I went to St. Kitts and Nevis this week to be the keynote speaker at the annual Ministry of Agriculture Annual Review. It was quite an experience! First of all, the report that the Ministry makes to its constituents is impressive. It covered all the different aspects of the Ministry's activities, gave an account of the prior year - what went well and what could use improvement and then went on to discuss the strategy that would be taken in each area. I cannot imagine if this were to happen in T & T. It certainly wouldn't be as mellow of a gathering. I would anticipate challenges, verbal attacks and more. And this was not that.
Does this mean that in St. Kitts and Nevis agriculture is perfect? Of course not. There are serious problems with monkeys eating crops, serious problems. There are dog attacks on livestock that are causing some farmers to turn away from farming. And more. But the entire gathering was respectful, of people's strengths and their weaknesses. The transparency, the accountability and the non-judgemental attitude in this meaning was eye-opening.
There were several things that became clear in the information that was shared.
1) St. Kitts and Nevis are doing well in meeting their food needs. They produce a wide diversity of food crops and are also heavily involved in meat production - cattle, sheep, goats and poultry. Not only were the numbers impressive, but in talking to farmers, visiting two farms on Nevis, and listening to the discussions, there is a good level of diversity in what is produced.
2) Collaboration is the norm. Several intergovernmental agencies/NGOs were invited to give mini reports - FAO, CARDI and IICA included. The Ministry of the Republic of China is very supportive of the agricultural sector and they also reported on their activities, and the audience had a range of representatives from affiliate ministries. How interesting that this vision does exist. That it is assumed that different sectors of society can work together in this way.
3) Farming is not easy to undertake as the sole income earning activity - most farmers have another job and the general impression that I got is that it is difficult to financially thrive with all income coming from the agricultural sector. The exceptions to this included two farmers that I visited on Nevis. They had figured out how to function within the farming and agricultural sector but they had excelled in vertical development. Both of them had a wide range of crops - at least 10 for one and 20 for the other from my observation, they both were involved in some processing - juice in both cases and jams and jellies in one case, and they both sold their produce directly to the public - one from the back of a truck and the other from an outlet that he has on his farm. Entrepreneurial leanings made a big difference in both cases.
4) There is a challenge in St. Kitts and Nevis with the aging of the farming population. Young people are not getting involved in farming. One of the farmers told me straight off that farming is slave work and that he greatly discouraged his children from participating in the agricultural sector. This lack of involvement in people under 40 is definitely a Caribbean wide problem.
and finally
5) Organic, biodynamic and permaculture based farming methods, despite a high interest shown during my trip, was not yet hooked in. I had multiple farmers - both at the workshop and in casual encounters after - express their interest in farming organically. But all of them said that they lacked the expertise. They deluged me with questions about the shop and about the interest in organic in Trinidad and Tobago. Definitely there is an opening there for some further interaction and education.
One area of activity seemed clearly as undeveloped as it is in the rest of the Caribbean and that is the delivery of food directly from farm to table. There does not seem to be one formalized approach to selling directly to hotels, customers, caterers and more. There is still a tendency to sell wholesale to vendors and to have minimal interaction with the customers who will be using the product. I spoke a bit about a CSA approach where each farmer or farming group would sell directly to a number of families but obviously with our historic approach for selling through middlemen we would need some refocusing to consider a different approach. I love middlemen and see them as necessary in the right context. But in order to maximize the benefit to the farmer it is helpful to have a high proportion of direct sales to the end consumer.
I can't wait to return or to have some farmers come from there to help us develop our culture of carrot planting, onion planting and white potato planting. They have certainly mastered it.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The Coop starts a New Year
OK. Sometimes we are so busy doing that we don't have time to record what we are doing. This is one of those times. Let me say it loud and clear.
NEW EARTH ORGANICS FOOD COOP IS ALIVE AND WELL.
We had our first coop meeting for the year yesterday and, as usual, it was really something else. Look out for an update later today.
NEW EARTH ORGANICS FOOD COOP IS ALIVE AND WELL.
We had our first coop meeting for the year yesterday and, as usual, it was really something else. Look out for an update later today.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Local, Regional, Global - A Vision Unfolds
Many of us are deeply concerned about the use of unrenewable resources in our lives. I would like to post a few of my thoughts on how this appears to me.
