A blooming vegetable garden in the middle of a busy city keeps family healthy

Melany, a mother of four, had to spend around P500 per week just to buy vegetables and fruits in the nearby market. The expense was already a significant cut from her husband’s humble salary who works as a security guard.

But the mother was determined to provide nutritious meals to her family even during the height of the pandemic when prices of vegetables in the market increased. Her number one reason was to improve her youngest daughter’s nutrition who was considered underweight.

“Julie, my daughter, didn’t have any appetite while she was a toddler. She only relied with my breastmilk. I know that it is also important that she should also eat nutritious meals regularly to have a well-balanced health,” says the caring mother.

There were times during the pandemic that Melany’s budget fell short, and she couldn’t afford to but vegetables and meat. This worried her because she didn’t want her daughter to suffer worse.

Thankfully, a blessing came in their community in the form of an urban vegetable garden project. Under the Urban Development Project (UDP) of World Vision Philippines and Singapore in partnership with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), selected parents who had children who were underweight were invited to join the project.

Each family received packs of vegetable seeds, a sack of black soil, and other gardening materials. They were also taught on some gardening techniques that they can use in an urban setting.

After receiving the gardening kits, Melany and her husband Jose, who is an experienced farmer in his hometown, planted the seedlings carefully around their house in Mandaue City.

“With this project, I learned the importance of planting. We can ensure that the plants are maintain well without the use of harmful chemicals. We can also harvest it and cook immediately while its fresh,” narrates Melany.

The family also received a total of 100 kilos of rice grain in a span of four phase of the gardening project. They received it as incentive of their effort in accomplishing each phase.

Melany is also happy that her daughter already recovered from her underweight status. She was enrolled in a nutrition feeding program that is also part of UDP. There she developed the appetite of eating nutritious meals which she continues at home.

Now, the vegetable garden is growing abundantly in their front yard. The family is thankful to the project for supporting them during the pandemic.