An American planted her garden in Ukraine amidst war

Safe travels and may you have a blessed Christmas Maria.

Thank you. Another fascinating interview. Ukraine is fighting this war at a great cost. Not money but the cost of human life and dignity. Ukraine is also teaching everone around the world not to be afraid of Russia. In the cold war era , we, in Western Europe, were always very suspicious about the USSR and it's huge military might. Now it's just Russia and Ukraine has shown the world that they are not as good as we all thought they were, or as good as they said they were. This amazing lady said something astounding but true. "Ukrainians are wealthy" maybe not financially but there are more aspects to life and happiness than money.

Thank you for sharing Maria's story and if i don't catch another post from you Have A Merry Christmas love to yall.🎄🎅🤶😘❤

Wow! What an amazing woman! She should take hand warmers with her.

Olena i mean another post before Christmas. 🤣🤣🤣🤗😘

Olena - Costco is similar to Sam’s Club, if you’ve been to one of those yet.

With all the Florida gators, I’m sure the kids will be thrilled to visit the Everglades!

Yes!! Yes, Olena, I think you should make the Everglades visit a dream come true for your kids!! What an awesome opportunity!!

This woman.. your friend.. what a marvelous person she is! My goodness, I enjoyed listening to her! What a breadth of knowledge she has, and the attitude that she carry’s with her.. how marvelous you met.!.✨.. you must visit her fathers home!🤗🥰

Thank you Olena for introducing us these people who are doing important work.

Did Daryna and her children get to the united states yet? I hope they made it here safely!!

Such a wonderful and precious American woman friend you have❤

What a wonderful woman X

Oh my goodness. That is exactly what I wanted to do when I went to Ukraine last year, and I was looking for a little house with a garden. Maria is keeping my dream alive! This is really amazing how many Ukrainian mothers with babies insist on going back at this time. And yes, I would love to see a video of Olena at Costco...

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas with peace and the removal of the Muscovites from Ukrainian land

Thanks for sharing, Olena!

Maria’s strength, determination and positive spirit ……the world needs more people like her. Thankfully she’s doing her part to make a difference in this world. She deserves so much credit for her actions and her HEART……Sally in Williamsburg, Va

We need more people like Maria in the world. I agree that wealth is not in how much money or power you have, but how much love and humanity you share.

Is that a real cat behind you,Olena?

❤️🇺🇦🇺🇸💕

People r amazing

What a brave American, I don’t even want to go to Europe because of that crazy war. Good Luck with her trip in Ukraine for Christmas. Merry Christmas to you Olena and your beautiful family and to your Host family as well.

What a wonderful friend. She is so full of life and has a deep love for Ukraine. I pray he visit back will be with friends and safe as well. I’m sure you wish you were going with her 😢. You made the difficult and right decision for your family and I know you will be home soon!! God bless

Great interview. Looking good Olena, lets us know when you and the family come to New York

What a small world we live in !! 🌎 It’s amazing the connections to the same people you and Maria have in Ukraine and how close you are now to her home in the U.S. I have a feeling there will be more conversations between you and Maria .. Great interview ! 💙✨ Hope you’ll get a chance to go shopping at Costco ☺️

What a great video.

What an interesting woman , so glad to hear her many stories about excursions to Ukraine . Thank you for bringing this story to us , Olena .

Thanks to Olena and Maria for a great interview! Big hug for Katya!💚

Like this woman you interviewed, I also live in Miami, and have spent a lot of time in Ukraine. As a matter of fact, I was just about to contact my dentist in Kyiv, about going there next summer, for dental treatment. Things are much cheaper in Ukraine. And Ukraine and Miami, are both very agricultural areas. I can ride my bike, and pick up avocado next to the road now, which have fallen from trees, as this is the season. We have a huge tree of them now, with giant fruits, so I don't even need them tho. And she mentioned you may come to Miami, for a vacation, so I'm thrilled to hear and see that. It is very interesting for me, to see how Ukrainians come to America, and their impressions. This lady also mentioned, your son, and how he likes alligators, (she meant to say, Katya, your daughter). I still want to send you a picture, which I mentioned once before. It is a sign, showing an alligator, with the warning, not to swim in that area, as they can be there. I think that's one thing, Ukrainians, and Europeans don't know about America. We have a lot of wild areas, of various kinds, so you have to be careful where you go, especially in the wilderness areas.

Oh wow Olena.. That would be awesome.. We need to see crocodiles!!!!! 😂🐊

Maria is an awesome person... Freedom is worth being fought for... I hope she continues to enjoy Ukraine and hopefully a free Ukraine soon!! ❤️🙏

What a lovely person Maria is. He love of nature, and growing food to feed folks shows her wonderful heart.

I just love your spirit Maria. You are an amazing woman. Your message is so moving.