The world and its resources were meant to be shared, used and appreciated. Humans were not supposed to live in a state of no input where we are scared that if we use anything around us it will no longer be available. Neither were we supposed to live in a state of disconnection where we kill everything that wants to share our food and our shelter(then call them pests), use objects as ways to fill up emotional and spiritual holes within ourselves, and treat other human beings inhumanely to keep prices low and profits high. We don't even have to work really hard to stop these trends. They will be eventually stopped by the laws of nature.
How do these things apply to New Earth Organic Food Coop?
The desired goal of many of us in the coop is to buy a large percentage of our goods on a local level, get some of our goods from other countries in the region, and then get a bit on a global level. This is not the case at present. But here is my vision.
I expect that within a few years that 65% of the produce that we sell will be sourced on a local level. We will have been able to mobilize coop members and small farmers to provide a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, Seeds, tubers, herbs and medicinal plants. Some of the members will be growing for their living and others will be growing as a hobby or for personal use with a little excess. There will be surprises and new items available on a regular basis. In addition, some of this produce will be dried, frozen, preserved and pickled for use at a later time.
25% of the produce will come from regional production. We will use cooler climates - like the Blue Mountains of Jamaica - to produce things that are hard to produce in our local climate - berries, asparagus, etc. We will also use regional production to (1)provide products that we do not source easily on a local level (currently carrots) and (2) keep supplies going in times of crisis - Hurricanes, earthquakes, civil unrest.
10% of our produce will come from around the world. It is more efficient to bring goods to us than to go to the goods. We will use this access to bring in some of our favourite foods that we cannot source locally, natural medicinal products that are useful to have, raw materials that would help us produce some of our processed foods, and to deliver to our bodies nutrients that are not highly available in our local produce.
Shifting to the 65% level means that a certain amount of processing of foods will have to begin to happen locally. We will need to open small plants to get dried goods, preserves, etc. There is a long way to go in this are.
Getting more regional products in the shop - there is less than 1% available at present, means changing some of the import restrictions to loosen up on regional products to match the laws that apply to global products. This process has already been started. The Caribbean islands are separated by water but we are part of one geography and it would make sense to rely on each other as much for our food as we do for our genetics, our music and our education. One Caribbean here we come!
One of my passions is for St. Francis of Assisi. What trust it took for him to reject what was in his hand and to take the risk to reach for a lifestyle that was unknown, had no guarantees, and was in line with his desires. What a man!
The world and its resources were meant to be shared, used and appreciated. Humans were not supposed to live in a state of no input where we are scared that if we use anything around us it will no longer be available. Neither were we supposed to live in a state of disconnection where we kill everything that wants to share our food and our shelter(then call them pests), use objects as ways to fill up emotional and spiritual holes within ourselves, and treat other human beings inhumanely to keep prices low and profits high. We don't even have to work really hard to stop these trends. They will be eventually stopped by the laws of nature.
How do these things apply to New Earth Organic Food Coop?
The desired goal of many of us in the coop is to buy a large percentage of our goods on a local level, get some of our goods from other countries in the region, and then get a bit on a global level. This is not the case at present. But here is my vision.
I expect that within a few years that 65% of the produce that we sell will be sourced on a local level. We will have been able to mobilize coop members and small farmers to provide a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, Seeds, tubers, herbs and medicinal plants. Some of the members will be growing for their living and others will be growing as a hobby or for personal use with a little excess. There will be surprises and new items available on a regular basis. In addition, some of this produce will be dried, frozen, preserved and pickled for use at a later time.
25% of the produce will come from regional production. We will use cooler climates - like the Blue Mountains of Jamaica - to produce things that are hard to produce in our local climate - berries, asparagus, etc. We will also use regional production to (1)provide products that we do not source easily on a local level (currently carrots) and (2) keep supplies going in times of crisis - Hurricanes, earthquakes, civil unrest.
10% of our produce will come from around the world. It is more efficient to bring goods to us than to go to the goods. We will use this access to bring in some of our favourite foods that we cannot source locally, natural medicinal products that are useful to have, raw materials that would help us produce some of our processed foods, and to deliver to our bodies nutrients that are not highly available in our local produce.
Shifting to the 65% level means that a certain amount of processing of foods will have to begin to happen locally. We will need to open small plants to get dried goods, preserves, etc. There is a long way to go in this are.
