Samoa "Food Initiative" and Sauniatu

This week Gary had to go to Samoa alone as Susan was recovering from minor foot surgery.  The vegetation in Samoa is beautiful.  Gary said that the climate and growing season in Samoa must be much closer to the “Garden of Eden” than most other places on Earth.

There are some great artists on Samoa and some beautiful wood carvings

Gary spent the majority of his time reviewing a humanitarian “Food Initiative” project designed to help the people of Samoa to grow better gardens, providing nutritious food for families and income from the sale of excess produce.  The location where skills are taught is the “Sauniatu”  (Sunny–Ahh–Too) Farm.  People are taught soil preparation, planting, cultivation, harvesting, nutrition, food preparation and product marketing.  People “come and see – go home and do”.  Many families are now eating better and bringing a little extra income home.

People learning the basics of composting and soil preparation.

Food preparation and basic sanitation are also practiced at the Sauniatu Farm    

The skills learned at the Sauniatu demonstration farm are 
taken home and put to work in family gardens.

 Extra vegetables can be sold which helps to bring in a little extra income 

This man’s garden is so successful that some of the hotels now come to him each week to buy vegetables for their restaurants.  His family now eats better and enjoys a little extra income from the sale of the produce.

Do you remember the post we made a few weeks ago where a New Zealand school donated their furniture, school supplies and sports equipment to a Samoan school?  Well Gary was able to meet the school principal and see the furniture, supplies and sports equipment, which had arrived in Samoa last week.  School is out for the Christmas holiday, but the principal said he, the teachers and all the students were so very happy to receive these donations.  They will make a real difference for the children.

It seems like this work trip was a little too enjoyable for him.  We’ll have to
make sure that when he goes to Samoa again, he won’t be going alone.