Marbel Boy

Meet Kian Castaneda, the man behind the OrganiKian Urban Farm in Koronadal City who brought home his passion that is now a major part of his lifestyle and livelihood.

Kian worked as a firefighter in Qatar for seven years. He said he has a “green thumb” and it started since his childhood days. But he only got to enjoy his love for agriculture more since he was introduced to urban gardening through hydroponics 10 years ago. From that reintroduction to agriculture, he is now back in Koronadal and is enjoying the reputation of being a true-blue urban gardening advocate.
Kian is the pioneering hydroponics practitioner in Koronadal who turned his passion into a business. He now runs the Organikian Cafe together with his wife Ella. In fact, most of their production requirements for the resto including the family-run Basilio’s Family Restaurant (Basilio’s Pasta) come from their own garden.
[𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: Learn Hydroponics Gardening with Kian through a webinar for only P500.00! Bukas na to, June 20, 2020! Register now via https://tinyurl.com/y9e59xde. Registration is extended until 5PM today! HURRY!]

Kian explained that Hydroponics lets you grow plants even in areas with limited spaces, indoors or even without using soil. He added that hydroponics is an ideal method to grow vegetables in urban areas using available materials. His garden particularly the hydroponics section continues to expand in his area in Brgy Morales. He’s adding more containers by the day as he also continues to grow his knowledge in his craft. As of today, he is growing bok choy, lettuce, celery, capsicum, uragula and more.

Did he ever regret leaving his good-paying job abroad? Nope! He said he is living even a better life now in Koronadal with his family and his pets…and he gets to practice his passion while earning from it.
To know more about Kian and Organikian Urban Farm and Cafe, you may visit them at Reyes Subdivision Blk 1 or like and follow their Facebook Page Organikian Urban Garden.

[𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: Learn Hydroponics Gardening with Kian through a webinar for only P500.00! Bukas na to, June 20, 2020! Register now via https://tinyurl.com/y9e59xde. Registration is extended until 5PM today! HURRY!]

By Marbel Boy

Photos by Denmark Fernandez Bulan and Marbel Boy