Getting more regional products in the shop - there is less than 1% available at present, means changing some of the import restrictions to loosen up on regional products to match the laws that apply to global products. This process has already been started. The Caribbean islands are separated by water but we are part of one geography and it would make sense to rely on each other as much for our food as we do for our genetics, our music and our education. One Caribbean here we come!
One of my passions is for St. Francis of Assisi. What trust it took for him to reject what was in his hand and to take the risk to reach for a lifestyle that was unknown, had no guarantees, and was in line with his desires. What a man!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
This Week's Newsletter - Organic Options, Generosity Rocks, Enviro Links
NEW EARTH ORGANIC FOOD COOP
formerly Sun Eaters Organics
80 Roberts St
Woodbrook
622-3643
www.suneaters.com
"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I
tolerate them. If I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because
I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." -- Robert
Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Dear Folks,
This newsletter now gets delivered to folks across the globe. But ultimately it is about local, Trinidadian and Tobagonian issues and about regional Caribbean issues.
I posted a bit on my blog about a recent trip I took to St. Vincent for the Caribbean Week of Agriculture. http://groundinggroundinggrounded.blogspot.com/2008/10/caribbean-travels.html
On Wednesday we will have a mixture of imported and local organic produce available, and throughout the week the local will keep coming. Please call early to book your order or to confirm your standing orders.
The coop now also has a TON of organic dry goods. Our dry goods shipment arrived and allows for all the options like organic brown rice, organic snacks, organic drinks, eco-friendly diapers and eco-cleaners. And the prices are often comparable to non-organic items in the commercial supermarkets.
The long term plan is to import the best quality organic products and ensure that they are available at the best cost. But at the same time we are planning to replace many of these products with local substitutes or with locally made goods. So time to go into business. There are many gaps in our market which can be filled by people preparing products at home and then selling them to the coop.
We are accepting new coop members again. Patronage refund - remember that at the end of the year you will receive refunds based on how much you spend at the coop. Members currently pay 10% less for the cost of the goods and get produce held for them whenever there is a shortage. And in addition you get to be part of something that determines your food security and no price gouging.
LOCAL ORGANIC PRODUCE - Lots more available than what is on this list. But with the continuously growing demand we still need more. Please call and tell me that you are ready to become an organic farmer.
GREENS
Bronze Leafed Lettuce
Patchoi
Bhaji
Dasheen Bush
Morai Greens
VEGETABLES
Cucumbers
Morai
Green Pawpaw
Ochroes
Small amounts of Broccoli
Bodi
And More
STARCHY THINGS
Green Fig
FRUIT
Bananas
Plantains
FOREIGN PRODUCE
A full order is coming on Wednesday this week to make up for the gaps in the local options. That includes.
Greens
Spring Mix - 1 pound and 5 oz
Baby Spinach
Baby Arugula
Romaine Hearts
Vegetables
Zucchini
Cauliflower
Celery Hearts
Carrots
Red Potatoes
Yellow Onions
Golden Beets
Red Beets
Grape Tomatoes
Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms
Portabello Mushrooms
Garlic
Fruit
Bartlett Pears
Gala Apples
Nectarines
Fuji Apples
Red Grapes
Stawberries - Fresh and Frozen
Thompson Raisins
Medjool Dates
Dried Figs
Call in your order or confirm your standing order as soon as you can.
622-3643
SOME INTERESTING LINKS AND HAPPENINGS
Hope that some of us can make it to the Greenlight environmental concert. October 18th. Go to www.nowiswowtoo.blogspot.com for more information.
GMO is not where it is at - Here is a little video on the way that Kraft puts genetically engineered ingredients into your food http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjoGN11AK4
An amazing project about Hillside gardening in the Phillipines that is particularly relevant for this region - http://www2.mozcom.com/~mbrlc/index.htm
Coops in the U.S. - In total, 47,000 co-ops in the United States serve 100 million people - 40 percent of the U.S. population. This electric coops, credit unions, food coops, cooperative daycare. Isn't it time for Trinidad and Tobago to add our little retail food cooperative to the mix?
