Battambang, KH – Garden contributes to SLT family’s school fees and living costs – 2 Sep 2016

SLT is able to provide nutritious food for herself, her husband and their two children every day by maintaining a productive organic vegetable garden. It also enables her to earn extra income for school fees and living costs.

Before joining the Healthy Life Shop’s garden program, the SLT family worked as laborers in local rice fields and trekked into the jungle to find wild honey and wood to sell for extra income. In the rainy season, they would scour the lakes and rivers for fish, crab, and wild vegetables.

The organic vegetable garden gives the family a reliable source of fresh vegetables and income. The SLT’s expanded garden earns them US$5 to US$7 a week from selling the surplus vegetables.
Climate change is impacting all of Cambodia, so severe rains or droughts can affect the SLT family’s garden productivity. They are saving money to dig a deeper well on their property to prevent shortage of water and maintain raised beds to prevent flooding.

The family dream of being able to expand their income sources in the future by preparing to raise livestock like chickens, ducks, pigs and cows.