Never underestimate small beginnings, what we plant today can become tomorrow’s blessing.
Hello, fellow farmers and gardeners here on Hive, especially to the @hivegarden community! Today, I’m happy to share another farming story, this time about my father’s chayote (sayote) farm.
Whenever we go home, one of the first things I notice is my father’s chayote plants. They may look simply, but these vegetables have become a big help to our family. Chayote grows well in our area because of the good soil and climate. The plants are healthy, green and full of fruits, showing how much care and effort my father puts into farming.
Before, chayote was not very popular. It was cheap and not easy to sell. Many people didn’t pay much attention to it. But things have changed now. People started to discover that Chayote has many benefits. It is good for digestion, blood pressure, and overall health. Because of this, the demand for chayote increased and even hospitals now place bulk orders. This made chayote one of the most sellable vegetables in our local market.
My father sells chayote directly in the market for 6 pesos per piece. For retail in the market, it is sold at 30 pesos per kilo. In other places, chayote is sold for 10 to 25 pesos per piece, which shows a very big markup. Still, buyers continue to purchase because of the demand and health value. This proves that farming, when done right and at the right time, can be profitable.
Selling chayote is not difficult anymore. Buyers come regularly, and sometimes the harvest already reserved even before market day. The income helps with daily needs and farm expenses. What’s good about this crop is that it doesn’t require expensive maintenance. My father focuses on simple care, cleaning dry leaves, checking the vines and using fertilizers only when needed. We don’t use pesticides, which makes the chayote safer and healthier for consumers.
Another good thing about planting chayote is that we do not need to buy seeds. We use mature chayote fruits and from these, new plants grow naturally. This makes planting easier, cheaper and very practical for farmers like us.
I would also like to share that when I took these photos, most of the chayote had already been harvested. That’s why there were fewer fruits left on the plants. Even so, you can still see how healthy and well maintained the vines are during peak harvest season, the plants are usually full of chayote, and the yield is much higher.
This farm reminds me that even simple crops can become a blessing. With patience, hard work and proper care, farming can provide a stable income. It also teaches us to value nature and the food we eat every day.
I’m proud of my father and his dedication to farming. His chayote farm is not just a source of income, but also a symbol of perseverance and hope. Thank you so much for taking time to read my simple farming blog. Your support means a lot. 💚💛