GROWN AT HOME MAGAZINE - The Householders' Guide to Home-Grown Foods: December 2022

on issuu.com

ON

THE COVER

Tahj (left) and Zane enjoy wholesome home-harvested

and now you and your family can experience these tasty treats too. In this issue, find recipes created by Kenya Alleyne, 15, on page 36.

Contributors

Publisher Camille Alleyne

Advisors

Natalie Campbell Paulette Scantlebury

Writers Joseph Doway Cheryl Harewood Sabrina Maxius Camille Alleyne

Design/Layout

The Media Place Proofreading Ethan Alleyne

Photography

Cover: The Morgan Media Publisher: Jordan-Lee Alleyne A Glimpse Back: SOS Meet & Mingle Free Seed Giveaway Akinwole Jordan of Marshall Trading Ltd Barbados SOS Participants

Stock Photography pixabay.com pexels.com

CONTACT

US

For advertising and other information

WhatsApp: 1 246 828 0567

Telephone: 1 246 629 4126

Email: grownathomecaribbean@gmail.com

Follow Grown at Home Magazine on Facebook.

Grown at Home is located in Barbados, West Indies.

2 Peter 1:3

DISCLAIMER

Grown at Home is a not-forprofit community endeavour. This publication is for general information only. It is not a substitute for seeking professional advice. This magazine does not necessarily support the products offered by our advertisers and the views shared by our writers.

Grown at Home Magazine is

a publication of The Media Place. Copyright 2022 Grown at Home and The Media Place – unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.

Grown at Home magazine is a family-friendly publication that disseminates wholesome and helpful information related to food security, home farming, healthy living and sustainability.

Christian Standard Bible

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Food security awareness soared worldwide when the impact of the COVID-19 crisis hit the world in 2020 and lockdowns posed a threat to food access. Out of this, many a householder began to plant food at home.

Lo and behold, two years later, the world was shaken by the news of a Russia/Ukraine conflict, which led to even more serious concerns regarding food and energy supplies. Becoming self-sufficient in food, water and energy took centre stage. It is out of this that Grown at Home magazine started the SOS Food Security and Sustainability Meet-Ups in April 2022. These meet-ups are where we find solutions in this trepidatious period in history. The SOS Meet-Ups are virtual workshops that equip householders with information, resources, advice and strategies regarding backyard farming, producing byproducts, living off the grid, home-grown food alternatives, and the storing of food and other supplies. You may find more information on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ grown.at.home.magazine/

As kitchen gardens increase, there are some home farms that thrive while others struggle. Becoming community minded by inquiring about friends, family and neighbours is imperative for the building of strong societies. Although planting food at home is important, also vital is the community element of food provision. Being our brothers’ keepers must be a reality in times like these. The definition that we, at Grown at Home, use for food security is:

“Food security exists 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.” (World Food Summit, 1996)

We believe that no one should be left without food!

In this, our third edition of Grown at Home magazine, you will find out about:

• Householders finding solutions, and community farming

• Living 100% sustainably

• How to plant a therapeutic garden for the COVID-19 virus

• Caribbean Farmers Without Borders and the Children in Farming initiative

• Home-harvested snacks

Grown at Home is committed to sharing important information about food security and sustainability with the people of the Caribbean and beyond. It is an ongoing conversation that you are free to continue on the Grown at Home Magazine Facebook page.

Camille Alleyne Publisher

If you wish to find out how to obtain the recordings of any of our SOS virtual meet-ups, email grownathomecaribbean@gmail.com.

APICULTURE

POULTRY FARMING

DAIRY FARMING

Producing

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY or LIVESTOCK FARMING

AQUACULTURE

POMOLOGY

Fruit and nut crop production e.g., mangoes, oranges, bananas.

CUNICULTURE

Raising of rabbits as livestock for their meat, fur or wool and for the purposes of breeding and exhibiting.

OLERICULTURE

Cultivating plants for their edible parts - roots, stems, leaves, buds, seeds and certain fruit. These are plants typically found in the kitchen garden e.g., beets, broccoli, spinach, sorrel, beans and tomatoes.

FLORICULTURE

Cultivating plants for ornamental purposes. These include cut flowers, potted plants and foliage.

LANDSCAPE HORTICULTURE

Cultivating plants for landscape design purposes like lawn grass, shrubs, trees and vines.

