Cuban gardening version of Bajan ‘De boys on de block’
Vegetable gardens of Cuba and England
by Colin Leslie Beadon
At least twice I have written to the newspapers about encouraging small garden lots around all villages in Barbados, where ground that used to grow sugar is doing nothing except encouraging the further importations of fruit, vegetables, livestock. This idea of small garden allotments should be taking place in Barbados, besides which it would encourage and provide work for youth, and something for the more elderly to do.
No, this work does not have to be done in the hot sun. Early morning, late evenings, is the time to get this lot done. If the lots were chosen within a short walk from homes, there would be little time lost and no transport needed.
This is not a new idea, the use of lots close to a village. The English were forced to do it during the war, and it is still very popular there although stopped during winter months.
The Cubans work lots at great benefit. Go the blog ‘The Vegetable Gardens of Cuba’. Look at the pretty pictures and read what it says.
It is high time Barbados get sensible about its use of land, and tackle the problem of excessive and unnecessary food importation. There are so many benefits to village lots, in the nature of the food, and the simple way it can be grown, and in the healthful God-given work to be done.
Further Reading
Apartment Therapy: Vegetable Gardens of Cuba (Photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy)
City Farmer: Havana’s Popular Gardens, Sustainable urban agriculture
BBC: The vegetable gardeners of Havana
Hmmm, growing a vegetable garden involves working hard in the sun, but many of our young people seem to rather wukk up hard in sun…
Crop theft is endemic on Bim. This couldn’t work here.
Presumably the land belongs to someone Colin…who pays for its use as vegetable garden allotments? We are not Cuba, we believe in the law of private ownership.
I agree with H Hotel Questioner. Small garden plots are an impossibility in Barbados because the produce would be stolen.