RECIPE SPOT
A recipe for chickpeas crepe from the Global Gourmet www.globalgourmet.com
Recipe for chickpeas crepe - sokka in France Breadtime, by Susan Jane Cheney: Mix together 2/3 cup chickpea (garbanzo bean) flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2/3 cup water; then stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil, and fresh cracked pepper. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes. Pour into a greased pizza pan or low-sided baking pan; the batter should be very thin, about 1/8 thick. Bake at 450 degrees F until the top browns slightly, about 5 minutes, and the whole thing looks like a giant crepe. Brush lightly with olive oil and bake another minute or so, but don't let it burn. Cut into wedges and serve hot.
GENEROSITY ROCKS
I am often amazed by things that others feel are in short supply and decide that the are going to hold to themselves. Smiles, good support, a kind word, positive feedback. These things are not only free but they enrich our lives whenever we share them. In a time when we are watching the result of scarcity consciousness it can be tempting sometimes to hold back. Don't do it. As we move forward into our interesting times ahead it seems clear to me that lots of the things that we took for granted will not be available anymore. A disaster? Not in my thinking. But definitely a time in which different skills will be needed. In times of plenty it is tempting to dehumanize others and believe that we can survive and thrive without cooperation or without treating other humans with complete respect. Statements such as 'self-made man' and 'I did it without help' are part of the illusion that we hold about how independent we are. No one does anything without help.
When I watch my son play his online games like 'Pirates of the Caribbean online' and 'World of Warcraft' I am reminded of how important it is for others to join in when we have a quest to achieve. On both of those games it would be impossible to advance without involving others in one's play. Players are forced to negotiate online with other players - usually strangers - to form a group in order to fulfill a quest. And these are the most popular games in the world. World of Warcraft has over 9 million players. Higher level players demonstrate their generosity by using their time to help lower level players to advance and then the favour is eventually returned when the lower level player has become more experienced.
How many of us include this level of mentoring and patronage in our daily lives? Parents, teachers and other people who work with young ones are asked again and again to reach out generously. And sometimes we do so but other times we act as though it is pulling teeth and the little ones are irritating and annoying because they are diverting us from important work. We can never payback children for the generosity that they extend in our directions every day.
So how does this apply to the coop? You know who you are. Those of you who give many words of encouragement, who lend money interest free, who stop by just to see whether a hand is needed, who make financial donations to the coop instead of the Wall Street, who talk about the shop and the cafe with your friends to get them roped in. Thank You.
Thank you to those who understand that a scarcity of time feel very very real but is only an illusion and who become magicians and conjure more up, who give more positive feedback than negative, who stop and notice that some things are priceless and should be prioritized as such.
So as a quick way to access the generosity you have inside, take a few moments in a time of quiet, close your eyes and notice where you hold fear in your body. Is it in your throat? Your lungs? Your solar plexus? Don't judge it, just notice it. And then think of this phrase from Abraham - You are loved, all is well. Reflect on this phrase for a few moments and let yourself really breathe in the generosity of our Source. When you are ready to shift gears take a moment before opening your eyes to hear and feel the energy of life around you. You are alive! And you got that gift without any expectation of payment for it. Open your eyes and rejoin the world of the senses.
Then anytime during the day that the fear creeps back and you begin to feel that a resource is scarce (time, money, attention, love) you can just get a moment with the same phrase - you are loved, all is well.
See how it works.
AND HAVE A THRILLING WEEK! Hope to see you in the shop when you come to browse our new offerings and our new look.
Warmly
Gillian
formerly Sun Eaters Organics
80 Roberts St
Woodbrook
622-3643
www.suneaters.com
"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I
tolerate them. If I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because
I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." -- Robert
Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Dear Folks,
This newsletter now gets delivered to folks across the globe. But ultimately it is about local, Trinidadian and Tobagonian issues and about regional Caribbean issues.
I posted a bit on my blog about a recent trip I took to St. Vincent for the Caribbean Week of Agriculture. http://groundinggroundinggrounded.blogspot.com/2008/10/caribbean-travels.html
On Wednesday we will have a mixture of imported and local organic produce available, and throughout the week the local will keep coming. Please call early to book your order or to confirm your standing orders.
The coop now also has a TON of organic dry goods. Our dry goods shipment arrived and allows for all the options like organic brown rice, organic snacks, organic drinks, eco-friendly diapers and eco-cleaners. And the prices are often comparable to non-organic items in the commercial supermarkets.