HOW TO USE THE IRRIGATION CONVERTER

1. Irrigation is measured in inches (per square foot).

2. Most gardens need one inch of water per square foot per week to support the healthy growth of crops.

3. It should be noted that one inch of water represents the amount it would take to irrigate the depth of one inch over a surface area of one square foot or 12 square inches.

4. To find out how many gallons you need for your garden, you may use the irrigation converter below. Here is how.

5. If your garden requires one inch of water per week, you first have to know the volume of space or the cubic inches to be irrigated.

6. To find the volume of space for one square foot or 12 square inches, the cubic area in inches would therefore be 1” (the amount of irrigation required) by 12” (the length of the space) x 12” (the width of the space) ie. 1” x 12” x 12”. The volume calculates to be 144 cubic inches of garden.

7. Input the number 144 within the cubic inches section of the converter below. The answer you will get is approximately 0.5 imperial gallons. That would be the amount of water you need to give one square foot of your garden every week.

8. Here is another example: If your garden is four feet by six feet and it requires one inch of water per week, you will convert the feet to inches, making it 48 inches by 72 inches. The cubic area will be calculated as 1” x 48” x 72” or 3,456 cubic inches of garden. Input 3456 within the cubic inches section of the converter below. The answer you will get is approximately 12.5 imperial gallons. That would be the amount of water you need to give your entire garden every week.

THE CONVERTER

https://www.google.com/search?q=inche s+to+gallons+convertor&rlz=1C1AVFC_e nBB850BB850&oq=inches+to+gallons+c onvertor&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i13l2j0i5i13 i30l4j0i8i13i30l3.10114j0j7&sourceid=chro me&ie=UTF-8

One inch of water is approximately 0.5 imperial gallons to one square foot of garden. For a visual explanation, watch this video. https://youtu.be/Kib_FquGP7s

DUO Gardening

The Story of Sabrina and Roderick

Power couple Sabrina Maxius and Roderick Best are enthusiastic when it comes to nature. They are the proud owners of Nafre’s Health Haven, a business that caters to handmade natural products and massage therapy. They have owned other businesses like Power 4 Kidz Club and RoBina’s Food Stop, both of which came to

a close due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite having a longdistance relationship, Sabrina and Roderick are very much community oriented, and are passionate about kitchen gardening. Sabrina first started the home garden project in old tyres in 2015, where she planted watermelons, ground nuts, lettuce, bok choy and okras, just to name a few. It was somewhat challenging but she stuck it through and had wonderful rewards. When Roderick came home in 2017, he became the main small gardener, forking, digging, planting, tending and checking for snails, slugs and other pests. They expanded the garden from the tyres, to the back and front yards, utilising every possible space, planting everything they could. They used natural products like neem oil, garlic water, sea salt and cayenne pepper to curb pests. Their harvest was prosperous, and became healthy food on the table, a source of income and neighbourly love.

After some successful months of sowing and reaping, this gardening team was faced with unimaginable miscreants that wreaked havoc. These miscreants were monkeys. From the time the monkeys took over,

it was really hard to keep any produce. What the monkeys didn’t steal, they destroyed, and replanting became financially burdensome. Roderick had vowed to build a greenhouse to protect the small crops, but Covid19 halted his flight home, thus stalling his venture. The couple is still looking forward to continuing the garden project with an extension of a few farm animals.

Sabrina and Roderick are active participants in the SOS Meet-Ups, which are the virtual workshops hosted by Grown at Home Magazine. The pair freely discusses with the group, issues related to food wastage, healthy living, community gardens, agricultural integrity and alternative energy. Filled with determination and innovative ideas for their family and community, this entrepreneurial garden duo is destined for more great things as they continue on their quest for food security.

The Grown at Home

Initiative focuses on householders cultivating healthy and wholesome food, so that global food security can be achieved. Families make up communities, so by extension, Grown at Home is also concerned about creating a food source for the general public.

SOS Food Security and Sustainability Meet-Ups are presentations of Grown at Home Magazine. These are Sunday evening, virtual workshops where we hear and share food security and energy solutions. Find out more by following the Grown at Home Magazine Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/grown.at.home.magazine/

Grown at Home Magazine is a FREE Caribbean digital publication. It is the householders’ guide to homegrown foods.

Some of the solutions outlined here are those of the householders from our SOS Meet-Ups.

Get together with one or two persons who are willing to plant, share and sell together. Alternatively, you may form or join a group that cooperates to achieve this common objective.

HOUSEHOLDERS Finding Solutions The Community Effect

Plant a few. Share a few.

