Growth in growing things on the island

By -
On this beautiful Friday in Grand Bahama I have had a good think about what is going on in pockets around the island.

While on the surface many talk about the various obstacles to business, in the background I feel the work being done.

It's like the story of the seed that takes five years to grow under the ground making strong roots before anyone ever sees a shoot and then it takes off and bears fruit.

The backyard farming is catching on with another young man at the helm. When I came to Grand Bahama in 2010 there was an older gentleman BAIC Deputy Chairman, Ronald Darville Sr. who was promoting this phenomena.

I thought he was doing a great job and proving his worth by having a farm, tending a farm for someone else and also having a farm in his backyard.


BAIC Deputy Chairman, Ronald Darville Sr. along with Mr. H. Rudy Sawyer then also of BAIC at Darville's Farm in 2011.

But, he died and I wondered who could or would pick up the gauntlet.

In walked this bright young talented young man. He is a dancer, an actor, well liked in the community who found his passion in growing things. This passion has developed greatly in the past few years and now he is actually know as The Backyard Farmer. 

He has a backyard farm and he encourages others to do the same. He has a Facebook page called Backyard Farmer. He talks to students in schools and address civic groups.

He is Luckner Timothy.


And, he is not alone.

Recently I attended a beautiful meeting at Flying Fish Restaurant where the topic was on locally grown items and while Luck was on the program me he was joined by others such as legal mind and avid farmer Tiffany Dennison, Krik Mosvold who is not only a photographer but he has a small farm where they offer eggs and other naturally grown items; there was Shauna Bean who uses these naturally growing vegetables to make speciality items.

Luck and Erik

Tiffany Dennison

Shauna Bean, the Bikini Gardiner
There is hope yet for Grand Bahama as even the Gardening Club is catching on all around. Their annual show is being held tomorrow at the Mary Star of the Sea Auditorium. Its worth a look see.

Oh and don't forget to check out the Farmers Market at the Rand Nature Center where you can find all fresh fruit, vegetables, home grown and/or made stuff including Island Soap House which manufactures soaps locally. Check out our Events page to see when the next one will be taking place.

In small pockets we are doing things. We just need to start accepting and patronizing our own.

See you Tuesday with more.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Freeport in the 70's and 80's.

By -
Image
In a recent discussion with an acquaintance who is a long time resident of Grand Bahama, he said he hopes Freeport turns around to which I quickly reminded him of the days when we thought Freeport was going down. After the rush of the 50's and the 60s that ushered in a lot of constructions and the building of Freeport which pushed the natives to the outer areas, there came the 70s and the smaller investors leaving quickly. However, in the late 70s and early 80s there was still a lot of activity here. There were over ten big hotels on the island and two casinos. Also there was Sir Laker who came in to add Laker Airways to the airlift to this island. The industrial side was holding its own but things were beginning to taper off. Around this time there were calls of a diversification of industries in the country and to stop relying only on Tourism. Some complaints were flying that there were too many foreign croupiers and well qualified Bahamians who could do that same job Th...
Read more

Mountain top experiences

By -
Image
The Grand Bahama Port Authority is really going all out this year as they are not only hoping to bring in investors but also to create more investors/entrepreneurs at home.  This is a very favourable turn of events with the new Business Development Department. This conference would be the third event launched by the Port this year, the first being the My Grand Bahama Campaign, then the Customer Service Workshop and now the Economic Empowerment Development Conference.  As the world turns and the seasons for each place, especially Grand Bahama, is just about complete with its valley times for now, we are moving closer to the mountain and looking forward to some mountain top experiences. Here it's about setting a stage for all players to be ready. Grand Bahama will flourish with more residents. But for more residents, we need more money making reasons for people to travel and to live here.  If, for those who believe in Bahamians only, we cannot organi...
Read more

A pictorial look at Freeport 1950-1960s

By -
Image
Before hitting the great days of the 70s and 80s I found these photos of Freeport on Oldbahamas.com and thought to share them. Remember that unlike Nassau, New Providence, Freeport, Grand Bahama did not have the history. What history we have now is the growing up of Freeport and the entire island due to the formation of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement,  the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Grand Bahama Development Company. A boom of energy and a vision that was all set, but later side tracked by the thought of sharing the profits was what we were left with and little though of how to recover and move on with proper legislation to assist all. Next week we look at the promises fulfilled by the G.B. Port Authority. Thanks again to Oldbahama.com. If you want copies of these photos just contact them for reprints.
Read more