Twelve-year-old Jajohn Fakatava, on the Tongan island of Vava’u, is enthusiastic about working in his home garden so that he can share with others.
With his father as his teacher, Jajohn learned basic gardening skills and put them to work. The family has an impressive home garden with an abundance of vegetables, herbs, and crops.
Every space on their property is utilized, displaying different ways to grow produce on a small piece of land.
When asked what they use their garden for, Jajohn said, “We eat vegetables every day of the week. The rest (90%) are for the widows and families who are hungry. We do not sell any of the crops we harvest. We also share with our neighbours.”
Jajohn is putting into practice a key principle of family food storage and self-reliance taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In the publication, "All is safely gathered in," the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints state: “Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use.
"His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to 'prepare every needful thing,' so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbours and support bishops as they care for others.”
