Visit to Peanut Farm Harvest

On 11th and 14th of December we went to visit our Peanut Farm Project in Fatumu as they were harvesting their peanuts.  All that we talked with are very happy about the results of this project, how they will have funds to help pay for the school fees for their children and plus enough to pay for the preparation of the land to replant.  They all said that they will be continuing with this project.  We were very happy as this is what our projects are all about, helping the people to become more self-reliant, to take care of themselves.  Following are some photos of our visit to the Peanut Farm.

This field is one of the last ones that was planted and will be harvested in February.  The crop is looking good!

Here is one of the families harvesting their peanuts.  The crops have been very good, the peanuts nice and big.

They pull them and then pile them to dry before they then pull the peanuts from the plants.

Here Elder Murdock and Ana Ika are enjoying the green peanut!

This little family was able to harvest 17 bags of peanuts from their little acre.  Each bag sells for $150 TOP which is a great help to the family's finances!

Here is another family harvesting their acre of peanuts, again the crop is good.

This is the same family with the boys helping.  Here they are piling them to dry.

Here this family is picking the peanuts from the plants.  The elderly Tongan in the black is 80 years old and is still involved in this peanut farm project.  He was amazing to see how hard he worked.

Once the peanuts are picked from the plants, they are then spread out on mats to dry before they are bagged and sold.  Each day they dump the bags on the mats and stir them in the sun as long as the sun is shining.  At night they re bag and then bring them out again in the morning if the sun is shining.  Quite a process!

Here is another family with some of their peanuts that they have harvested.  All have been very happy with the outcome and plan to continue planting peanuts as this is something that the whole family can do, including the children.  We are so happy for all of them at their success!

"The old way of earning by our labor is the best way to become rich."    Anthon H. Lund