The long term plan is to import the best quality organic products and ensure that they are available at the best cost. But at the same time we are planning to replace many of these products with local substitutes or with locally made goods. So time to go into business. There are many gaps in our market which can be filled by people preparing products at home and then selling them to the coop.
We are accepting new coop members again. Patronage refund - remember that at the end of the year you will receive refunds based on how much you spend at the coop. Members currently pay 10% less for the cost of the goods and get produce held for them whenever there is a shortage. And in addition you get to be part of something that determines your food security and no price gouging.
LOCAL ORGANIC PRODUCE - Lots more available than what is on this list. But with the continuously growing demand we still need more. Please call and tell me that you are ready to become an organic farmer.
GREENS
Bronze Leafed Lettuce
Patchoi
Bhaji
Dasheen Bush
Morai Greens
VEGETABLES
Cucumbers
Morai
Green Pawpaw
Ochroes
Small amounts of Broccoli
Bodi
And More
STARCHY THINGS
Green Fig
FRUIT
Bananas
Plantains
FOREIGN PRODUCE
A full order is coming on Wednesday this week to make up for the gaps in the local options. That includes.
Greens
Spring Mix - 1 pound and 5 oz
Baby Spinach
Baby Arugula
Romaine Hearts
Vegetables
Zucchini
Cauliflower
Celery Hearts
Carrots
Red Potatoes
Yellow Onions
Golden Beets
Red Beets
Grape Tomatoes
Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms
Portabello Mushrooms
Garlic
Fruit
Bartlett Pears
Gala Apples
Nectarines
Fuji Apples
Red Grapes
Stawberries - Fresh and Frozen
Thompson Raisins
Medjool Dates
Dried Figs
Call in your order or confirm your standing order as soon as you can.
622-3643
SOME INTERESTING LINKS AND HAPPENINGS
Hope that some of us can make it to the Greenlight environmental concert. October 18th. Go to www.nowiswowtoo.blogspot.com for more information.
GMO is not where it is at - Here is a little video on the way that Kraft puts genetically engineered ingredients into your food http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjoGN11AK4
An amazing project about Hillside gardening in the Phillipines that is particularly relevant for this region - http://www2.mozcom.com/~mbrlc/index.htm
Coops in the U.S. - In total, 47,000 co-ops in the United States serve 100 million people - 40 percent of the U.S. population. This electric coops, credit unions, food coops, cooperative daycare. Isn't it time for Trinidad and Tobago to add our little retail food cooperative to the mix?
RECIPE SPOT
A recipe for chickpeas crepe from the Global Gourmet www.globalgourmet.com
Recipe for chickpeas crepe - sokka in France Breadtime, by Susan Jane Cheney: Mix together 2/3 cup chickpea (garbanzo bean) flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2/3 cup water; then stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil, and fresh cracked pepper. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes. Pour into a greased pizza pan or low-sided baking pan; the batter should be very thin, about 1/8 thick. Bake at 450 degrees F until the top browns slightly, about 5 minutes, and the whole thing looks like a giant crepe. Brush lightly with olive oil and bake another minute or so, but don't let it burn. Cut into wedges and serve hot.
GENEROSITY ROCKS
I am often amazed by things that others feel are in short supply and decide that the are going to hold to themselves. Smiles, good support, a kind word, positive feedback. These things are not only free but they enrich our lives whenever we share them. In a time when we are watching the result of scarcity consciousness it can be tempting sometimes to hold back. Don't do it. As we move forward into our interesting times ahead it seems clear to me that lots of the things that we took for granted will not be available anymore. A disaster? Not in my thinking. But definitely a time in which different skills will be needed. In times of plenty it is tempting to dehumanize others and believe that we can survive and thrive without cooperation or without treating other humans with complete respect. Statements such as 'self-made man' and 'I did it without help' are part of the illusion that we hold about how independent we are. No one does anything without help.
When I watch my son play his online games like 'Pirates of the Caribbean online' and 'World of Warcraft' I am reminded of how important it is for others to join in when we have a quest to achieve. On both of those games it would be impossible to advance without involving others in one's play. Players are forced to negotiate online with other players - usually strangers - to form a group in order to fulfill a quest. And these are the most popular games in the world. World of Warcraft has over 9 million players. Higher level players demonstrate their generosity by using their time to help lower level players to advance and then the favour is eventually returned when the lower level player has become more experienced.
