Farming life skills pay off

By Ilia L. Likou 03 February 2017, 12:00AM

Lessons from the past are the best way to learn.

Gauta Si’u, a mother and grandmother from the village of Faleasi’u, says these lessons are often passed from generation to generation – or in her case, she had to learn it through practice.

Aged 41, Gauta and her husband are farmers. They did not get any formal training but rather picked up the skills required from working and observing their elders.

 “Growing up in my own family back in the day, to be honest, we were very poor,” she said.

“It wasn’t an easy life and I know how hard it was. It’s something I don’t want my children to experience.”

Education she believes is the answer.

Which is why she works hard to pay her children’s school fees.

 “Today, we have our own plantation in our village.

“My family has been relying on what we grow in the plantation for three years now.

“You see, there’s a lot a plantation can do for my family, not only they provide us food but money as well. We grow all sorts of crops. We have bananas, yams, pineapples, cucumbers and so on.”

Gauta said the money from the crops vary from time to time but it doesn’t matter to her.

“As long as there is enough money to put food on the table for my family and to support my family as long as I live, I’m happy.

“God has blessed us with everything despite few challenges but I know challenges inspire and motivate us most of the time.”

However, one of the challenges she encounters every year is the weather.

“We’re hoping the weather will be favorable to us this year, and we will harvest well. If we do harvest well, we hope to continue on planting pineapples and cucumbers to the other side.

“And if not, then we’ll look into other ways to keep us going.

She admits that her family is a blessing.

“I have six children, three of them are still in school. Looking at my children everyday and my family, is a joy.

 “Knowing that I can provide for them everyday especially their school uniforms, fees, registration and other stuff is the best feeling ever.

“Life is very simple, if you don’t work hard then you won’t move forward with life because there’s no need to rely on others, government to help you, your children and your family.

 “But, there’s nothing too hard when we trust ourselves.”

Her message is simple – if you can dream it, you can do it!

By Ilia L. Likou 03 February 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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