCH BRIEF DIVERSIFYING URBAN GARDENS IN QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES, WITH CLIMATE-RESILIENT NUTRIENT-DENSE VEGETABLES METHODOLOGY Establishment of Community Gardens Selection of Priority Vegetable Crops Capacity Building through Trainings, Workshop and Learning Visits Social Preparation and Partnership Building Inception and Consultation Workshop Field Monitoring, Data Collection and Evaluation Established Community Gardens KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS For more information, please contact: CGIAR Resilient Cities WP1 LeadIIRR, Country Director Pepijn Shreinemachers pepijn.schreinemachers@worldveg.org Emilita Monville Oro emily.monville@iirr.org Twenty (20) vegetable species were promoted and propagated in urban settings through focus group discussions and in collaboration with the Fruits and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) Initiatives. Key stakeholders and implementers took part in a series of participatory learning research activities, including learning visits and roving workshops, to share experiences and knowledge. A total of 288 participants, including 231 women and 51 men, received training on urban vegetable production, seed saving, food preparation, and food safety. 2 Nine (9) community gardens including one (1) institution were set up, building on the existing Joy of Urban Farming program. Training and Capacity Building Selection of Priority Vegetable Crops Participatory Learning and Collaboration Research Brief Baseline Endline Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7 Site 8 Site 9 0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 To improve income and livelihood To gain knowledge and improve garden skills To have nutritious food To alleviate poverty To help the community To engage in exercise and leisure activities 12 52 17 5 5 2 Site 5. Joy of Q. Urban Farm 460 sq m Site 3. MRB Urban Farm 60 sq m Site 6. The Rise of the Green Farming 20 sq m Site 4. Green Thumb Arbo 1,000 sq m Site 2. Green Thump Farm 100 sq m Site 1: Sunnyville Urban Farm 1,000 sq m Site 9. Quezon City University 200 sq m Site 7. Libis Urban Farm 800 sq m Site 8. Juan at Juana Urban Farm 400 sq m IMPLEMENTATION SITES Reasons for participating in community gardening The conservation of agro biodiversity is always an important objective. The emphasis on nutrition and food systems helps characterize the garden interventions as a form of nutrition-sensitive agriculture. A total of 7,486 seedlings, 2,324 seed packs, and 122 bundles of stem cuttings were distributed, representing 40 crop types and 68 varieties. This approach to agro biodiversity enhancement has shown up in most community gardens in an amazing display of diversity. The figure illustrates the increased diversity of crops cultivated across the nine project sites following the implementation of the project. Diversification of community gardens CGIAR Resilient Cities WP1 LeadIIRR, Country Director Pepijn Shreinemachers pepijn.schreinemachers@worldveg.org Emilita Monville Oro emily.monville@iirr.org RESULTS A total of 269 gardeners 79.9% (215) women 20.1% (54) men 4% are under 25 years old; 26%, 26–40; 50%, 41–59; and 19%, 60 years or older 269 gardeners were surveyed about their reasons for joining the JOUF community gardening program, Female 79.9% Male 20.1% Selection was guided by: Accessibility to roads Exposure to at least six hours of direct sunlight Reliability of water source Active management by community members or groups supporting food security initiatives in the city Figure 4: Crop diversification of community gardens Figure 2: Reasons of urban gardeners for joining community garden Figure 3: Urban gardeners participating in community garden Figure 1: Community gardens in Quezon City participating in the project Target (15) 3 N u m b e r o f V e g e ta b le C ro p s P la n te d Research Brief Garden site Total Consumed (kg) Total Distributed (kg) Total Sold (kg) Total Seeds (kg) Total Harvested (kg) Site 1 114 176 105 35 430 Site 2 78 80 160 318 Site 3 149 14 14 177 Site 