What if you can only manage to plant two or three crops on your property? Don’t you worry. Grown at Home’s SOS Meet-Up participants, Sabrina Maxius and Rodney Best, suggest that you do what you can. This is because planting and maintaining crops take time, attention, effort and care, and the process does have its challenges. Start, therefore, with a few easy or quickgrowing crops such as lettuce, spinach and eggplants. You may encourage others to do the same with the crops you do not grow. At harvest time, you can share with each other. That way, little becomes much.

Share a goat or two.

Al Layne, our first SOS presenter, lives about 75% sustainably in food, water and energy. He suggests that we share a goat or two for milk and cheese production. If you are not allowed to

raise livestock on your property, here is a solution: Find someone who is willing and able to accommodate the animal. You may agree to supply the pen, feed, supplies and medical care while your counterpart may handle the everyday responsibilities.

No need to limit it to goats. Some chickens, sheep or any livestock animal of your choosing can become a source of food or milk for you and a friend. If you make it a group or community effort, even better.

Coconuts galore!

Some householders have coconut trees that produce more than they can consume. Waste not by sourcing backyard farmers who wish to barter for some of your coconuts. If the reaping of the coconuts is too difficult to handle, find someone who can harvest them for you. Make it a fair exchange - labour for produce.

Carefully and thoughtfully arrange for like-minded individuals to corporately cultivate the excess. At harvest time, the participants may share the food grown among themselves and others. The remainder may be sold and stored.

Join a co-operative.

Together is often better. According to the International Co-operative Alliance,

where both producers and consumers own, control and profit.

Look out for those in need.

With all the discussion surrounding householders producing crops, raising livestock, bartering, storing and selling, it is important to remember the handicapped among us - physically, financially and otherwise. These obstacles can hinder their ability to prepare adequately for challenges that may lay ahead. Planting food at home is important, but also critical is our corporate well-being. This is our opportunity to share freely. That way, we can enjoy communal provision and peace of mind. Let us ensure that these difficult times are made easier when journeyed together.

Create a Food Source

Do you have more land than you can manage?

PLANTING A THERAPEUTIC GARDEN

WITH

by Camille Alleyne

COVID-19 IN MIND

Grown at Home encourages householders, wherever possible, to plant a complete diet. This time around, however, we want to do something different but still relevant. In this issue, let’s learn to plant a therapeutic garden. With COVID-19 restrictions being relaxed or lifted in many regions of the world, it would be wise for us to do all we can to maintain good health as we mix and mingle once again.

6 WAYS TO KEEP HEALTHY

really build our immune system. What we can do, however, is allow our bodies to create the correct immune response to fight disease.”

When it relates to COVID-19 specifically, Heru has successfully treated patients at his practice at Healing Earth Inc, My Lord’s Hill, St Michael, Barbados. These patients include those with comorbidities, so his trustworthy advice will help you create your own COVID-19 therapeutic garden.

COVID-19, like every disease, may result in negative outcomes for persons with comorbidities. Comorbidity is the coexistence of more than one medical condition (physical or mental) in a patient. With or without comorbidities, however, we want our bodies to perform at its optimum when facing and fighting sicknesses. One way to do this is to plant foods at home that will aid the creation of a powerful immune response.

Plant a therapeutic garden.

In general, we hear about building our immune systems, but health and wellness consultant Everton ‘Heru’ Holligan explains, “Our immune system is already found in every area of our bodies so we don’t

We asked Heru, who has been in the field of wellness for 25 years, to suggest specific foods that could be grown at home in a therapeutic garden. He recommended: garlic, mustard greens, moringá, thyme, limes (or local citrus), turmeric and ginger. Of these wonder-working plants, we will focus on five in the upcoming pages.

When we hear of the moringa plant, we should be aware that there are many species of moringa. The moringa that most of us know is the Moringa oleifera. This is widely cultivated in tropical climates and grows best between 25 and 35 degrees centigrade. This plant is well known for its nutritional and healing properties.

The fact that moringa is extremely nutritious and grows quickly and easily from both seeds and cuttings, makes it ideal for householders to cultivate in times of food scarcity.

Other Names

Tree of life, miracle tree, drumstick tree, horseradish tree, ben oil tree and benzolive tree.

Not only is the moringa tree useful for fighting the COVID-19 virus but it is also an ideal food source when food security is threatened.

Uses

The moringa plant is extremely versatile. Your household can utilise the seeds, flowers, leaves, pods, and the bark.

