Siem Reap, KH – Land mine victim feeds family from vegetable garden – 25 Sep 2014

Mr KS is ex-military, when he was a government soldier he stepped on a mine and lost his left foot. This terrible accident left him disabled and unable to work. He recounts that “I was very sad and disappointed soon after my accident”. Since the accident, the family have mainly been dependent on KS’s wife’s small income that she has earned as a street vendor selling cakes and sweets in the village.

After hearing about the Food Always In The Home (FAITH) organic vegetable garden program, KS came to the garden shop’s farm to talk with Rey the manager. Following a number of conversations and a mentoring visit to his home, the shop team helped the family to build their own organic vegetable garden. KS’s wife has been very successful with the garden because they planted vegetables wisely using FAITH garden techniques to grow high value crops. As a result of her hard work and diligence, she has one of the most successful, clean and well-maintained gardens in Peak Sneang village.Mrs KS has planted short-term, annual and semi-annual vegetables, and protected them with a fence and insect repellent plants that help repel animals and bugs. She has sold the extra of her produce at the market, and this has enabled her to use the profits to start raising  chickens.Mrs KS has set a great example for other families in the village as she has not only sold her produce to generate income, but she has also been able to provide a healthy and balanced diet for her family using her own organic vegetables.Mr KS has been able to work and help support his family as he has played a vital role in maintaining the garden. The KS family is very grateful to the garden shop for giving them a chance to be able to have garden that helps them feed their children and also be able to generate extra income. Mr KS has told Rey that since he started the family garden he has not had to spend any money on fruit or vegetables at the market, so the family has been able to buy other items that are necessaries for their home.