Four Squares Farming
From 2-8 March 2026, five Singaporean women retirees and caregivers took a break from our usual caregiving and family duties to what I call, a ME-time adventure with our heavenly Father. The assignment? To support farmer and friend JC run Four Square Farming Training for 20 community leaders in Luzon.
As the initiator of this adventure and the link person between Singapore seniors, our Filipino hosts, and our trainer, I have always hoped that we could provide a way for struggling communities to feed themselves in the light of sky rocketing prices of fuel and food.
When we pray, “Our Father who is in heaven… Give us this day our daily bread…” Can we also be part of the solution?
During the three-day training, I witnessed a bare plot of land transform into a 14m x 14m square farm. Our trainer, JC has taught Four Squares Farming to many communities in Asia. For us seniors, however, it was our initiation into farming. It was incredible.
The integrated farming system is designed to supply food for one 3-5 member family. We divide a 14m x 14m land into Four Squares (hence the name). Each 7m x 7m square produces fruits, vegetables, fish, and quail.
JC said: Even if you have a 2000m x 2000m land, you ALWAYS keep your farm 14m x 14m. Anything larger than that will make you a slave to the land. What do you do when you have more land? You make many small 14m x 14m farms rather than make one big farm.
A small farm means your day’s work is done in 1-2 hours. And can put food on the table.
The secret to successful farming lies in the making of organic low cost fertilisers and pesticides from food scraps, egg shells, things we can find in our kitchen. No more reliance on expensive industrial chemicals and the outcome, healthier food for all.
This is the way our ancestors used to farm!
A month after we returned to Singapore, Renz Rivera, a participant and community leader from Bicol shared in our chat group photos of his farm. I was intrigued.
This was our chat (unedited, Sun 5 April 2026):
ME: Hi Renz. When did you start working on your farm? Before or after the training? Are you working on it alone? It’s amazing and quite a testimony. Praise God.
Renz: Hi gud evning Ate (it means older sister in Filipino), after our training ate. I start my little farm. Yes I am working alone, I want to apply what I am learning. Now God bless my effort 🙏🏻. This from your seeds that you gave to us. Now are growing.
I encourage our leaders in the community to start a garden using the contenier.
ME: I’m SOOOOO encouraged. I worked very hard to get this training together. It’s made all the challenges I had to go through so worthwhile.
Renz: Very big help for me to learn this specially how to make organic fertilizer, festcide.
ME: I will let JC and team know tomorrow. They will be so delighted.
When we pray, “Our Father who is in heaven… Give us this day our daily bread…” Can we also be part of the solution?
4 comments
Le Lian
Wonderful! 4 sq farming concept works!
Angeline Koh
Thanks for commenting, Le Lian. Yes indeed. It’s very encouraging to see a bare piece of land turn into a food producing farm that feeds people.
Ces
this is amazing! i wish my nephews in bicol can learn this, too.
Angeline Koh
Thanks for taking time to comment, ate Ces. Would you like me to connect him with Renz?