How many of us include this level of mentoring and patronage in our daily lives? Parents, teachers and other people who work with young ones are asked again and again to reach out generously. And sometimes we do so but other times we act as though it is pulling teeth and the little ones are irritating and annoying because they are diverting us from important work. We can never payback children for the generosity that they extend in our directions every day.
So how does this apply to the coop? You know who you are. Those of you who give many words of encouragement, who lend money interest free, who stop by just to see whether a hand is needed, who make financial donations to the coop instead of the Wall Street, who talk about the shop and the cafe with your friends to get them roped in. Thank You.
Thank you to those who understand that a scarcity of time feel very very real but is only an illusion and who become magicians and conjure more up, who give more positive feedback than negative, who stop and notice that some things are priceless and should be prioritized as such.
So as a quick way to access the generosity you have inside, take a few moments in a time of quiet, close your eyes and notice where you hold fear in your body. Is it in your throat? Your lungs? Your solar plexus? Don't judge it, just notice it. And then think of this phrase from Abraham - You are loved, all is well. Reflect on this phrase for a few moments and let yourself really breathe in the generosity of our Source. When you are ready to shift gears take a moment before opening your eyes to hear and feel the energy of life around you. You are alive! And you got that gift without any expectation of payment for it. Open your eyes and rejoin the world of the senses.
Then anytime during the day that the fear creeps back and you begin to feel that a resource is scarce (time, money, attention, love) you can just get a moment with the same phrase - you are loved, all is well.
See how it works.
AND HAVE A THRILLING WEEK! Hope to see you in the shop when you come to browse our new offerings and our new look.
Warmly
Gillian
Friday, October 10, 2008
Caribbean Travels
Organic farmers are definitely alive and well in the Caribbean! I spent the week in St. Vincent and the Grenadines during the Caribbean Week of Agriculture and got to rub noses with several other people who are either planting organically or who are supporting regional organic farmers/gardeners.
One of the best connections was with Clive Bishop - the head of the St. Vincent Association of Organic Farmers. Not only has he helped to organize a wonderful group, but his grasp of agriculture in general means that he has a broad understanding of the issues and yet he has the clarity that natural farming methods bring to the picture.
I met farmers everywhere. Driving mini-vans, on the beach, in the shops, everywhere. Whoever is not planting at present used to plant. The soil is indescribable. To a Trini accustomed to the pathetic top soil that we have allowed to become more pathetic, the black heavy soil just looks good enough to eat. Why bother to plant anything (smile).
But there are some agricultural problems in St. Vincent. Many agricultural problems. Most of them would not exist if a permaculture approach were taken in the country but then how would people make big big bucks? And some people in St. Vincent agriculture do. With these big big bucks and the monoculture approach that allowed the big bucks to be made you can imagine the accompanying problems - overdependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, serious disease (first it was the fruit fly and now it is moko), and who knows what else. Do St. Vincent banana farmers have the cancer and infertility that has been detected in such communities in Martinique? I don't know but why shouldn't they?
The good news is that
1) Moko (a disease mainly found in St. Vincent) does not respond to chemical measures (just as the fruit fly didn't) and so obviously a biological control will have to be found - thus paving the way for reduced pesticide use. I found a good article on Moko treatment using EM (Effective Microorganisms - an amazing cocktail) Here's the link - http://www.agribusinessweek.com/controlling-moko-disease-in-bananas-with-em-application/
2) With the demise of the large scale banana industry there is a search for a different way to do things. Hopefully monoculture and heavy pesticide use will be seen for the rubbish that they really are.
3) Through the extensive cultivation of cannibis in St. Vincent young people have had some exposure to planting and to a version of agri-business. No, people don't talk about marijuana in agricultural conferences but when I spread the word on Facebook that I was going to St. Vincent even I - a hardcore non-supporter of anything but medicinal cannabis use - got lots of recommendations about the high-level 'grade' available all over the country. The fact is that it is one of the most important agricultural crops in St. Vincent (and in some other islands). Maybe one day we will be free to talk about this truth in agricultural circles.
4) Trinidad and Tobago has the ability to import a fair variety of produce from St. Vincent - unlike the crazy restrictions on produce from almost every other Caribbean nation. So that means that we should expect by mid-2009 there will be regular freighters from St. Vincent bringing high-quality organic produce to Trinidad and Tobago! What do you think?
