Well, I’m so excited to share something special with you — our very own MiniPark, which we call COMPANION’s MiniPark (because our family name is COMPANION). It’s a small space near our house where we raise animals and grow plants. It’s not a big farm, but it’s full of life, and it makes our home feel more fun, peaceful, and alive. Every little corner has something new to see, and I’m really proud of it.
On April 6, 2025, we brought home a baby rabbit. It was still very young, as it had just been weaned from its mother. But now that it has grown, it’s become more energetic day by day. Rabbits really love to eat, especially when they find the food tasty or easy to chew. It's so cute how their noses wiggle non-stop while munching🤣. We also give them a variety of food: banana leaves, carrots, rabbit feeds, and a local plant we call Bagon.
These rabbits aren’t the type to bite or scratch. They’re gentle and playful, especially once they’ve gotten used to you. Unlike other rabbits I’ve known that tend to be nervous or distant, this one feels more like a companion. And I really love just sitting and watching it eat or nap, and I can’t help but smile. It reminds me how even the smallest things can bring so much joy.
Taking care of the rabbit has become part of my daily routine. Every morning at 6:00 a.m., I wake up to feed it. My parents assigned me this responsibility, and honestly, I take it to heart. At 10:00 a.m., I give it a snack usually leaves like banana, bagon, batilis, malunggay, and whatever else we have that’s safe for rabbits. At noon, 12:00 p.m, it's lunchtime, followed by another snack at 3:00 p.m., and then dinner at 8:00 p.m. Yes, it’s quite a schedule, and sometimes it gets tiring, but I genuinely enjoy it. There’s something fulfilling about caring for a little creature and watching it thrive. Rabbits grow faster when they're properly fed. They also don’t make the house smell because I make sure to keep their area clean so it's really neat.
This isn’t our first time having rabbits though. During the pandemic, we raised a few, but sadly, they got sick and passed away. It was heartbreaking, especially for my parents. They were so discouraged that they promised never to raise rabbits again. But now, they’ve changed their minds and decided to give it another try. So this year, my parents decided to give it another try. And I’m so glad they did. This new rabbit feels like a second chance a chance to do things better, to love deeper, and to be more prepared.
We used to raise a lot of ducks back in the day—ducks and chickens were actually our main source of income. It was part of our everyday life. We had over 50+ ducks at one point, and they brought a sense of purpose and stability to our simple living. Waking up to the sounds of the farm, feeding them every morning, and collecting eggs became part of our routine. It wasn’t easy work, but it helped us get by.
Unfortunately, when the pandemic hit, things started to change. One of the biggest challenges we faced was the sudden increase in the price and demand for animal feed. It became too expensive for us to sustain the number of ducks we had. As much as we wanted to continue, we had to make the tough decision to stop. So we sold them all, and the rest, we consumed within the family. It was hard letting go of something that had become part of our life, but we had to prioritize what was practical at the time.
Now, after some time has passed, we’ve decided to go back to raising ducks again. It feels good to return to something familiar, something that gave us joy and a means of living. Slowly but surely, we’re rebuilding. Our ducks have started laying eggs again, and they’re about to hatch soon. That simple sign of life and progress has brought so much joy to our hearts. It may not be much to others, but for us, it’s a symbol of hope and resilience. We’re just grateful to have this chance again to work with our hands, raise something from the ground up, and find joy in the little things.
Chickens have always been part of our home. Ever since I can remember, my parents have loved raising them. At one point, we had so many different breeds—Rhode IslandS, Bantams, Barb chickens, the local Manok Bisaya, and more. It honestly felt like we had our own little chicken village in the backyard😅. Each breed had its own look and its own sound. Some were bossy, some were shy, and a few were surprisingly friendly.
These days, we’ve been focusing more on raising Kabir chickens. They’re a great choice because they provide good-quality, native-style meat,and they’re tough enough to adapt to our environment. Plus, they’re more resistant to common diseases, which makes caring for them a bit easier.
