A number of little business outlets all over Upolu gathered today at the Malaefatu Park at Sogi to sell their goods and products for Mother’s Day including Pepe’s Gardening Business. 

Pepe’s Gardening is based at Lotopa where she resides and looks after her plants to sell. 

The 70-year-old businesswoman is a recent retiree from New Zealand, and testifies that although she did plant grooming and caring as a hobby in New Zealand she has now taken it to another level and is making a profit from her love of gardening. 

“It was a hobby but now it’s a small business, making a living off of my plants, making little money to pay for my expenses and to keep me going .I used to grow my plants in my front yard and backyard in New Zealand…Gardening for me is more than a hobby now it keeps me active and I make enough," she told his newspaper. 

The avid gardener admits that she has only been planting and grooming for about four years, and it keeps her occupied and healthy in her twilight years as she couldn't imagine herself sitting at home, doing nothing. She believed she could make her leisurely gardening pursuits in to a business and turn a profit to cater for her daily needs, as well as support her workers who help her with her passion. 

“I wondered what I could do to spend my time, and I thought instead of just growing and grooming them, I could also sell my plants…I also enjoy the environment here at the market, being able to mingle and meet new local people who are also selling their interesting products and their local produce.”

Aside from selling plants, Pepe also processes manioka into a powder-like formula which she sells alongside her faausi (manioka starch) as a delicacy.

Pepe said that although she is a plant enthusiast and businesswoman, she also participates in the Samoa Women’s Association of Growers where they promote and share similar interests.

“We (S.W.A.G) operate every Saturday morning at the [Samoa Tourism Authority] building.“

And one of her gardening secrets? Pepe said she talked to her plants.