Homestead During Pandemic

This past year we were able to build a fenced-in yard for my sister. This project included drainage, soil, brick walls, and an outdoor kitchen. It took a community of people here in the US providing funding, and a team in Vietnam to design and build a beautiful yard. During the pandemic my sister, H'No, has been putting it to good use homesteading.

In the village, my sister stays home to take care of her grandchildren and grows food. In her backyard, she grows varieties of vegetables such as cassava plants, cucumber, squash, eggplant, papaya, ginger, herbs, beans and so much more. The trellises are for the climbers type of veggies, like cucumber and gourd.

I see resilience in their hearts and it inspires me to continue to invest in their well-being. As a human being, I hold a sacred contract to support my fellow humans.

In addition to taking care of her children and grandchildren, during the pandemic she began to operate a cashew nut shelling business. Due to the increase of Covid cases, the country has been in a shutdown and the government implements strict rules to prevent the spread of new Covid strains. During a series of lockdowns that kept many villagers away from their farms, it is a way to make a little money.

Every week, the main producer drops off a few hundred kilos of nuts to her house. She then distributes them to neighbors, family, and friends. The villagers bring the cashews back to their homes to deshell. This helps them all to earn a little bit of money. For H’No, it helps her be able to afford salt, sugar, and milk for her grandkids. 

I see them via video call, sitting on the floor with their heads focused on the cashews. Their fingers sustain cuts from the sharp objects that they use to peel the cashews shells. The shells are toxic, and many have allergic reactions.

This work entails long days of peeling cashew nuts. They work from early morning to after midnight in order to meet the monthly quota. Each month, after distributing what they made to the other workers, her income is approximately $20-$30 USD.

My sister and her grandchild