My father was a man of many skills, one of which was farming. When he wasn’t lighting the world as an electrician or running some other entrepreneurial venture, he would merely switch on that side of him. As a child, I hated ground provisions. They were available in abundance at home. Still, on the plus side, maybe that’s why callaloo is among my favourite vegetables, and orange is among my favourite fruits. Callaloo was a backyard staple and oranges were available in acres! I am still not loving yams though. LOL!
As an adult, my palate has matured and I enjoy certain ground provisions, aside from them being healthier foods. Truth be told, I do not like rice…in a country where rice & peas could easily be the national dish.
The fluctuation in prices of farm produce has placed these foods in near ‘luxury’ categories at times. But everyone, rich or poor, needs to consume these in abundance, especially with chronic illnesses and obesity being major health issues.
Food security is paramount in a world where economies and households are crippled by the ravages of climate change.
The World Bank says, based on the 1996 World Food Summit, food security is defined when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
While entities like the World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) do their bit to promote and support food security, part of the solution is to plant our own. More than 50 years have elapsed since Michael Manley, former Prime Minister of Jamaica famously said, “eat what you grow and grow what you eat”. I dare say that is even more relevant today.
Recently, amid outcries about farm produce on social media, I read comments by women saying they are adding ‘farming’ to the list of skills they desire in men. Funny, but backyard gardening/farming is something we should all be considering. Truth be told, the last time I attempted potted tomatoes and sweet peppers in 2020, the plants were all eaten by a green bug. Now I’m considering giving it another shot but will need the right products to prevent the bugs from feeding on them.
Former English footballer, David Beckham posted a video of his backyard farm on social media last week, and it was the coolest thing. “My Kale is doing well 😆 I can hear my east end mates going "He has changed" 😆,” he wrote. And to top it off, he was wearing a plaid shirt and a hat. His wife, singer Victoria Beckham commented, “Who is this man? Give me my husband back.” But Beckham appeared super proud of his kale, red cabbage, potatoes, spring onion, and more. He told the chickens “Good morning.” LOL!
Well, I think Victoria has hit the jackpot! The ladies on social media will be pleased. Having a stunning, wealthy man who gets his hands dirty must be nice. In Jamaica, we have seen the likes of dancehall artiste Agent Sasco and former 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell take on backyard farming. Those two built a fancy chicken coop at Powell’s home.
I used to laugh at my sister when she said she is going to have two hens laying eggs in her backyard one day. I don’t know why I find it so hilarious when that’s what our grandmother did. Mama had several hens in her backyard when we were children in the 1980s and 1990s, so her home was never out of eggs. I suppose I felt those days are long gone. But, are they?
What have you planted lately?
One Last Thing…
What’s the deal with all these multiple small earthquakes in Jamaica? We have had at least two reported during the last couple days; one on September 10 measuring 3.5 was reportedly felt in Kingston and St Andrew, and St Catherine and the other on September 12 measured 3.1 and was located approximately 10km south of Buff Bay, Portland.
All this shaking is giving me the heebie-jeebies! Whew! I pray that these are just that and not a sign of anything major. I will try to remember to ‘duck, cover and hold’ the next time I experience an earthquake. The last couple times were not so good as I have a propensity to freeze. LOL!
Walk good. Eat good.
I am Suzette Campbell
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