As the population continuously grows, the challenge of finding a place that will offer a comfortable home for every family arise.  That is why, Mary's Garden Realty Corporation developed Tierra Maria Estates.  

      Owned by the Montinola family who has been in the land development industry for decades, Tierra Maria Estates is a 33-hectare residential community located in Lipa, Batangas.  During its grand open house event recently, the Montinolas showcased why it can be considered as a modern haven.

      "For those who wish to enjoy life in the country, but are at the same time trying to avoid the hassle of long travel just to get to the supermarket or commute miles to go to school, Tierra Maria is for you.  That's the concept behind all of these as it offers opportunity to people who want to enjoy life in all its aspects," said Manuel Colayco, Tierra Maria project consultant.

More spaces

      Unlike other estates in Batangas, Tierra Maria offers a larfe but affordable lot ranging from 750 sqms. to 1,000 sqms.  They also offer house-and-lot packages, where clients can choose from three model units deisgned by NS Incorporated.

      Since the estate is a fully-developed farming community specifically desighed to encourage every resident to have their own backyard farm, only a quarter of each land title can be used to build a house.  With that, every model unit floor area ranges from 80 sqms. to 100 sqms.  The usual 750 sqm lot with a house model costs from P4.7 million to P5.3 million.

      "Tierra Maria provides urban and country living, plus on the economic side, you get five times more land than you can usually buy around the area for the same price with a house.  We believe that in this area, the house-and-lot package is more attractive because Lipa is an urban place.  Also, this is already a developed farm land concept which has a very good soil for gardening," said Colayco.

      To ensure that the residents will enjoy the natural beauty of the place and its amenities, the 33-hectare land will only offer a total of 320 lots.  

      Amenities include swimming pool and sports facilities, clubhouse, camping sites, bird sanctuary and meditation garden.  As of today, there are already more than 100 lots sold and more than 20 houses built.

Backyard farm

      During the event, the company also invited Nicolo Aberasturi, a bio-dynamics advocate and the President of DowntoEarth farm to teach the residents the importance of having their own sustainable, eco-friendly backyard farm.

      According to Aberasturi, by learning how to plan and by growing your own food, once can be assured that it is clean and organic.  And because of its natural volcanic soil, plants will easily grow in the estates.

      In the model unit where pilot biodynamic farms were built, he also showed how residents can easily start setting-up their own garden for as low as P15,000.  He even gave tips on making their own organic fertilizers from their daily biodegradable waste.

      "This is a very sustainable garden that you can easily keep.  The best thing is you have the overall control of the cycle of your produce.  Nothing tastes better than your own produce," he said.

      Residents were also given the opportunity to experience harvesting organic crops found in the backyard farm such as eggplants, blue ternate, cherry tomatoes, and natural herbs.