There’s no better way to celebrate a Mother’s day public holiday than at a beautiful Garden Extravaganza.

The garden extravaganza which was held at Gina’s Garden, Vaivase-Tai, was an initiative by the Women in Business Development Inc. (W.I.B.D.I.) group to fundraise $230,000 for a processing warehouse that is being built at Nu’u.

The group already secured funds from the Enhanced Integrated Fund to build most of the warehouse but they were still left short; thus the idea for a national fundraiser was born.

Celebrity Chef, Author and T.V. celebrity, Robert Oliver and TV1 New Zealand television personality Pippa Wetzell both showed their support for the event by travelling to Samoa to attend.

Without a cloud in the sky, the guests (with all sorts of hats) were treated to a beautiful event where many different organic products were displayed and up for sale.

The event was made possible through the support of organic farmers and W.I.B.D.I. staff who had donated garden produce, chickens and pigs for the fundraiser.

Some of the W.I.B.D.I. staff had also donated a portion of their weekly salary to help host the Garden Extravaganza.

All the help was evidence of how the warehouse is essential to the group for getting a better return for the smallholder farmers by being able to produce export-quality goods.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi spoke about the importance of the event – and the contribution by women to the development of Samoa.

“Today is our national holiday to honor the mothers of Samoa,” he said.

“By my recollection, Samoa was the first island nation in the Pacific to honor our women in the early 90’s through the establishment of a ministry set up especially for women. To promote issues that are distinctively and traditionally within the responsibility of the women in Samoa.

“And that is the welfare of the children in terms of their education and health needs, the general hygiene and cleanliness of the village grounds and the meeting houses as well as the traditional hospitality of the visitors to the villages.”

Tuilaepa also praised W.I.B.D.I. for promoting organic farming.

“Our gathering here this afternoon is to provide support to another women’s initiative in their communal activities such as business undertakings in organic farming,” he said. “That is the kind of farming that is natural or traditional. It is environmentally friendly and cheaper; and people can value their health by eating produce of the sort that is not polluted from the use of excessive chemicals.

“Organic farming crops are the perfect source of sustenance that will promote healthy living.

“We have heard that the special reason for this afternoon is in connection to the funding of W.I.B.D.I.’s proposed warehouse.”

Guests enjoyed the rest of the day with a galore of organic food, lemon juice, niu and Taula beer.