👍✨🌹

I loved hearing Maria talk about a different kind of "wealth" that is present in Ukraine, in the way of life, and things that truly are important, those things we do not have (or typically value as wealth) in the United States, and unless one travels as Maria does, it is difficult to understand what "wealth" she is speaking of. To know other cultures, such as that of life in Ukraine, there can sometimes be no understanding the truly important things in life, and they are NOT material things, they are the things Maria spoke of. Beautiful interview!!!

You are still able to tell the story of Ukraine and it's people regardless of where you rest your head at night. It is wonderful you share the stories and keep us informed

Wonderful video. Maria is right on so many levels. Many Americans do take freedom for granted and also think of wealth as money and material objects. Wealth is so much more than that. We need more Marias in the world. Thank you for introducing us to her. 💙💛❤

Maria is a very inspiring, strong, brave, determined, and independent woman! I didn't get at first why she kept going back to Ukraine after the war started, but after she mentioned that her partner's family lived there as well her other friends, it all made sense.

She has some great soil to work with on her ranch and it sounds like she is helping to feed her community, which is obviously needed now more than ever.

💕

Ukraine and Florida have great growing soil. 🇺🇦🌻🙏🕯

A remarkable woman, Maria! ~ Some of what she said about Ukrainians, I have heard from others, stated in various settings. ~ A special spirit, of likable people! (Though the Ruzzians have some primordial hatred that murderously drives them from their miserable northern lair, to unspeakable barbarism, like savage crazed Bear!)

I wish Maria all the best in Ukraine: sure says a lot, that she is so drawn their by the people (probably most of all) and the rich-soiled land, that while Putin yet rages in his VIOLENT-WAR, she would even consider returning, with savage-Orcs so near. ~ A lady from Switzerland running a business in Germany, likewise voiced her desire to return to Ukraine during the WAR because she loves the people so! With her, for time of visit, not to settle though.

Sounds exciting, your upcoming trip to the great state of Florida, under "America's Governor"! Hope you and the little ones have an enjoyable and safe time. Just stay away from the alligators.

Best Regards. 🔵🔱🟡

Hello to all of you and I am loving these video interviews!
Olena, you are introducing us to the most amazing individuals! Thank you. Maria is a brave, beautiful, joy-filled woman. Living in Florida, not as south as her, I know many of the plants and such that she introduced you to. To answer your question: Yes, you need to take the family to the Everglades. It will be an experience all of you will remember - the history, hammocks, fauna and flora and Seminole Tribe culture. Go. go. go - we will happily contribute to this gift for you, considering you put effort into these wonderful films. 😀
Also, have Mary take you to Costco - all of you! And film it as Vagabond Anne suggested! That will be another fun experience! 🤗
Much love 💕and drizzly Sunshine🌦 to all of you and to Maria - amazing people so lovingly connected.
PS: I thought Katya's white cat pillow sitting on the back of the sofa was a live cat! 🤣
💙💛

We live in Jupiter, Florida! ⛱️ I grew up in Miami. I remember the Cuban people escaping to Florida. I was an altar boy then. During Communion, I held the plate under chins so the Host wouldn't fall to the floor (it never did). The Cuban girls dressed up for Mass like Princesses. I knew then that I would marry a Spanish girl. She turned out to be from Colombia, close enough.

While in the US Army, I was stationed in Germany for a total of seven years. We never thought of Ukraine as a separate country. It was all the USSR. We were ready and willing to kill the Commies, with tactical nukes. It would have been a mess.

There's a Ukrainian family attending my granddaughters elementary school. I'll check to see if we can help their host family.

Maria is the strongest most beautiful woman in the world 🌎 ❤️ she makes a difference anywhere she goes. Her presence alone has more power than you can imagine. Always making the world a better place 😌 🙏 ✨️ 💕

Merry Christmas Olena to you and your beautiful family. This vlog made my heart so big. Maria has a garden like the one I grew up with in Puerto Rico as well as in Florida. I know both you all will enjoy so much when you visit Miami. The 🐊🐊🐊 are very big!!😊

Ok, so I’m going to be the black sheep here. Why would this woman go into a war zone willingly unless it’s for her to fight or help near the front lines? She’s going to garden? She wants to feel like a martyr, brave? I see a loose screw here.
Olena, this has nothing to do with you on how I feel about her! I pray for your family, admire you and happy you are safe! Mary and her family are exceptional people with Christian values❤️🇺🇦🇺🇸

Wholeheartedly enjoyed seeing my friend and neighbor Maria in this one of a kind interview. She really represents a side rarely seen in the US. Glad to see she remains so steadfast and committed to making a life in Ukraine and supporting her adopted community. She has shown the same spirit here in South Florida.

I’m pretty sure I saw this video before Olena when you first posted it but seeing it a second time it really fills me with joy. Maria is the essence of humanitarian aid. She is wonderful. We could all take a page from her book. Thank you very much for sharing this video again Olena. Very inspiring.❤💙💛🇺🇦🥰

Such a beautiful friend you have , Olena ❤