By Margaret Leonie Grainger | Vice President Hand to Hand Foundation
Our 'Garden to Market' project is flourishing with an abundance of food! Over the past few months, we have been growing Thai herbs, sweet potatoes, bananas, papaya, limes and cucumbers.
There are now 3 full-time and 4 part-time growers who tend the garden using the land and resources of the Hand to Hand Foundation. These growers are able to use some of the produce to feed their families and also sell the remainder to the foundation who then give the fruit, vegetables and herbs to the poor for free. The growers record the number of hours they spend in the garden and are rewarded on a pro rata basis.
Covid 19 restrictions have made tending to the gardens difficult with the restricted travel and numbers of people allowed to gather together. When there is a will there is always a way, and we have managed to comply with all government regulations and keep the gardens going.
We have also started to extend the project into a poor local Nong Yai area. The foundation has been given a small piece of land rent free which we are using to start up a new community garden. The first step was to clear the 'jungle' and fence the plot. Growers from our program then assisted the members of this community to build garden beds ready for fruit, vegetables and herbs to be planted. These growers are also raising the seedlings which will help give the garden a head start and they will be paid for these to provide an income for their families.
Covid 19 has disrupted the availability of many resources and we are waiting on a water tank to be delivered so there is a water source for the garden. A solar pump will also be purchased.
All resources including water, plants soil and tools etc. are provided free of charge by the Hand to Hand Foundation. Once the garden is established the community will be responsible for its care and also keep 100% of the produce.
Our goal is to keep reproducing this gardening project in many poor communities throughout the Pattaya area.
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