Hello Hive family,
Today being Saturday, I decided to follow my grandma to the farm. I just came back home from school some days ago for a short break, and one thing I always look forward to whenever I’m home is spending time with her. She is very strong for her age, and she doesn’t joke with her farming.
The morning started like every normal Saturday at home. Grandma tied her wrapper, picked her hoe, and told me to come along. I didn’t even think twice because it’s been a while since I went to the farm with her. Life in school is always busy, so being home feels like breathing fresh air again.
We walked down the narrow path that led to her farmland. The ground was still cool from last night’s dew, and the breeze carried the smell of wet soil. On the way, Grandma kept talking about how farming has sustained her all through her life. She told me that as long as you have vegetables, you will never go hungry.
I smiled as I listened because sometimes in school, I spend money every day on food, yet here she was showing me that food can be as close as your backyard or farm.
When we reached the farm, the first thing that drew my attention was the green Anara (Malabar spinach) spreading across the place. The leaves looked so broad and fresh that I had to bend down and touch them. They were thick and soft at the same time.
Grandma noticed how fascinated I was and laughed. She said, “Nwa m, this is Akwukwo Anara. It is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, and it is very healthy.”
She showed me how to pluck the leaves the right way. She explained that the more you pluck them, the more they grow back, and I found that so interesting.
As we worked, Grandma kept sharing her wisdom. She said Anara is important because:
It doesn’t stress her like some other crops.
It grows fast and keeps producing leaves.
It makes food tasty and adds strength to the body.
She even told me that back in the day, people who had Anara in their home gardens were seen as “rich in vegetables” because they always had something fresh to cook.
While plucking the leaves, she described how she uses them in cooking. Sometimes she mixes Anara with oha or ugu to prepare soup. Other times, she uses it in yam porridge, and the green leaves give it a rich color and nice taste.
I remembered one Christmas when she made ugba (oil bean salad) with Anara leaves. It was so delicious, and just thinking of it again made me smile.
I joined her in weeding and arranging the vines. She also showed me how to cut the long stems and replant them. She said within a few days, they would grow again. It amazed me how simple it was to expand the farm.
The farm was quiet and peaceful. The birds were singing, and the fresh air made me forget all the stress of school. Farming with Grandma didn’t feel like work at all. It felt like bonding.
As we rested under a tree, she told me how she sometimes sells extra Anara in the market. She said it sells quickly because it’s not as common as ugu or waterleaf. Even though the money is small, it helps her buy things like salt, soap, and kerosene.
I realized that farming is not just about having food at home. It can also bring in a little income to support other needs.
We carried the basket of Anara leaves back home, and I felt proud walking beside her. It felt good knowing I had joined her in the work.
Later in the evening, she used some of the leaves to prepare yam porridge. I can honestly say that meal was one of the best I’ve eaten in a long time. Maybe it was because I saw the whole process—from the farm to the kitchen. I ate it with so much joy.
Coming back from school to experience this reminded me of the value of home. In school, life feels rushed—lectures, assignments, exams. But at home, life slows down. You get to breathe, connect with family, and eat food fresh from the farm.
That Saturday with my grandma taught me some important lessons:
Patience is key in farming and life.
Food from the farm tastes better than food from the market.
The wisdom of our elders is priceless.
So that was how my Saturday went following my grandma to her farm, learning more about Anara, and enjoying the peace of home. It may look simple to some people, but to me, it was special. It reminded me of who I am and where I come from.
One day, I would love to have my own little farm, but for now, I am just happy to learn from her and share these moments whenever I’m home.
Thank you for reading, Hive family 🌱💚