4 74 56 139 12 281 Site 5 353 79 3 7 442 Site 6 61 5 27 93 Site 7 23 24 47 Site 8 25 25 Site 9 4 4 4 12 Grand Total 881 438 452 54 1825 Crop Name Local Name Scientific Name Amaranth Kulitis Amaranthus spp . Star fruit Balimbing Averrhoa carambola Banana Saging Musa Bitter gourd Ampalaya Momordica charantia Bottle gourd Upo Lagenaria siceraria Brazilian spinach Sambu Alternanthera sessilis Calamansi Kalamansi Citrus × microcarpa Cassava Kamoteng kahoy Manihot esculenta Chili Sili Capsicum frutescens Chocolate basil Basil Ocimum basilicum Cowpea Paayap Phaseolus vulgaris Cucumber tree Kamias Averrhoa bilimbi Edible cana Tikas-tikas Canna indica Eggplant Talong Solanum melongena Gabi Taro Colocasia esculenta Ginger Luya Zingiber officinale Humming bird Katuray Sesbania grandiflora Linn. Hyacinth bean Bataw Lablab purpureus Jute mallow Saluyot Corchorus olitorius Japanese malunggay Binahian Sauropus androgynus Lady finger Okra Abelmoschus esculentus L . Lemon grass Tanglad Cymbopogon citratus Lima bean Patani Phaseolus lunatus Palm fig tree Lubi-lubi Ficus pseudopalma Malabar spinach Alugbati Basella alba Moringa Malunggay Moringa oleifera Mushroom Kabute Mustard Mustasa Brassica juncea Oregano Oregano Origanum vulgare Papaya Papaya Carica Papaya Pechay Pechay Brassica rapa Pepper Pepper Capsicum Philippine spinach Talinum Talinum fruticosum (L.) Juss. Pigeon pea Kadios Cajanus cajan Raddish Raddish Raphanus sativus Rice bean Tapilan Vigna umbellata Roselle Labug Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Blumea campor Sambong Blumea balsamifera Sesame Linga Sesamum indicum Soy bean Soya Glycine max Sponge gourd Patola Luffa aegyptiaca Strawberry Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa String bean Sitaw Vigna unguiculata ssp. Sweet potato Camote Ipomea batatas Tomato Kamatis Solanum lycopersicum Tree spinach Lagikway Abelmoschus manihot Water spinach Kangkong Ipomoea aquatica Winged bean Sigarillas Psophocarpus tetragonolobus Utilization Evidence is important in making the case for program continuity. Data is crucial and maintaining records must be promoted. Between December 2023 and December 2024, a total of 1,825 kg of produce, comprising 48 crop types, were harvested from the nine demonstration garden sites. Of the total harvest, 48% (881 kg) was consumed by the gardeners' households, 24% (438 kg) was distributed for free, 25% (452 kg) was sold, and 3% (54 kg) was set aside for seed saving and production. HARVEST AND UTILIZATION Among the 48 crops harvested, the top 10 vegetables most consumed by urban gardeners included eggplant (talong), hyacinth bean (bataw), jute mallow (saluyot), lady finger (okra), moringa (malunggay), Philippine spinach (talinum), string beans (sitaw), sweet potato (kamote), papaya, and snow cabbage (pechay). Since nutrition and health diets matter, different forms of participatory research are explored. A sensory evaluation was conducted during the workshop to assess participants' preferences for the top five leafy vegetables cultivated at the project sites: Philippine spinach, jute mallow, amaranth, sweet potato, and tree spinach. Each participant received a sensory evaluation form to rate the crops based on appearance, aroma, taste, texture, and overall acceptability. A total of 43 samples were included in the evaluation. Figure 5 below shows that all the tested crops were rated as highly acceptable by the respondents. This is probably because the focus of crop introduction was on locally adapted and indigenous crops that communities were familiar with. Sensory evaluation results CGIAR Resilient Cities WP1 LeadIIRR, Country Director Pepijn Shreinemachers pepijn.schreinemachers@worldveg.org Emilita Monville Oro emily.monville@iirr.org Harvest Table 1: Vegetables crops harvested from the community garden sites. Table 2: List of harvested vegetable crops. Figure 5: Sensory evaluation results R a ti n g s co re Evaluation criteria 4Research Brief 0 2 4 6 8 10 Amaranth Arrowroot Beans Bell pepper Black pepper Bottle gourd Cassava Chaya Chili Cluster bean Cowpea