Health

The leaves may be consumed fresh or dried. They are nutrient rich in vitamin C and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll aids in circulation and in the oxygenating of cells. The nutrients in moringa aid the overall health of the body and a quick recovery from COVID-19.

Provides Sustenance in Countries with Malnutrition

What is most intriguing about the moringa tree is that it is used to fight malnutrition in countries such as Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia and Malawi because of the unusually wide range of nutritional content within the plant. Moringa is rich in micronutrients. Micronutrients are necessary for a balanced diet.

In areas around the world where drought causes the shortage of food, especially nutritious food, moringa is still able to grow well. This plant needs little water and is able to thrive in poor soil conditions in which other crops cannot survive.

Food

The leaves are most useful for consumption and some sources say that the roots contain toxins. The parts of the moringa plant may be used in the following ways:

Leaves

• Dry leaves as tea

• Grind in the blender and sprinkle dry leaves on your meals

• Vegetables – fresh or cooked https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=l_ixV51LLhY

Seeds

• Roast and eat as nuts

• Grind and sprinkle over food

Flowers

• Tea

• Vegetables

Pods (or drumsticks)

• Young, soft pods are used as vegetables in some cultures.

(However, only the pulp is eaten after cooking. The skin is discarded.)

Farming

The entire plant may be utilised as animal fodder.

Feel free to do more research about the wide range of uses for the different parts of the moringa tree.

Age of Maturity

4 – 5 months

How Moringa Grows

Moringa easily grows in the tropics. It loves our warm climate and yet it does not mind growing in the shade. Householders will find that it is an easy crop to plant because it does quite well in a poor soil environment. Here is how:

1. Moringa grows from seeds or cuttings but seeds grow faster.

2. Dry the pods and remove the seeds. To plant the seeds, first soak them for 24 hours.

3. Remove them from the water and take the fluff from the seeds.

4. It is best to place them in soil that allows for proper drainage. If not, the root tends to rot.

5. If you want one tree, plant about two seeds in a pot, 3 inches apart. This is because one may not germinate.

6. When the plant is young, water the seedlings every day. Do not allow the soil to thoroughly dry out.

7. When the seedlings are about 1 foot in height, transplant them into the ground about 10 feet apart.

8. Some say the roots of the moringa are invasive, so with most trees, do not plant too near to your house.

9. After a year and a half or less, there will be no need to water it. Instead, let nature water the tree. However, it will lose the leaves if left totally without water for over 6 months.

10. The moringa plant can grow to 30 feet. Do not be afraid to trim the tree to your desired height. It grows back extremely fast and will thicken and become lusher.

NUTRITIONAL CONTENT

According to healthline.com, moringa leaves are an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals. One cup of fresh, chopped leaves (21 grams) contains:

• Protein: 2 grams

• Vitamin B6: 19% of the RDA

• Vitamin C: 12% of the RDA

• Iron: 11% of the RDA

• Riboflavin (B2): 11% of the RDA

• Vitamin A (from beta-carotene): 9% of the RDA

• Magnesium: 8% of the RDA

Health benefits

• Rich in antioxidants.

• Helps to lower blood sugar levels. According to a small study in six people with diabetes, it was found that adding 50 grams of moringa leaves to a meal reduced the rise in blood sugar by 21%.

• May reduce inflammation.

• Lowers cholesterol.

How much moringa is safe to consume on a daily basis?

Ask a trusted certified health and wellness consultant to guide you especially if you are taking medication. Some recommend you start with ½ to 1 teaspoon of powder a day to avoid reactions like nausea and diarrhea. Observe your body’s reactions, and lower the daily dose, if necessary. Mixing the powder into a smoothie or sprinkling onto a meal is more tolerable than consuming the concentrated powder.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MORINGA

• Extremely rich in nutrients.

• Considered one of nature’s superfoods.

• Retains significant nutritional value when dried.

• Grown to nourish populations battling with malnutrition.

• Grows fast – up to 30 feet in a year.

• Grows cheaply and easily - needs little water and no fertiliser.

