The Orchard was turned over to us on August 24, 2020 (a little over a year ago) pretty much already developed - numerous mango and other trees abound, the property is fenced all around and a caretaker is already in place. Two old bahay kubos are also found in strategic portions of the Orchard.
What the Orchard lacks then (for our intended use) are a stable water supply system, a garage, an all-weather driveway, and of course, a farmhouse where we can stay in. Building these new facilities is taking more time than anticipated because of the current pandemic - supply of construction materials is erratic, and the movement of construction personnel (including us) is restricted.
Despite the challenges, we managed to accomplish a few critical tasks and finish several facilities in one year of slow-paced development.
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| THE ORCHARD BEFORE TURN-OVER. The aerial photo above was taken on August 15, 2020, or 9 days before turn-over. Ground elevation at the front gate (right) is around 60 meters ASL, and at the rear portion of the property, 50 meters ASL. This represents an elevation change of 10 meters over a 205 meter distance, with an average slope of less than 3 degrees. In our opinion, flat land is not ideal as far as orchards are concerned, as it is tough to manage water flow with the aid of gravity. This property's gently sloping terrain is perfect for easy water flow management. | |
The small building near the gate is a storehouse that also served as a caretaker's quarters. No all-weather driveway was built inside the property. Electricity is already available, albeit the drop wire is smallish and needs to be upgraded later.
Water is supplied by a shallow well that goes dry during summer, as well as by a local water utility (water flows one or two days a week and even then the pressure is too low because of the higher elevation of the area).
To start the development process, we needed to demolish the old storehouse and clear areas for the garage and the farmhouse. But first, we had to build a new caretaker's quarters. Also, we had to dig a new deep well and build an elevated water tank high enough to supply water throughout the Orchard with decent pressure.
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| ONE YEAR LATER. This photo was taken on August 26, 2021, about a year after turn-over. Five major structures are visible - the caretaker's quarters (upper right corner), the three-car garage with storage rooms (long rectangular building with a terracotta roof by the road), the farmhouse (under construction, to the left of the garage), the elevated water tank (by the farmhouse) and the gravel covered driveway from the gate to the garage. | |
The Orchard development plan consists of a 20-point program:
1. Build a new caretaker's quarters so the old storage house can be demolished. (Done!)
2. Dig a new deep well and an elevated water tank for a more reliable water supply. (Done!)
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| TALLEST STRUCTURE AT THE ORCHARD. The elevated water tank, its top reaching almost 10 meters above the ground, is the tallest man-made structure in the Orchard. It draws water from a 10-meter deep well to its right (with bright square housing). With the camera facing westward in this photo, the rear portion of the Orchard is also visible. |
3. Build a new toilet for the construction crew. (Done!)
4. Demolish the old storage house (and the chicken coop to the left of it) to make room for the farmhouse. (Done!)
5. Build a gravel-lined driveway to protect the soil from rainwater erosion and tire damage from delivery vehicles. We purposely didn't use concrete because of this material's high cost, unappealing aesthetics that don't suit an orchard environment well, and less flexibility for re-purposing the driveway area. (Done!)
6. Build the three-car garage. (Done!)
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| THREE-CAR GARAGE. With two storage rooms (that can be used as guest rooms) and a toilet/bathroom, this will also house the genset room. Meantime, it serves as a storage area for delicate materials that will be used in the construction of the farmhouse. |
7. Build a three-bedroom farmhouse. (Construction ongoing, about half-way done.)
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| U-SHAPED FARMHOUSE. Made mostly of concrete and steel, the farmhouse incorporates a guest room, kitchen, dining/living areas, a common toilet and bath, a long porch, and two master's bedrooms (legs of the U-shape), each with a balcony facing the garden. The area between the two MBRs will be a Bermuda grass patch through which the walkway to the front stairs and porch will pass. |
A 4k footage of the farmhouse filmed on August 26, 2021:
8. Build a second kitchen complete with laundry and grilling facilities to the left of the farmhouse. (Programmed.)
9. Add a new bahay kubo beside the second kitchen. (Programmed.)
10. Build a dog house and play pen for our four pets. (Programmed.)
11. Install solar lighting around the perimeter. (Programmed.)
12. Develop the main garden at the lower right corner of the Orchard. (Programmed.)
13. Build a mini-fountain at the side of the farmhouse adjoining the gravel driveway. (Programmed.)
14. Construct a storage building with a small garage for the mini excavator. This also will house a workshop for DIY projects involving concrete, wood and metal. Likewise, it will store the farm tools/supplies, DIY equipment, and other voluminous items not suited in the garage's store rooms. (Programmed.)
15. Plant more fruit trees and ornamental plants. (Ongoing.)
16. Install a CCTV system. (Programmed.)
17. Install a fiber internet access. (Programmed.)
18. Install a genset for backup power. (Programmed.)
19. Reinforce the barbed wire fence in some portions of the perimeter with cyclone wire. This will prevent stray animals from entering the Orchard, as well as keep our four dogs safe within the property. (Programmed.)
20. And last but not the least, build a solar power system that can supply most of the Orchard's energy needs during daytime, and provide back up power using a high-capacity battery bank when the grid goes off. (Dreamed of!)
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| EASTWARD VIEW FROM THE ORCHARD'S CENTER. The distant Caraballo Mountains provide a photogenic background to the farmhouse. To the farmhouse's left is the water tower and the garage (partly visible). Beyond the farmhouse is the gray-colored main gate. Leading to the lower right corner is a row of Bangkok Santol trees. |
Should things go according to plan, we look forward to spending this coming Christmas at the farmhouse. For the rest of the development program, assuming the world as we know it will survive the current pandemic, we aim at completing these by the end of next year.
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