Cucumber Cucumber tree Edible cana Eggplant Elephant foot yam Gabi Ginger Holy basil Humming bird Hyacinth bean Jackbean Japanese malunggay Job tear Jute mallow Lady finger Lemon grass Lima bean Malabar spinach Moringa Mungbean Mustard Pechay Philippine spinach Pigeon pea Raddish Rice bean Roselle Sesame Sesille joyweed Soy bean Sponge gourd Squash String bean Sweet potato Tomato Tree spinach Velvet bean Water leaf Water spinach Winged bean 0 2 4 6 8 10 Amaranth Arrowroot Beans Bell pepper Black pepper Bottle gourd Cassava Chaya Chili Cluster bean Cowpea Cucumber Cucumber tree Edible cana Eggplant Elephant foot yam Gabi Ginger Holy basil Humming bird Hyacinth bean Jackbean Japanese malunggay Job's tear Jute mallow Lady finger Lemon grass Lima bean Malabar spinach Moringa Mungbean Mustard Pechay Philippine spinach Pigeon pea Raddish Rice bean Roselle Sesame Sesille joyweed Soy bean Sponge gourd Squash String bean Sweet potato Tomato Tree spinach Velvet bean Water leaf Water spinach Winged bean CROP ADAPTABILITY RESULTS Gardeners evaluated drought tolerance, flood tolerance, pest and disease resistance, and soil suitability of crops using Likert Scale. This method measures opinions and perceptions, allowing farmers to assess crop adaptability based on specific criteria. A monitoring tool was provided to 269 urban farmers across nine garden sites in Quezon City, enabling them to rate crop adaptability on a scale of 0 to 9. These evaluations were based on gardeners’ observation and experiences during the cropping period from January to December 2024. This is a fairly large data set . The findings presented provide guidance to those planning to set up new urban agriculture programs. Crop choice matters if gardens in urban settings (with challenging soil and environments and garden management approaches) are to succeed. Drought Tolerance Flood Tolerance During the peak of El Niño in April and May 2024, temperatures soared to 38-45 °C, challenging the crops' ability to withstand drought and extreme heat. Assessments from the nine garden sites revealed that several crops, including arrowroot, black pepper, cassava, cowpea, edible cana, elephant foot yam, ginger, holy basil, Japanese malunggay, Job’s tear, lima bean, mungbean, pigeon pea, rice bean, soybean, sponge gourd, tomato, velvet bean, and waterleaf, demonstrated high drought tolerance. These crops maintained growth and yield without significant reduction and fully recovered after rewatering. Their resilience makes them ideal candidates for urban agriculture and areas with limited irrigation. From August to November 2024, the Philippines experienced consecutive typhoons, subjecting crops to heavy rainfall and flooding. Results showed that arrowroot, cassava, cluster bean, edible cana, ginger, holy basil, Japanese malunggay, Job’s tear, mungbean, rice bean, soybean, velvet bean, and waterleaf demonstrated remarkable waterlogging tolerance. These crops thrived even after several days of flooding, showing minimal to no adverse effects from prolonged waterlogged conditions. For more information, please contact:IIRR, Country Director Emilita Monville Oro emily.monville@iirr.org CGIAR Resilient Cities WP1 Lead Pepijn Shreinemachers pepijn.schreinemachers@worldveg.org Figure 6: Drought tolerance results Figure 7: Flood tolerance results Rating scale Rating scale 5Research Brief 0 2 4 6 8 10 Amaranth Arrowroot Beans Bell pepper Black pepper Bottle gourd Cassava Chaya Chilli Cluster bean Cowpea Cucumber Cucumber tree Edible cana Eggplant Elephant foot yam Gabi Ginger Holy basil Humming bird Hyacinth bean Jackbean Japanese malunggay Job's tear Jute mallow Lady finger Lemon grass Lima bean Malabar spinach Moringa Mungbean Mustard Pechay Philippine spinach Pigeon pea Raddish Rice bean Roselle Sesame Sesille joyweed Soy bean Sponge gourd Squash String bean Sweet potato Tomato Tree spinach Velvet bean Water leaf Water spinach Winged bean 0 2 4 6 8 10 Amaranth Arrowroot Beans Bell pepper Black pepper Bottle gourd Cassava Chaya Chilli Cluster bean Cowpea Cucumber Cucumber tree