Joy Farm: Bringing Nutrition and Independence

What is Joy Farm?

Joy Farm is the newest addition to Joy to the World Foundation Thailand. By installing a farm on our property, we are able to ensure that children can consume fresh, organic vegetables, as well as learning valuable agricultural skills.

In the next six months, Joy Farm hopes to continue to grow even more varieties of vegetables, including bok choy, Chinese kale and long green beans. Our staff is excited to prepare their own fertilizer, as well as experiment with vegetable varieties and soil.

Additionally, as Joy Farm grows, they plan to sell their harvests to restaurant owners and at local markets. These resources will help them continue to pour into the needs of the children we serve.

Why is nutrition so important for children in Thailand?

A recent study from UNICEF states that 1 in 10 children in Thailand live in a state of severe food poverty. While historically this looked like malnutrition, now children also face the struggle of consuming higher amounts of more affordable, processed foods, leading to a lack of fruits, vegetables and meats in their diets.

It is vital that children have access to fresh, healthy food, especially during their early growing years. Surveys have found that in Thailand, 13 per cent of children under five were stunted and 7 per cent were underweight due to prolonged poor nutrition.

Stunting and wasting are more common among children from poverty-stricken households. In Thailand’s southernmost provinces, stunting rates among children under five are 20 per cent.

Joy Farm is teaching lifelong lessons in both the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, as well as how to grow them on their own. We hope that this farm will break cycles of poor nutrition in the children and families we serve.

Hear from our staff and students.

“Vegetables are clean and chemical free, tasty and crunchy, and easy access to vegetables helps us eat more vegetables.” -- Aung, Breanna's House of Joy staff

“Growing our own vegetables helps us use money on other nutritious ingredients such as meat and other ingredients.” -- A-ngoon, Breanna's House of Joy staff

“Growing vegetables creates learning moments for our children, they learn to cook our vegetables for meals. Also it helps reduce the risk of consuming pesticide residue from vegetables in the market.” -- Aon, Breanna's House of Joy Manager

“We got to eat clean and organic vegetables, learned how to grow them and about their benefits.” -- Lyn, age 13, Breanna's House of Joy

“We could grow some good looking vegetables without depending on pesticides.” -- Dadee, age 15, Breanna's House of Joy

“We could learn about hydroponic vegetables, which helps us know how to pick good vegetables for our consumption.” -- Thofun, D1 student  

How can you pray for Joy Farm?

• Pray that we will be able to sell our fresh vegetables in more markets.

• Pray for more land to do farming in the future.

• Pray that staff will be healthy.

• Pray for children to feel the love of God and that this farming gives glory to God.

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