Battambang, KH – Volunteers help grandmother’s interest in a garden – 30 May 2014

One morning when Rob and Angie from UK were helping build a vegetable garden, DG was sitting beside the garden and giving a big smile as a way of showing she wanted to talk about something. Rob was shaping bamboo for a post, Salee and Angie were digging a raised garden bed, while Pak and Lai were carrying in sacks of organic fertilizer for the new garden. Very hot sweaty work!

Salee noticed DG and walked over to her giving her a warm and respectful smile, suddenly she called out to Salee. “Nephew, nephew! Could you please help me build a garden”. She said she is very willing to plant an organic garden for supporting her grand-children, and added that she had already planted some vegetables.

Salee did not say yes immediately, but arranged to meet her at her home for further discussion.  When they met, he learned that DG is a grandmother to three grand-children who she cares for while their parents work in neighboring Thailand trying to earn sufficient income to support their family. All three children are in school. After Salee and DG’s discussion, the garden shop decided to help DG build her garden.

DG is a very hard working lady. She not only works hard in her garden but also works very hard to be a good role model for her grand children. She told Salee that she has also taught her grand-children to plant vegetables. Her garden now looks very fresh and productive.

DG harvests the vegetable daily for feeding her grand-children. Additionally, she sells surplus vegetables such as morning glory, pumpkin, salad, and long bean. She has earned US$40 so far which she is using to support her grand-children’s education.

The garden has had some challenges! Small pests came to damage the garden, but DG solved the problem with a natural pest repellant.

DG is so grateful to the shop team because the garden is making a big contribution to her cost of living and her grand-children’s education. She hopes that more gardens can be built for other vulnerable families.