Siem Reap, KH – Mrs PWP explains why the family values their home vegetable garden – Mar 2023

In the dry season (37 degree C / 98 degress F) in rural Cambodia Peaksneng, some families argue about who among them has the greenest garden. The PWP family might not get the top one best garden, but their garden has been a great help to the family. Mother says “it is where we get our food during this dry season”. During dry months in Peaksneng, the rice fields lie flat, brown, barren, and the wind whips dust around. Under the bright-blue sunny skies, there’s not much activity in the fields at this time of year because it’s so hot.

“The dry season can make gardening difficult … but with the water well we dug at home, the garden can be cultivated year-round” says PWP. The Peaksneng garden shop teaches families how to plant squash, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, beans and other alternative crops to rice. The gardens not only provide needed nutrition for the family, but surplus vegetables can be sold at the market, generating critically needed income for family daily needs.

PWP says “Without this garden, it would have been difficult for us to find enough food for the family, it is a great help for us, and we are thankful for the continued support of Peasneng shop providing us every seeds we needed during the shop manager’s mentoring visit. Our dream is to support our children to finish school and find a better work in the future.”