Edible cana Eggplant Elephant foot yam Gabi Ginger Holy basil Humming bird Hyacinth bean Jackbean Japanese malunggay Job's tear Jute mallow Lady finger Lemon grass Lima bean Malabar spinach Moringa Mungbean Mustard Pechay Philippine spinach Pigeon pea Raddish Rice bean Roselle Sesame Sesille joyweed Soy bean Sponge gourd Squash String bean Sweet potato Tomato Tree spinach Velvet bean Water leaf Water spinach Winged bean Pest and Diseases Soil Suitability Amaranth, arrowroot, beans, bell pepper, black pepper, cassava, chili, cluster bean, cowpea, edible cana, elephant foot yam, ginger, holy basil, hummingbird, Japanese malunggay, Job’s tear, moringa, mungbean, mustard, pigeon pea, radish, rice bean, sesame, soybean, sponge gourd, squash, sweet potato, tomato, tree spinach, velvet bean, and waterleaf were found to be highly suitable for growth in the soil conditions of Quezon City. The data reveals a wide range of crops with varying soil adaptability. By prioritizing crops with high soil adaptability, productivity can be maximized while reducing input costs. Amaranth, arrowroot, beans, black pepper, cassava, cluster bean, edible cana, elephant foot yam, ginger, holy basil, Job’s tear, mungbean, rice bean, soybean, tree spinach, velvet bean, and waterleaf remained completely healthy with no visible signs of insect or disease damage, requiring minimal pest control measures. Rating scale Rating scaleFigure 8: Pest and disease resistance results Figure 9: Soil suitability condition results 6Research Brief Common Name Local Name Scientific Name Nutritonal content* Culinary uses Amaranth Kulitis Amaranthus spp. 1 cup (90 g) is an excellent source of β-carotene, retinol and calcium to meet daily nutritional needs. Leafy vegetable can be used in soups, stews, or stir- fries. Japanese malunggay Binahian Sauropus androgynus 1 cup (90 g) of binahian leaves is an excellent source of vitamin C, β-carotene, and retinol; and a good source of iron, protein, and to meet daily nutritional needs. Young shoot and leaves are used for soups, stir- fries, and salads. Jute mallow Saluyot Corchorus olitorius 1 cup (90 g) of saluyot leaves is an excellent source of β- carotene, and retinol; and a good source of calcium and protein to meet daily nutritional needs. Cooked into soups, stews or used as a thickener due to its mucilaginous (slimy) texture when cooked. Malabar spinach Alugbati Basella alba 1 cup (90 g) of alugbati leaves is a good source of β- carotene and retinol to meet daily nutritional needs. Used as a leafy vegetable in salads, soups, curries, and stir-fries. Moringa Malunggay Moringa oleifera 1 cup (90 g) of cooked leaves is an excellent source of vitamin C; and a good source of β-carotene and retinol to meet daily nutritional needs. Leaves: can be eaten fresh or dried and powdered. They are used in soups, salads, teas, and as a supplement in smoothies. Pods (drumsticks): eaten in curries, soups, and stews, often in their young, tender state. .Philippine spinach Talinum Talinum fruticosum (L.) Juss 1 cup (90 g) of talinum leaves is a good source of β- carotene, retinol, and potassium to meet daily nutritional needs. Used in a variety of dishes, especially soups, stews, and stir-fries, Leaves can be used fresh in salads, or they can be sautéed or boiled. Tree spinach Lagikway Abelmoschus manihot 1 cup (90 g) of cooked leaves is an excellent source of β- carotene, retinol, and vitamin C; and a good source of protein and calcium to meet daily nutritional needs. Used in various dishes such as soups, stews, salads, and stir-fries. Roselle Labug Hibiscus sabdariffa L. 1 cup (95 g) of roselle leaves is a good source of β- carotene, retinol, and calcium; and roselle flowers is a good source of calcium and vitamin C for daily nutritional needs. Young leaves are used in salads, soups, and as leafy green vegetable. Calyces can also be used to make jams, jellies, sauces, tea and syrups. Cowpea Paayap Phaseolus vulgaris 1/2 cup (75 g) is a good source of vitamin C and has significant amounts of protein, calcium, dietary fiber, and iron