• Used in water purification in some countries.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ ojaYvaENmbU?feature

• Healthline talks about moringa, grown in Haiti, and castor oils.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ PHneWIyllT4?feature

DISCLAIMER

Sour Orange

Many West Indians have an affinity for this ungainly fruit known as sour orange. In its ripe state, it can be described as bumpy and wrinkly on the outside; and to the palette, quite bitter and sour. “Why such a love for sour orange?” you may ask. It is simple: we find it hard to forget the hot summer days when our mothers or grandmothers would beckon us indoors for a tall, ultra-refreshing glass of sour orange juice. In Jamaica, as reported in The Philadelphia Tribune article, “Sour Oranges in the U.S. Bring Back Caribbean Memories”, some had the pleasure of enjoying sour orange marmalade plastered on the local hard dough bread.

Other names

Bitter orange, Seville orange. Some claim that sour orange and Seville orange are different – one has bumpy skin and the other has smooth.

Sour orange like all citrus fruits is rich in vitamin C. Although many say that research is starting to reveal that vitamin C is not effective against fighting colds and flus, some natural health practitioners disagree. Also, The National Library of Medicine, U.S.A., reported that vitamin C “strengthens the immune system overall”. It continued to state, “Patients with hypovitaminosis C or severe respiratory illnesses, such as COVID-19, may benefit from taking vitamin C, due to its good safety profile, simplicity of use and potential for rapid production scaling.”

• Extracting the essential oils from the peel for perfumes

Age of Maturity

8 – 10 years from the planting of the seed.

3 – 5 years, if acquired as a small tree. 8 months for fruit to ripen.

How Sour Orange Grows

Planting

Our tropical climate is ideal for sour orange to grow but it gets fungus from high humidity so it is best to keep it in a bright, sunny location.

Get some fruit from someone who has a tree. After using the fruit, keep the seeds.

Leave the seeds on a paper napkin on the kitchen counter to dry for 2 - 7 days. Save some seeds in a Ziploc bag in the refrigerator and start your indigenous seed bank.

Obtain soil with a slightly acidic pH. Plant in potting soil about 1 inch deep.

never dries out but do not let it get water logged.

If possible, use low-lime water –collected rainwater is best.

If leaves turn light green, fertilise once a week. This is a sign of deficiency.

Once a year, prune your tree into a compact crown.

Harvesting

When the fruit turns orange, fruit development in

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CLEANING WITH CITRUS JUICES

Extracts are taken from Heinen’s Grocery Store article of February, 2022, written by Halle Snavely.

People do not eat the sour orange fruit straight from the tree due to the intense taste but the fruit has numerous uses.

1. When added with tartar it removes stains such as wine and coffee 2. Rids areas of foul odors such as garlic and fish

Cleans hardened grease from stovetops when used with salt

Eradicates lime build up from faucets

Removes mildew from grout 6. Polishes furniture when added with olive oil

For more details, go to https:// www.heinens.com/stories/10-ways-toclean-and-freshen-your-home-withitrus/#:~:text=Citrus%20is%20certainly%20 versatile%20as,every%20area%20of%20 your%20home.

PLANTING A COVID-19 THERAPEUTIC GARDEN

DISCLAIMER

Garlic is the herb that is rightfully blamed for lingering on our breath a little too heavily and for a little too long. Despite this, can you imagine life without garlic?

Garlic is botanically a vegetable, though in the Caribbean we call it “seasoning” because it adds zest and flavour to our meals.

Garlic contains therapeutic qualities that work wonders against COVID-19 symptoms.

Origin

Some sources say that garlic originated in China. Others say Egypt. Garlic is related to onions, leeks and chives.

Age of Maturity

7 months

Edible Parts of the Garlic Plant

Cloves, leaves, stalks or scapes.

Have you Ever Heard of Scapes?

Scapes are the flower stalks that grow from the plant. You will easily identify the garlic scapes because they usually curl once or twice as they grow. The scapes and leaves of the garlic make aromatic additions to your stirfried vegetables.

Medicinal Uses

The oil produced by garlic helps to loosen and expel mucus from the body. This aids in COVID-19 recovery. According to RxList. com, garlic is used for many reasons e.g.:

• To treat coughs, joint pain, throat infections

• To treat blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease

• As cancer prevention and treatment

• Treatment for vaginal yeast infections

• For antibacterial assistance

How Garlic Grows

It is possible to plant garlic and see no significant cloves being produced. That is because, more than likely, the garlic is hardneck garlic - the one that thrives in colder climates. Nevertheless, these are able to grow in the tropics, if you know how.

The hardneck varieties of garlic need a temperature of under 4.5 degrees centigrade to vernalise. Vernalising means to cool the seed to ensure germination.

