Friends inspire Ryland to start backyard farm

INSPIRED by her close friends, Bulou Ryland bought vegetable seeds to start her own backyard garden at her Nasinu home.

Mrs Ryland said she bought cabbage, bean, cucumber, tomatoes and eggplant seeds from a shop in Suva.

“After seeing how my friends had their own backyard gardens, this prompted me to start one for my family,” she said.

“We have seen that it’s very beneficial to us and saves us a lot of money.”

She said seeds did not cost much but it could save people a lot of money.

“It’s less than $4 a packet of seeds and it could help you save your money once you harvest your own produce right at the back of your homes.”

She said it was high time Fijians started planting their own food — especially now.

“If you have your own backyard garden you’re assured to have the much needed vegetable intake for you and your family’s diet.

“However, if you are lazy you will continue to struggle to find ways to feed your family. It all starts with you.

“If you’re willing to save your money and eat right you would consider having your own gardens.”

Mrs Ryland said with the current COVID-19 situation, people needed to reconsider how they choose to feed their families.

“We need to make use of whatever little plot of land we have.

“We need to sweat and toil the land to be able to feed our families.

“This is not the time to be convening to drink too much grog, we must invest our time on other useful things that will benefit our families.”