French man with garden full of Vietnamese vegetables: Netizens praise him

Mr. Andre Souppaya spent nearly 10 years renovating a small 120 ^m2 garden in the suburbs of Paris, France, successfully growing many types of Vietnamese vegetables.

Mr. André Souppaya (51 years old, French nationality) has a Vietnamese mother and an Indian father. He was born in Ho Chi Minh City and lived in his mother's hometown Ca Mau until he was 15 years old. In 1990, he settled in France and married a native French woman. The couple has a happy family with two children, a boy and a girl. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, he returned to Vietnam regularly, but later, due to lack of time, he had to keep his homesickness in his heart.

Giant long gourds in Andre Souppaya's garden

PHOTO: NVCC

The man is 1m76 tall, and has a gourd that is taller than him.

PHOTO: NVCC

Despite the harsh weather conditions and cold winters, he has successfully grown many types of Vietnamese vegetables such as squash, pumpkin, bitter melon, luffa, chayote and familiar herbs and spices. Currently, as winter approaches, his garden is still green with rows of green mustard, spinach, onions, chives, coriander and garlic, indispensable ingredients in many Vietnamese dishes prepared by him.

He planted and took care of the garden himself.

PHOTO: NVCC

"I am proud that all the vegetables in the garden are nourished with organic fertilizer and homemade vermicompost. Kitchen waste such as vegetable peels, fruits, and coffee grounds are composted by me and then processed by vermicompost to create a natural source of nutrients. This method not only helps the soil to be fertile, plants to grow well, but also protects the environment and family health," said Mr. Andre Souppaya.

From the harvested vegetables, he has processed them into dishes with a strong hometown flavor such as green cabbage soup with shrimp, fried eggs with chives, bitter melon stir-fried with eggs, and hotpot with Chinese spinach...

Lush green vegetable garden, harvest all year round

PHOTO: NVCC

"Gardening for me is not only a hobby but also a way to preserve the flavor of my homeland in a foreign land. The lush green vegetable beds and meals from my home garden are a source of pride and a bridge between my current life and my homeland's culture," the man shared.

Mr. Andre Souppaya shared that he is a son of the countryside, so he really likes dishes made from vegetables. In France, vegetables are very expensive, not always available, and he is concerned about health safety, so he wants his family to have a garden.

Vegetables full of color

PHOTO: NVCC

At first, growing and caring for tropical vegetables in cold countries was never easy. However, with patience, passion and farming secrets, he is satisfied with his current garden.

The tubers he harvests regularly

PHOTO: NVCC

He has not been back to Vietnam for the traditional Tet holiday for a long time because his children are busy at school. However, he and his friends often gather to prepare traditional dishes, many of which are harvested from his own garden.

Bitter melon full of fruit

PHOTO: NVCC

Netizens enthusiastically praise the man with a 'cool hand'

PHOTO: NVCC

"During my childhood, the countryside was still difficult, so sadness, happiness, hunger and suffering are all unforgettable memories for me. Perhaps the simple meals my mother cooked, and the poor family that only had vegetables as the main ingredients, inspired me to grow crops until now," the man confided.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-dan-ong-phap-voi-khu-vuon-ngap-tran-rau-cu-viet-nam-dan-mang-ngot-loi-khen-185241205145224775.htm