Planting

1. Acquire garlic from a source - the garlic in the supermarket will suffice.

2. To vernalise, put the entire head of garlic in a plastic bag. Make holes in the bag for ventilation.

3. Leave the bag of garlic in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 weeks. By this time, the roots may be forming. Check the garlic once a week to ensure that moisture and mold are not forming.

4. At the end of that period, remove the garlic from the refrigerator and strip off the papery membrane.

5. Separate the cloves and get ready to plant.

Planting

The soil must be deep enough to facilitate the growth of the bulbs – no less than 6 inches.

The soil should be rich and able to drain well.

Bury the individual cloves 2 inches below the surface, with the flat end downwards and the pointed end upwards. The cloves should be planted 3 inches from each other, in rows that are one to two feet apart.

Maintaining

According to growagoodlife.com, “Garlic needs about one inch of water each week, either by rain or hand watering, especially once the bulbs form. Water the garlic when the soil feels dry an inch beneath the surface.

Let the water soak in [to a depth of] 6 to 8 inches to encourage deep root growth. Water your plants in the morning or early afternoon, and avoid getting any part of the plant wet. Use drip irrigation, a soaker hose, or hand water with a watering wand to deliver water at the soil level.”

Remove the garlic scapes. When the scapes are removed, the plants will direct their energy to clove production.

Look out for fungus growth especially since our climate is humid and wet. That is why the soil should be well drained.

Harvesting

Observe your garlic for when the foliage begins to brown. At this point, leave the crop for one week without watering.

Storing

Keep the garlic heads (bulbs), unbagged on the kitchen counter. This will cause it to last about seven months at room temperature. Be aware that if you separate the cloves, the life span is reduced.

Alternatively, store by freezing, pickling, dehydrating or by keeping the bulbs in a cool, dry place.

Do you grow garlic? Do you get a successful crop?

Email your experiences to grownathomecaribbean@gmail.com for us to share them on the Grown at Home Magazine Facebook page.

(CA)

NUTRITIONAL CONTENT

Healthline.com states: Calorie for calorie, garlic is incredibly nutritious. A single clove (3 grams) of raw garlic contains: Manganese: 2% DV (of the daily value)

Vitamin B6: 2% of the DV

Vitamin C: 1% of the DV Selenium: 1% of the DV

It also contains 4.5 calories, 0.06 grams of fibre, 0.2 grams of protein, and 1 gram of carbohydrates.

REFERENCES

Thanks to: Growing Garlic in the Tropics / Rancho Delicioso

https://www.ranchodelicioso.com/ growing-garlic-in-the-tropics/

According to Grow a Good Life / How to Grow Garlic: Tips for Growing Great Garlic https://growagoodlife.com/growinggarlic/

RxList / Garlic https://www.rxlist.com/garlic/ supplements.htm

DISCLAIMER

Mustard greens are vegetables somewhat like Chinese cabbage in appearance. They contain mustard oil which is described as having a hot taste similar to the burn of onion.

nutrients. This super food could easily be the most nutritious you can plant in your garden. The good news is that these greens are easy to cultivate, so let’s get started.

Other Names

Indian mustard, Chinese mustard, leaf mustard, curled mustard, brown mustard, vegetable mustard and mustard spinach.

Planting

Mustard greens love to be planted in cooler weather but some people plant them anywhere, anytime and it just grows.

If you prefer to be guided as you plant, begin by preparing a rich, loose, welldraining soil.

I had my first taste of mustard greens recently and was shocked at the flavour. I love onions ... I love garlic … mustard greens, however, reminded me of aloes! I found it to be more bitter than it was spicy. I had stir-fried the greens, and subsequently, I read that different methods of cooking would have resulted in a more pleasant taste. Mustard greens are power packed with

There are several varieties of mustard greens based on shape, texture and colour of leaf.

Age of Maturity

Regular plant

30 – 45 days

For microgreens

4 – 7 days

Mix in compost to enrich the soil. Some planters add perlite and vermiculite to create a loose soil texture throughout.

Start by planting 2 – 3 seeds at 1 ½ inches deep, 6 inches apart. If you plant them even closer together, harvest most of the seedlings as microgreens in 4 – 7 days and leave a few to grow to maturity.

THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL FOR AGRICULTURAL, MEDICINAL AND HEALTH ADVICE.

The mustard seed oil assists the body in blood circulation and gets rid of any mucus present in the respiratory system. This is what makes it so good for those with COVID-19.

If you do not use microgreens, separate the seedlings and plant them 12 inches apart for increased yield.