I would love to go back again and visit the windward side properly. This is where much of the agriculture takes place and it is also the area from which most of my maternal ancestors came. Let me know what your experiences have been in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
One of the best connections was with Clive Bishop - the head of the St. Vincent Association of Organic Farmers. Not only has he helped to organize a wonderful group, but his grasp of agriculture in general means that he has a broad understanding of the issues and yet he has the clarity that natural farming methods bring to the picture.
I met farmers everywhere. Driving mini-vans, on the beach, in the shops, everywhere. Whoever is not planting at present used to plant. The soil is indescribable. To a Trini accustomed to the pathetic top soil that we have allowed to become more pathetic, the black heavy soil just looks good enough to eat. Why bother to plant anything (smile).
But there are some agricultural problems in St. Vincent. Many agricultural problems. Most of them would not exist if a permaculture approach were taken in the country but then how would people make big big bucks? And some people in St. Vincent agriculture do. With these big big bucks and the monoculture approach that allowed the big bucks to be made you can imagine the accompanying problems - overdependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, serious disease (first it was the fruit fly and now it is moko), and who knows what else. Do St. Vincent banana farmers have the cancer and infertility that has been detected in such communities in Martinique? I don't know but why shouldn't they?
The good news is that
1) Moko (a disease mainly found in St. Vincent) does not respond to chemical measures (just as the fruit fly didn't) and so obviously a biological control will have to be found - thus paving the way for reduced pesticide use. I found a good article on Moko treatment using EM (Effective Microorganisms - an amazing cocktail) Here's the link - http://www.agribusinessweek.com/controlling-moko-disease-in-bananas-with-em-application/
2) With the demise of the large scale banana industry there is a search for a different way to do things. Hopefully monoculture and heavy pesticide use will be seen for the rubbish that they really are.
3) Through the extensive cultivation of cannibis in St. Vincent young people have had some exposure to planting and to a version of agri-business. No, people don't talk about marijuana in agricultural conferences but when I spread the word on Facebook that I was going to St. Vincent even I - a hardcore non-supporter of anything but medicinal cannabis use - got lots of recommendations about the high-level 'grade' available all over the country. The fact is that it is one of the most important agricultural crops in St. Vincent (and in some other islands). Maybe one day we will be free to talk about this truth in agricultural circles.
4) Trinidad and Tobago has the ability to import a fair variety of produce from St. Vincent - unlike the crazy restrictions on produce from almost every other Caribbean nation. So that means that we should expect by mid-2009 there will be regular freighters from St. Vincent bringing high-quality organic produce to Trinidad and Tobago! What do you think?
I would love to go back again and visit the windward side properly. This is where much of the agriculture takes place and it is also the area from which most of my maternal ancestors came. Let me know what your experiences have been in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sweet Potato Leaves - Yuummm!
It's amazing how many things are edible when we do a little research. This morning, I was at my friend Johnny's house helping him with some gardening and found out that you can eat sweet potato leaves. It just so happened that there were sweet potato vines choking the tomato plants. So I gathered a bucket, took it home looked up some recipes online, and here we are.
There was a little slime in it - kind of like poi can be - but the younger leaves were less that way.
Look for it in the coop this week.
There was a little slime in it - kind of like poi can be - but the younger leaves were less that way.
Look for it in the coop this week.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Cuba, the Green Revolution
Several coop members watching the film ' Cuba, the Green Revolution'.
If there is a film to let us see what can be done to help solve the potential crisis in food, it is this one. Cuba, the Green Revolution, closely follows the necessary implementation, in Havana, of a plan for the city dwellers to feed themselves. With the end of the Eastern Bloc and the continuation of the US-led Embargo, the Cubans had to make a decision that it was innovate or starve. They chose to innovate.
We had a great, though short, discussion after the screening about what it would take for us, as a nation or as individuals, to move in the direction of food self-sufficiency. Most of us were not totally optimistic that there was a collective will to do this, but at least we had had an opportunity to see what it would take.
Would you like to see this film but couldn't make it? Please email us at suneaters.com to let us know of your interest. You can also tell us what other activities you would like to see happen within the coop. Are their topics in which you are really interested which would enhance the coop community? Post a comment below.
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