Meet Palepoi Valoaga from the village of Faleasiu.

The 62-year-old has only one wish this Christmas, and that is to have his own vegetable garden. 

But he doesn’t have the tools.

Palepoi told the Village Voice team yesterday that having a vegetable garden could help locals cope with the expensive cost of living nowadays. 

“We all have struggles within our families, but we try our best to encounter those struggles day by day,” he said.

“At my age, people might think I just need to relax, but I want to do a vegetable garden.”

He however does not have the tools to start his garden. 

“Growing vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumber and other fruits that we do have in our surrounding is going to be a fruitful.

“However, I cannot fulfill that dream because I do not have the materials or vegetable seeds to begin.”

Palepoi says his family is financially okay, but the needed help in certain areas. 

“We have people currently working at the moment, but their pay is not enough for our family survival and contribution to church and our village.”

He said it’s time the Samoan people work the land. 

“This is where the blessings are.

“I also know it takes a long time to wait for our crops to harvest, but once it is harvested and sold to the public, then it is going be a lot of money.

“That money can put food on the table, but at the same time can assist with church and village obligations.

“Our electricity and water is not a problem but that is my one wish at this time is to have my very own vegetable garden.”