Over the years, we’ve learned so much about raising chickens from feeding and housing to recognizing when one’s not feeling well. And while Kabir chickens are our current favorite, my parents are already talking about bringing in new breeds again soon. They miss the variety, and honestly, I kind of do too. There’s just something special about hearing all the different chicken calls in the morning and watching them interact like they’ve got their own little society going on.
Aside from Kabir chickens, we also raise a kind called Bantres. What makes them special is how fast they grow. if you're raising chickens to sell or for food, Bantres are a great option because you don't have to wait long before they’re ready. That quick turnaround can really help, especially if you’re trying to earn some extra income through backyard farming or a small business.
Bantres may grow fast, but they’re also quite sensitive. They don’t do well with extreme heat or cold, and if you’re not careful, they can easily get sick. It’s not like you can just feed them and forget them they really need close attention and care every day. So while they offer fast results, they come with their own set of challenges.
Still, I think that’s what makes raising them meaningful. It’s like they remind us that not everything fast and promising is necessarily easy. They teach us something valuable: quick results still require patience, effort, and responsibility. Whether it’s animals or life in general, success isn’t just about speed it’s about how much heart you put into it.
By the way, we also prepared a new batch of young Bantres, so that once the bigger ones are ready for harvest, we’ll already have the next group to follow.
These tiny birds may be small, but their personalities are huge. Every time I watch them flit around their space, chirping and playing, I can't help but smile. They're always moving, always chirping, and they somehow just know how to bring joy to anyone watching. It’s like having a handful of feathery comedians in our backyard haha they’re such a delight to be around.
But what truly makes them special isn't just their playful energy it’s their loyalty. Once these birds find a partner, they become inseparable. You’ll always see them side by side, preening each other or snuggling close. There’s something so pure about it. In their own little way, they show us what real companionship looks like.
They’ve brought a whole new vibe to our mini park at home. Even when I feel stressed or down, they somehow make everything a little bit lighter. It’s strange how such small creatures can have such a big impact on your mood but they really do. They’ve become part of our family in a way that’s hard to explain.
We currently have five pairs in total, and we take care of them like we would any pet. Actually, when we bought them, the seller told us they were easy to breed, which was one of the reasons my parents decided to go for it even if the price was expensive😂. At first, I thought, that it was just too expensive and they're small. but now that they’re here, I can honestly say it was worth every cent. They’re beautiful to look at.
It’s funny how something so simple like birds in a mini garden can bring so much peace and happiness into our lives. And you know what? My parents are even talking about getting a parrot one day when we have time and space for it. That would definitely add even more personality to our little flock.
We have a pineapple plant too!! The fruit is still growing, but it already looks so cool. It’s fun to watch it get bigger little by little each day. Pineapples are known to take a long time to grow, so we definitely need to be patient but I have a feeling it’s going to be worth the wait. On average, it takes around 18 months to even up to three years to produce edible fruit, whether you’re growing from seeds, seedlings, or even just the crown of another pineapple.
Every time I see it, I’m reminded that good things really do take time. Sure, we’re excited to finally taste it one day, but for now, we’re just happy seeing it grow healthy and strong. It feels like a little treasure sitting right in the middle of our garden something special that we're looking forward to, one slow day at a time.
Actually, we were supposed to have two pineapple plants bearing fruit at the same time. The other one was almost ready to harvest too. But sadly, it died because of the crazy weather we had—hot and rainy back and forth. So now, we only have one pineapple plant with fruit on it. Still, we’re not too disappointed. We have several more young pineapple plants growing, so it’s okay. Hopefully, in time, we’ll have more fruit to enjoy.
Growing pineapples has definitely been a test of patience, but also a quiet kind of joy—watching something grow slowly, steadily, and beautifully.
If I am to enumerate all we got in our park, we need to have a part 2 haha. Because there are so many of them. COMPANION’s MiniPark might be small, but it means a lot to us. It’s not just about animals and plants it’s about family, teamwork, and learning. Every day, we take care of something together, and that brings us closer. We learn responsibility, patience, and the joy of seeing things grow.
I’m really proud of what we’ve built. It started with just a few animals and plants, but now it’s growing into something bigger. Our MiniPark is a happy, peaceful place, and I can’t wait to see how it grows more in the future. Thanks for reading.
