Battambang, KH – HPH’s expanded garden earns income – 18 Mar 2016

Life is hard for the HPH family of five living in rural Battambang, Cambodia. They work in their small rice field under the hot sun most days, and scour the forest for firewood on others. Mrs. HPH also bakes small rice cakes to sell near the road for US$0.03 each. They are now involved with the Healthy Life Shop organic vegetable garden program which allows them to harvest healthy vegetables every day to feed their three children. They have also expanded their vegetable garden so that excess produce can be sold at the market to increase their income.

Their earnings from the rice field and other activities is not enough to consistently put food on the table or to send their children to school, so they are forced to look for other ways to support their family. The organic vegetable garden program provides them with healthy food to eat, so they don’t have to go to the market to buy any vegetables. The gardens are also known to bring families closer together because Mrs. HPH loves showing her children the joy of planting, weeding, and watering it every day.

After planting their first family garden, they realized that the techniques taught to them by the garden shop team could make small areas very productive. HPH decided to expand his garden and plant salad, cauliflower and gourds to sell at the market. They are able to harvest these vegetables every other week and earn US$10-15 each harvest. The much needed income goes to school uniforms and shoes for their children.

The family are interested in increasing their earning potential and are applying for a pig loan from the Healthy Life Garden Shop. They hope that the pigs will earn them enough to continue improving their lives.