About Nana Bambi's Place

Nana Bambi's Place is a vertically integrated farm-to-table community enterprise being established on the family land at Pugod, Ragay, Camarines Sur. The enterprise is named in honour of Bambi — midwife, community figure, and gardener — whose family has farmed this land for generations.

The Pugod site is the agricultural heart of the enterprise, housing an integrated aquaponic system (iAVs), Hawaiian lo'i style taro terraces, a food forest, soil grow beds, and a nursery. The system is designed to supply Alejandro's Café and the Nana Bambi's market and delivery spoke with year-round produce, while simultaneously improving the quality of the river water that passes through the property.

This is not a conventional farm. It is a working demonstration of traditional Filipino water management practices — the same principles used by the Ifugao people to build the Banaue rice terraces — integrated with modern aquaponic grow bed technology. The person in this role will be among a small number of people in Camarines Sur who truly understands how this system works.

Position Overview

The Farm Technician is responsible for the daily care, operation and maintenance of all growing systems at the Pugod site. This is a hands-on, on-site role that requires someone reliable, observant, and genuinely interested in growing food well.

The role covers four interconnected systems — the iAVs sandponic grow beds, the taro terraces and ulang channels, the food forest and soil grow beds, and the nursery and seedling propagation area. The Farm Technician is the eyes of the operation. They notice the small changes before they become large problems.

Reporting to: Aileen Mulkerrins (CEO) and Aidan Mulkerrins (Operations). Daily communication via mobile. Weekly in-person review with Aileen or Aido when on site.

Key Responsibilities

1. iAVs Sandponic Grow Beds — Daily

• Feed fish twice daily (morning and afternoon) at the prescribed feed rate — never skip, never overfeed
• Visual observation of all fish at every feeding — note any abnormal behaviour, lethargy, or surface gasping
• Check drain water clarity after each dose feed — persistent turbidity reported immediately
• Inspect all beds for plant health — yellowing, wilting, pest activity, crowded roots
• Harvest leafy crops and herbs on schedule — supply direct to café and market spoke
• Replant harvested rows promptly — no bed sits empty for more than 48 hours
• Maintain ridge and furrow surface structure — reform ridges after any disturbance
• Monitor and clear feed manifold drip points — blocked emitters starve sections of the bed
• Record daily observations in the farm log — fish behaviour, plant health, drain water, anything unusual

2. Pond and Water System — Daily

• Visual check on all pond levels — note any unusual rise or drop
• Confirm valve position each morning — NORMAL (pond water to beds) unless instructed otherwise
• Check air bubbler operation in fish ponds — silence means a problem
• Twice-weekly water parameter testing — ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH — record all readings
• Report ammonia above 0.5 mg/L immediately — do not wait for the next scheduled check
• During yellow weather warning — check pond freeboard and valve position
• During red weather warning — switch valve to FLUSH (river water), open all bed drain lines, monitor pond level continuously, report to Aido and Aileen
• Keep swirl filter clean — schedule weekly sludge pump to compost area

3. Taro Terraces and Ulang Channels — Weekly and As Required

• Maintain taro plants — weed channels, remove damaged leaves, monitor for pests
• Keep terrace overflow lips clear — no debris blocking water flow between stages
• Monitor ulang population — report any unusual mortality or absence
• Harvest ulang and taro on schedule as directed by Aileen
• Maintain channel walls — repair any erosion or bund damage promptly
• Keep kangkong and watercress in channels — harvest regularly, do not allow to overgrow and block flow

4. Food Forest and Soil Grow Beds

• Planting, mulching, and care of food forest species as directed
• Soil grow bed management — ginger, turmeric, cassava, legumes, intercropping
• Compost management — turn, water, monitor temperature, apply to beds on schedule
• Pest and disease observation across all growing areas — report and treat as directed
• Irrigation of soil beds during dry season — ensure consistent moisture without waterlogging

5. Nursery and Seedling Propagation

• Maintain seedling propagation trays — germination, potting up, hardening off
• Ensure continuous supply of transplant-ready seedlings for all bed rotations
• Source and propagate heirloom gabi varieties — these are a priority cultural crop
• Label all seedling batches with variety and date — no unlabelled trays
• Maintain nursery area clean and organised — pests breed in clutter

6. General Farm Maintenance

• Daily site walkthrough — fences, structures, equipment, water lines, electrical connections
• Keep all growing areas clear of debris — hoop house paths, terrace walkways, pond surrounds
• Report any structural damage, equipment failure, or security concern immediately
• Assist with rail winch operation for materials movement up and down the slope
• Participate in harvest preparation, washing, packing, and handover to the delivery spoke
• Assist with visiting ag department officers, Slow Food Philippines representatives, or other guests — this is a demonstration site

Typical Daily Schedule

What We Are Looking For

Essential

• Lives locally — Ragay or nearby barangay. On-site daily means on-site daily.
• Experience growing vegetables or managing a farm or garden — formal or informal
• Comfortable working with fish and water systems — ponds, channels, water flow
• Reliable, self-directed, and thorough — able to complete a full daily routine without being told every step
• Good observation skills — notices when something is different before it becomes a problem
• Physically fit — the Pugod site is steep, outdoor work in all weathers including Bicol monsoon
• Basic literacy and numeracy — ability to record daily logs and read water test results
• Comfortable with mobile communication — Viber messages and calls to report to Aileen and Aidan

Preferred

• BSc Agriculture, Fisheries, or Horticulture graduate from CSSAC, Partido State, or similar
• Experience with aquaculture — tilapia farming, pond management, water quality
• Familiarity with traditional taro cultivation — gabi growing in Bicol
• Experience with composting, soil building, or organic growing methods
• Interest in learning — this system is new, the person who thrives here will want to understand how it works, not just follow a checklist

What We Do Not Require

• Prior aquaponics experience — we will train the right person completely
• Heavy equipment operation — that is a separate role
• A driver's licence — not required for this position

What We Offer

• Permanent full-time employment — this is not a seasonal or contract role
• Competitive salary — above provincial agricultural minimum wage, reviewed annually
• Daily produce allocation — fresh fish, vegetables, and herbs from the farm
• Training in iAVs aquaponic system operation — a skill that is rare in the Philippines
• Part of building something the community has not seen before — a working demonstration that will bring agricultural department officials, Slow Food Philippines, and regional visitors to the site
• Working directly with Aileen and Aido — small team, direct communication, no bureaucracy
• Long-term role — as the enterprise grows across its 12 operational spokes, opportunities for advancement into a senior farm management position

How to Apply

Applications are accepted by personal approach to Aileen Mulkerrins, or by referral through the Ragay community. There is no formal application form. We will meet with any serious candidate in person at the Pugod site.

Bring: a brief summary of your growing experience (written or verbal), two personal references from anyone in the community who knows your work, and a genuine answer to this question — what do you know about how taro grows in Bicol?

We are not looking for the most qualified person on paper. We are looking for the right person for this land.