I had never imagined that a farm tour in Western Visayas could feel so personal and hands-on. When our group arrived at Jem Home Farm in Barangay Millan (Sibunag, Guimaras), owner Engr. Edmon Mella greeted us warmly at a small earthen hut he built himself. We were immediately struck by how rustic and inviting the place felt. According to local travel guides, Jem Home Farm encourages guests to “go barefoot, get your hands muddy, and reconnect with the earth” – a fitting mantra for our visit. Edmon explained that he and his wife Marjorie established the farm to promote a “healthy lifestyle” and care for the environment, echoing local reports that the farm’s mission is to strengthen people’s well-being while protecting the Earth. In short, this farm is more than a scenic stop; it’s an eco-farm Guimaras experience built on permaculture values and hands-on learning.
Sustainable Mud Home Workshop
As we entered the homestead, Edmon proudly showed us several mud houses he constructed from scratch. These eco-friendly dwellings are made of natural clay soil and bamboo, all sourced locally. He told us that he collects the mud by hand – often just walking to nearby fields – so that the building materials are truly within walking distance of the site. The result is a community of smoothly curved, golden-brown homes that blend with the landscape.
Inside one two-story hut, the walls felt cool and earthy under our palms, and the patterned floor was polished from recycled stone. This hands-on approach isn’t just about showcasing a photo spot: guests can actually join a mud house building workshop in the Philippines right here at Jem Home Farm. Tour guides note that visitors are invited to participate in natural-building sessions using mud and bamboo. I spent a few minutes mixing mud plaster with bamboo stakes, realizing how this simple act connects us to both tradition and sustainability. It was clear that these homes are living classrooms – places where anyone can learn the art of eco-friendly construction.
Hands-On Hydroponics & Urban Gardening
Just a few steps from the mud houses, the tour shifted gears into modern farming. We stepped into a shadehouse filled with hydroponic trays of lettuce. Edmon explained how this water-based system works: plants grow with their roots in nutrient-rich water instead of soil, saving space and conserving water.
The green leaves looked vibrant and delicious. It was one thing to hear about hydroponics, but another to see lettuce flourishing in midair. In fact, travel blogs about Guimaras farm tours specifically mention that visitors at Jem Home Farm can “try their hand at hydroponics” to learn soil-free, water-efficient agriculture. We tasted the freshly picked lettuce on the spot – the clean, crisp flavor was a reminder of why hydroponics in Guimaras is gaining popularity. I realized this garden is also an interactive workshop: the farm often invites guests and students to help set up systems and tend the plants. For urban gardening enthusiasts, this was eye-opening: you don’t need a large field to grow veggies, just innovation and care. (One might say it’s the ultimate Jem Home Farm experience for budding green thumbs.)
Permaculture, Mushrooms, and Other Workshops
The farm is set up as an open-air classroom. On this tour, Edmon emphasized that Jem Home Farm offers a variety of educational workshops and classes, including:
Permaculture Farming Principles: Lessons on designing sustainable gardens and eco-systems, integrating crops, trees, and animals in harmony.
Hydroponics & Urban Gardening: Hands-on sessions in soilless farming and container gardens (guests indeed get to “try their hand at hydroponics” as noted by travel guides).
Mushroom Cultivation: Techniques for growing oyster mushrooms on logs and sawdust. Edmon focuses on mushrooms because they thrive in our tropical climate.
Mud House Construction: An experiential class in building with earth and bamboo (participate in a mud house workshop and help plaster a wall).
Herbal & Vegetable Gardening: Organic gardening lessons for vegetable plots and medicinal herbs.
Each of these workshops is immersive and hands-on. Edmon even told us how their permaculture focus on mushrooms has become a livelihood: they turn their harvest into surprising products. In short, farm tourism in Western Visayas comes alive here: you pick up practical skills one day, then taste or use those products the next.
Accredited Eco-Education Site
Jem Home Farm isn’t just any backyard – it’s officially recognized as a learning center. The farm sits on roughly an eight-hectare parcel of agricultural land in Sibunag. It operates as a permaculture training site, and is often noted as an accredited learning site by the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) under the Department of Agriculture. On top of that, the Philippine Department of Tourism lists “JEM HOME FARM ECO-ADVENTURE” in Sibunag among its accredited agri-tourism sites. This DOT accreditation means the farm meets standards for educational tourism. In practice, schools and environmental groups frequently organize visits here to earn formal training units. By blending tourism with education, Jem Home Farm exemplifies how a DOT-accredited facility can promote sustainable farming. It’s part of a movement showcasing rural Guimaras as an eco-tourism hotspot, where visitors don’t just snap photos but actually join the work of the farm.
Experience it Yourself – Plan Your Visit
My farm tour at Jem Home Farm left me both relaxed and inspired. The combination of rustic mud houses, high-tech hydroponics, and everything in between made it clear why eco-farm Guimaras is a growing travel theme. If you’re planning a trip to the island, add Jem Home Farm to your itinerary. You can stay on-site (the farm offers simple homestay or overnight options) or join a half-day tour. They regularly schedule permaculture and hydroponics courses – just check their Facebook page or contact them directly. By joining a Guimaras farm tour here, you help support eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture.
Whether you sign up for a mud house workshop or simply wander the vegetable gardens, you’ll leave with new skills and memories. After all, as one guide says, a visit here is about experience, not just observation. It’s an invitation to roll up your sleeves, get a little dirty, and see farming from the inside. So plan your visit – and discover why the Jem Home Farm experience is a highlight of farm tourism in Western Visayas.
To book your visit or inquire about classes at Jem Home Farm:
- Contact Number: +63 918 965 9525
- email: life2discover@gmail.com
- Facebook Page: Jem Home Farm Eco Adventure
- Guimaras Farm Tour Booking Facebook Page: Guimaras Farm Tours
Ilonggo Traveler 
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