Grows Well in Containers and Pots

If you plant mustard greens in pots, place one seedling in each pot, or PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) bottle if you are into recycling. https://www.

Maintaining

Give the plants two inches of water every week.

Gently weed regularly.

At four inches tall, fertilise the plants.

If the caterpillars are feasting on them before you do, cover your mustard greens with a greenhouse fabric fitted around a frame. Make sure, however,

NUTRITIONAL CONTENT

Heathline.com states that mustard greens are one of the most nutritious foods you can eat, as they are low in calories, yet rich in fibre and micronutrients.

One cup (56 grams) of chopped raw mustard greens provides:

• Calories: 15

• Protein: 2 grams

• Fat: less than 1 gram

• Carbs: 3 grams

• Fiber: 2 grams

• Sugar: 1 gram

• Vitamin A: 9% of the Daily Value (DV)

• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): 6% of the DV

• Vitamin C: 44% of the DV

• Vitamin E: 8% of the DV

• Vitamin K: 120% of the DV

• Copper: 10% of the DV

Additionally, mustard greens contain 4-5% of the DV for calcium, iron, potassium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), magnesium, and thiamine (vitamin B1), as well as small amounts of zinc, selenium, phosphorus, niacin (vitamin B3), and folate.

Mustard greens are the leaves of the mustard plant.

They get rid of any mucus present in the respiratory system.

Consuming these greens assists with blood circulation.

Mustard greens are related to broccoli, cauliflower and kale.

They may have a spicy or bitter taste.

It is better to cook your mustard greens. Steamed or boiled is preferred by many.

REFERENCES

Thanks to:

How to Grow Mustard Greens from Seed / City Steading Plant Life https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=mjFfGTri8AE

PLANTING A COVID-19 THERAPEUTIC GARDEN

In our last issue of Grown at Home, we featured ginger as a crop to plant to provide us with some of the minerals we need for a complete diet. Since ginger is one of the foods that assists the body when experiencing the COVID-19 virus, we thought to republish a modified version of the article written by Cheryl Harewood.

It has been said that no other plant in the world has the distinctive taste and aroma of ginger. You can also call it a popular plant, which many people use as tea, spice, herb, medicine, flavour and so much more.

The rhizome of the ginger plant is the part commonly used as a spice. A rhizome is a horizontal underground root that creates shoots and other roots from its nodes.

Origin

Ginger is said to have originated in China and is found throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Scientific Classification

Zingiber officinale

Age of Maturity

10 - 12 months

USES

In Food

In the Caribbean, ginger is a spice used for cooking and for making drinks such as sorrel. West Indians also make ginger beer as a carbonated beverage or as a fresh, natural cold drink.

Ginger tea is often made from fresh ginger.

Ginger is found in the famous regional

specialities of hot cross buns and Jamaican ginger cake.

Wine made from ginger is common in some countries of the world.

As Medicine

Ginger, like garlic, helps with recovery from the COVID-19 virus as it loosens the mucous before removing it from the body.

• Ginger assists in recovery from colds and influenza.

• Protects the respiratory system.

• Ginger is a well-known home remedy for nausea and stomach pain.

• It relieves nausea following cancer treatment, according to a 2010 study to examine the effects of ginger root powder supplements on nausea in 60 children and young adults who

underwent chemotherapy.

• Helps alleviate morning sickness.

• Aids in reducing gas.

• Improves digestion.

by Cheryl Harewood

• Prevents constipation.

• Helps prevent and treat arthritis and inflammation.

• Reduces the risk of diabetes, cancer, stress and cardiovascular disease.

• Treats various types of infection.

• Has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

• Reduces dysmenorrhea - pain before or during menstruation.

• It was found that ginger, ingested or applied, can aid in recovery from muscle injury.

How Ginger Grows

Chinese or common ginger is the kind you will find in the grocery store. It is one of the easiest crops to grow. The hot and humid Caribbean weather is perfect for ginger to grow.

Planting

Find a spot in your yard that is warm and in partial shade.

Plant each ginger rhizome in well-drained soil that has been fed with fertiliser.

Maintaining

Water well. Keep the soil moist.

Do not let the soil become waterlogged. If the ground is too wet, the ginger plant will rot from the root.

Harvesting

Reap in 10-12 months. By this time, the plant should be four to five feet in height.

Use a garden fork to ease the plant out from the soil. Try not to damage the rhizome.