to meet daily nutritional needs. Cooked in stews, soups, and curries or boiled and stir fries. Hyacinth bean Bataw Lablab purpureus 1/2 cup (75 g) of bataw has significant amounts of potassium, dietary fiber, and protein for daily nutritional needs. The young pods and leaves can be cooked and eaten like vegetables, while the mature seeds are often boiled or roasted for consumption. Lima bean Patani Phaseolus lunatus 1/2 cup (75 g) is a good source of protein and vitamin C; and has significant amounts of dietary fiber, iron, and phosphorus for daily nutritional needs. They can be eaten fresh when young or dry for such as soups, stews, String beans Sitaw Vigna unguiculata ssp 1 cup (90 g) of cooked okra is a good source of vitamin C and has significant amounts of calcium and dietary fiber to meet daily nutritional needs. The pods are used for stir-fries, casseroles, soups, salads, or as a side dish. They can be steamed, boiled, sautéed, or pickled. Pigeon pea Kadios Cajanus cajan 1/2 cup (75 g) of kadyos is a good source of protein, carbohydrates and dietary fiber; has significant amounts of phosphorus and vit. C for daily nutritional needs. The seeds are used in various dishes such as curries, soups, dals (a type of lentil stew), and stews. Rice bean Tapilan Vigna umbellata 1/2 cup (75 g) is an excellent source of protein, carbohydrates; and a good source of dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, and iron for daily nutritional needs. Can be used in soups, curries, and stews. The beans are dried for preservation and can be cooked in a similar manner to other legumes. Soybean Utaw Glycine max (L.)Merr. 1/2 cup (75 g) is a good source of protein, vitamin C, and vitamin B1 to meet daily nutritional needs. Used often as tofu, soy milk, soy sauce, and miso. Lady finger Okra Abelmoschus esculentus L. 1 cup (90 g) of cooked okra is a good source of vitamin C and has significant amounts of calcium and dietary fiber to meet daily nutritional needs. The pods can be eaten fresh, sautéed, boiled, fried, or pickled. They are also often used in soups, stews, curries, and as a vegetable side dish. Sponge gourd Patola Luffa aegyptiaca 1 cup (90 g) of cooked fruit has significant amount of iron and leaves contain vitamin B2 to meet daily nutritional needs. The young, immature fruits are edible and commonly used in cooking. They are often stir- fried, boiled, or used in curries and soups. Tomato Kamatis Solanum lycopersicum 1 cup (90 g) of kamatis has significant amounts of potassium and vitamin C to meet daily nutritional needs. Used in a wide variety of dishes such as sauces, soups, salads, stews, curries, and salsas. They can be eaten raw, cooked, or processed into products like ketchup, tomato paste, and juice. Edible cana Tikas-tikas Canna indica Tikas-tikas tuber is a good source of protein and fiber, as well as an alternative carbohydrate source. They can be boiled, fried, or roasted, and used in soups, stews, or as a side dish. Sweet potato Camote Ipomea batatas 1/2 piece (75 g) is a good source of vitamin C and complex carbohydrates; and leaves has significant amounts of β-carotene, retinol, iron, and dietary fiber for daily nutritional needs. The leaves can be cooked as greens, often used in stir-fries, soups, or salads. Tubers can be boiled, steamed, or fried. They are often used as a side dish, added to soups, or mashed for pies, casseroles, and desserts. PRIORITY CROPS AND NUTRITION VALUE AND USES IIRR, Country Director * As computed using PhilFCT (2023) and PDRI (2018) based on a 2530-calorie diet for a 19-29 y/o male; "good" sources provide at least 30% and “significant” means at least 10% of recommended daily intake. Source: International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Crop Label Table 3: Selected priority crops promoted. 