Living a nourishing life can mean different things to different people. For Jelina Haines — textile artist, ethnographic researcher, and community arts worker — the cultivation of her home garden over the past seven years has played a major role in both the management of her diabetes and her wider lifestyle.  

Jelena was born in the Philippines but now lives in South Gawler (Kaurna country, South Australia) with husband, Malcolm, and son, Marlon. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2019. 

“At first, I thought that I was just having a low sugar problem as I always had the symptoms of hypoglycaemia,” she says. “It took two years for my diabetes to be diagnosed properly.” 

A labour of love

Though now integral to Jelina’s approach to her diabetes, the family’s fondness for gardening was blossoming long before she was diagnosed. They created a garden named Ligaya — meaning ‘happiness’ in Tagalog (a Central Philippine language). — an ongoing labour of love begun by Malcolm. 

Featuring many tropical plants that reflect Jelina’s upbringing in the Philippines, the garden layout supports the plants in the South Australian climate, with larger fruit trees providing protection for smaller shrubs below.  

Regular exercise and a healthy diet

As well as providing the regular exercise and healthy diet recommended for type 2 diabetes management, the garden also provides Filipino remedies that, Jelina says, help her to maintain her blood glucose levels.  

“As a person now living with type 2 diabetes, everything changes, including the food I eat,” Jelina says. 

“When I had my first appointment with the dietician, I realised I had to adjust how I eat. I went back to the Filipino system of mealtimes, which consists of frequent meals of small portions (i.e. breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner). 

“One plant we often eat in my home country is bitter gourd, or ampalaya. It’s an acquired taste because the vegetable is really bitter, but it has many nutrients that can be beneficial to health, so we are now growing it in our garden. We also grow longevity spinach, moringa, okra, kalamansi, sweet potato leaves and taro, which I eat every day. 

“One of my favourite meals is a longevity spinach smoothie.  I add peanuts as my substitute for sugar and kalamansi juice for the tangy taste.” 

The importance of community

In her work as an ethnographic researcher, Jelina focuses on the transfer of knowledge within South Australian Indigenous communities. As a practicing artist she also celebrates the importance of community and is the co-founder of the Ngarrindjeri Eco Art Co-op, while her garden provides her with plants and eco-dyes for her weaving practice.  

This wide range of creative and professional pursuits has found its way into the spirit and purpose of the garden. For Jelina, the green space has become a place to rest and nourish her mind and body. 

“Ligaya is a special kind of happiness that comes from being connected to family and community— our garden is a testament to a health-focused design space. 

“It is my sanctuary and my therapy space when I am homesick, stressed about my study, and grumpy. The tropical plants from my home country provide food.” 

Plans for a recipe book

After years of experiencing the benefits of a home garden, Jelina now plans to produce a recipe book for others living with type 2 diabetes. 

Until then, her gardening advice is simple: ‘start small, save your seeds for the next season’, and make the garden a ‘family effort’. With summer in full bloom across the country, there is no better time to start.  

More reading

https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/ligaya-garden/13563592