Hello to all my fellow Hive Garden friends! I hope you are all doing well, wherever you are.
Today, I want to share stories from my auntie’s family farm. I really enjoy seeing the plants they grow and how they care for them. Let’s take a look at their simple farm life together.
My Tita Inday, together with her family, started planting rice many years ago. This is where they get their food, and they sell some of the harvest to buy fertilizer for the next planting season. But they also experienced many hardships in their rice field. She said there was a time she cried a lot because they were expecting a good harvest, but when a typhoon came, everything was destroyed. The strong winds knocked down the rice plants, and the overflowing water flooded the entire field. All their crops were submerged and ruined. She said that was one of the most unforgettable moments in her life.
Now, they are waiting for another harvest, while some of the newly planted crops are still growing. Farming has truly been their main source of livelihood. Because of their hard work on the farm, two of Tita Inday children have already finished college. The eldest is now an engineer and the second is a teacher. It’s truly inspiring and something to be proud of because, despite all the failures and challenges they faced with their crops, they never lost hope. Instead, they continued to work even harder for the better future of their family.
In another section of the farm, Tita Inday planted gabi, or taro, one of her favorite root crops. She planted them in a wet part of the field where water always stays, because gabi grows best in moist soil. There were times when heavy rains almost drowned the plants or strong winds bent their leaves but fortunately, they were not destroyed. She said that because of this plant, she was able to pay for her son's tuition in nursing school. It really helped a lot, so she continues planting gabi. After every harvest, she plants again for the next season.
She also planted cucumbers along the edge of the water flow or canal, where the soil stays moist and helps the plants grow well. The cucumbers are now full of healthy green leaves and already have flowers but they haven’t produced fruits yet.Tita Inday said her daughter is very excited and always checks the plants, waiting for the fruits to grow because she plans to sell them to her classmates at school. She is very proud of her children because they are hardworking and not shy. Sometimes, when she makes salad with fresh cucumbers, her daughter even brings it as part of her lunch.
Tita Inday also planted string beans beside the rice field. She started by building strong bamboo trellises where the vines could climb. Tita said the first few weeks were full of challenges because worms were eating the seeds, and only a few of them sprouted. So, she planted again and after a few days, she finally saw new seedlings growing. Tita Inday didn’t give up. Every morning, she checked the plants carefully and removed the damaged leaves to help them grow healthy. She said that planting requires patience because if it’s not the heat or the storm that becomes the problem, it’s the worms. That’s why now, she takes good care of her string beans.
The cows also help on the farm. They are used for plowing to prepare the soil before planting, which is a big help for the family. Sometimes, when the budget is tight and hiring a tractor is too expensive, they just hire people to work with the cows to plow the land. We also have four cows raised by my siblings, and they help us with plowing too. That’s how life is on the farm.
Look, Tita Inday’s daughters also help out on the farm. They work together to harvest the corn, placing it in sacks to carry it. They hire people to help transport it because the truck cannot reach the area. The family is so kind and hardworking, That is why they are truly blessed.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog!.I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Take care always, stay happy and healthy, and I look forward to sharing my next update with you soon. See you next time bye....