7Research Brief LESSONS LEARNED The Varied Goals of Community Gardens Community gardens serve different purposes based on their main objectives. Some gardens focus on generating income by growing high-demand crops for sale in local markets. These gardens typically prioritize cash crops or valuable vegetables, functioning like small-scale farms. On the other hand, most small urban gardens are aimed at providing food for the gardeners’ families. These gardens emphasize crop diversity, pesticide-free crops, food security, and nutrition, often prioritizing sustainability over financial gain. Embracing Support and Capacity Building in Community Gardening Gardeners and farmers participating in community gardens have shown strong interest in improving their gardening skills and knowledge. This eagerness highlights their commitment to increasing productivity, enhancing crop quality, and adopting better practices. Local government units (LGUs) at the city and barangay levels, along with other organizations, play a key role in providing necessary support. This support can include training workshops, gardening tools, seeds, and technical advice on sustainable practices. Capacity building, the well distributed plan for introducing new germplasm and planting materials (including the use of diversity kits), and the strengthening of community groups might explain the success of community gardening efforts. The Cultural Significance of Traditional Vegetables Gardeners have a deep connection to growing traditional and indigenous vegetables, which are important to their culture and identity. Some gardeners have sourced these crops from their places of origin and grown them in community gardens, helping to preserve traditional knowledge and boost biodiversity. These gardens also serve as spaces for cultural expression and strengthen the bond between gardeners and the land. In addition to providing food and income, they highlight the community’s rich cultural history. Land Tenurial Security: Agreement with Landowner Securing land tenurial access agreements in urban areas where gardens are to be established is crucial. Obtaining consent and a written agreement for use of garden space for at least three years is essential. This agreement helps deter landowners from reclaiming their property after gardens were established. Ensuring long-term access to land allows for stable and continuous food production, safeguarding the efforts and investments made by the gardeners. 8 CGIAR Resilient Cities Initiative www.cgiar.org/initiative/resilient-cities/ Research Brief REFERENCES Dumat C., Pierart A., Shahid M., Khalid S. 2019. Pollutants in urban agriculture: Sources, health risk assessment and sustainable management. Chapter 4. CRC Press. USA. For more information, please contact: CGIAR Resilient Cities WP1 LeadIIRR, Country Director Pepijn Schreinemachers pepijn.schreinemachers@worldveg.org Emilita Monville Oro emily.monville@iirr.org ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We express our great appreciation to our partners in Quezon City Government for their support and contribution to the Work Package 1 Sustainable Urban Food Production: Mayor Josefina Belmonte-Alimurung, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, Joy Of Urban Farming/JOUF (Ms. Cristina Perez, Mr. Pocholo Bonifacio), Food Security Task Force/FSTF (Emmanuel Hugh Velasco II, Antonio Pabustan Jr.), JOUF Focal (Irene Maynigo, Melissa Bentilanon, Paula Runio, Ramil Victoriano, Mario Siguin, Gregorio Toscano and Mary Jane Hullesa); Quezon City University, particularly the Center for Urban Agriculture and Innovation under the guidance of Dr. Theresita V. Atienza and Dr. Romel Sevilla, for their indispensable support; all the eight community garden presidents for unwavering dedication and leadership in fostering the growth of community gardens; and the 269 women and men urban gardeners for their active participation, enthusiasm, and hard work, which have been the driving force behind the success of this initiative. International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. 2024. Crop label. IIRR. Silang ,Cavite. https://x.com/CGIAR https://www.facebook.com/onecgiar/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cgiar/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYuSEwWKAsoNwg6MJEI-qeA