While the Alberta teacher strike continues, it’s now been two weeks since students were in classes.
Fourth-grader Mark Sakhenko said it only took two days into the teachers’ strike until he was bored.
So instead, along with his younger sister and two neighbours, they’ve traded in their homework for yard work.
Leaf by leaf, the four young entrepreneurs have been offering neighbours a cheap rate for raking up leaves.
“I’ve already made $400 so I’m hoping for $600 more,” said Mark.
He’s not planning on spending the money on toys, though. Instead, he says, “I am saving up for a ticket so I can go to Ukraine so I can see my grandma.”
Mark escaped Ukraine four years ago with his parents, and hasn’t seen his grandma since.
Together the crew says they will continue raking until either the strike ends, or they run out of leaves.