This Expecting Couple Started A Farm So They Could Retire Early

When life in the city gets suffocating, a quick escape to nature often heals the soul. But for couple Darleth Mae and Red Jun Suminguit, they made the choice to move to a remote location to begin a new chapter in their lives.

The Suminguits decided to live the simple and laid-back life in Misamis Occidental to start Rad Farmstead. "We started the construction [in] May 2019," Darleth tells the OG team.

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Red and Darleth needed to hire professionals to create a road so that four-wheeled vehicles could make their way to the farm lot. "Ang pinaka-main obstacle namin is ang area na 'to is not accessible for four-wheel vehicles, so mahirap i-transport ang materials galing sa highway papunta rito," she says.

Since the area also didn't have water and electricity, they installed a deep well and invested in getting connected to power lines.

The farm life

Life on a farm may seem quaint and charming, but Darleth says there are realities she and Red had to get used to. "Ang [isa sa] mga na-experience namin [ay] ang kuwarto napapasukan ng palaka, ahas, o tuko," Darleth says. "I-anticipate [mo] na most likely baka mangyari 'yon. Hindi every day na Instagrammable or IG-worthy [ang buhay rito]."

Currently, Darleth and Red take care of 50 French chickens, seven goats, and two cows. Their focus for now is on developing their poultry business. They're selling free-range brown eggs and dressed chicken.

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On the side, they're also tending a small garden where they harvest vegetables for their personal consumption. "Since Red and I would like to practice sustainable living, mayroon kaming maliit na garden din," Darleth says. "[Mayroong] gulay like tomatoes, pechay. From time to time, nagbabago lang kami ng pina-plant do'n sa garden."

Planting seeds for an early retirement

Darleth and Red are also planting fruit trees such as lanzones, rambutan, and calamansi, and also bananas as part of their long-term investment. Their goal is to be able to rely on the regular harvest from the farm as a source of income in the future.

They also have plans of potentially setting up a small café and creating a farm-to-table experience for the public.

"In a few years, maybe five to 10 years, magbubunga na siya, hopefully." Darleth says. "We're aiming kasi as much as possible [na] we can retire early. 'Yon na ang mindset namin: We don't want to work until super old na [kami]."

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A dream and a choice

For aspiring farm owners, Darleth and Red note that they must really dream of the farm life to enjoy it. "Dapat alam mo na ito ang gusto mo," Darleth emphasizes. "Kasi hindi siya madali if nakikita mo lang 'yong peg online na parang 'Uy, maganda ang farmhouse.'

"'Pag masyado umuulan, maputik. But if ito talaga ang gusto mo, you don't see those issues as a problem. Instead, you will focus kung ano ang solutions na dapat mong gawin kasi gusto mo na rito tumira."

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