With your fingers, remove the soil from the ginger rhizomes. Wash off excess debris and leave in sun to dry. Clip off the additional roots from the rhizome.

Storing

Do not keep ginger in bags if you are storing it at room temperature. At room temperature, it should last about two to three weeks before starting to get wrinkly. The ginger can still be used after this point but it will have less moisture.

Ginger can be stored in the refrigerator for even longer. Place it, unpeeled, in a zip bag in the crisper drawer when storing in the refrigerator.

When you plant ginger in your backyard, you will have all of its nutritional and medicinal benefits at hand. It is a valuable addition to your garden.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS

According to the article, Food Value of Two Varieties of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Commonly Consumed in Nigeria, published by Hindawi International Scholarly Research Notices, the mineral analysis of ginger [white and yellow varieties] indicated their richness in minerals such as: • Potassium • Calcium • Magnesium • Sodium • Phosphorous • Iron • Zinc • Copper

Potassium was found to be the most prevalent mineral.

The article explained that when we consume potassium, it increases our iron utilisation. Potassium also benefits people taking diuretics to control hypertension.

Both sodium and potassium are required to maintain the balance of the body’s fluids and the pH of the body. They also regulate muscle and nerve irritability, control glucose absorption, and enhance normal retention of protein during growth.

6INTERESTING

THINGS ABOUT GINGER

1. The ginger root plant bears a flower.

2. The ginger plant is related to the banana and bird of paradise plants.

3. The leaves of the ginger plant are quite aromatic and flavourful, and are suitable for making tea.

4. Ginger is said to be carbohydrate rich.

5. This edible root also contains fibre, protein, fat and sugar.

6. Ginger is high in antioxidants.

Children FARMING

Making Agriculture Fun for the Youth

If we do not start to understand the importance of agriculture now, when will we create our culture of independence and create a reasonable succession?

It could be said that agriculture has an image problem. Simply put, for most of the world’s youth, agriculture is not seen as being “cool” or attractive. Most think of it only as backbreaking labour, without an

Engaging our Youth

Engaging youth in agriculture has been a prominent topic recently, as there is growing concern worldwide that young people have become disenchanted with agriculture.

With many young people living in developing countries, where agriculture can provide a main source of income, it is vital for them to be connected to farming. This younger generation can help introduce modern technologies while learning from traditional methods. This will create the perfect fusion of new and traditional

Children in FARMING

commodities are more vulnerable to wastage than others. Fruits and vegetables constitute more than 40% of the food waste in the region. According to a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, the volume of fruit wasted in Latin America and the Caribbean is the 4th highest of all commodities wasted, which equates to the annual loss in food supplies representing 6 per cent of global food losses or 2 per cent of all food produced globally.

The losses are mainly due to poor infrastructure and poorly organised value chains.

Traditional methods could provide new opportunities for making agriculture more interesting for young people, if they capture the interest of the youth from an early age. Caribbean Farmers Without Borders created an interesting mango collection program that can be monetised to help support the youth in many ways such as:

1) Understanding the economics of earning an income

2) Learning how to become an entrepreneur

3) Finding ways to help develop the food supply value chains It would also be imperative to help

them understand the importance of food safety and food security, and how the food supply chain benefits communities.

Through our community-based mango collection initiative, we figured that each school in the community would be given an opportunity to collect mangoes that fall under the trees. One may never imagine how much money is lost through the neglect of collecting mangoes that fall on the wayside. In cases where there are mango trees close to the roadside, the children can do the collection under the supervision of crossing guards or engage the police to help control vehicular traffic.

The mango collection drive would provide a fundraising opportunity for the children. The collection becomes a form of environmental service, since it keeps the areas clean and reduces the presence of fruit flies and other pests. Highlighting, encouraging and supporting youths and their roles in agriculture will create an interest in farming. This will also create an opportunity for agro-processors to increase their productivity. I believe each child can be paid USD 0.10 per good fruit. The money derived from the collection of the mangoes would be donated to their schools’ farmers markets, marketing boards and agroprocessors. Alternatively, the monies

may be placed in the schools’ bank accounts to help cover expenses related to their feed programmes, textbooks and tours.

Mango seeds may be planted and the seedlings may be sold. The seeds may also be used for crafts. Starting the mango collection will lead to teaching the children the origin of the fruit, the growth pattern, and the many uses. Understanding the purpose of collecting the mangoes, and what the mangoes can do, can spark an interest in agriculture and agribusiness.

A Chance to Make a Difference

There are many challenges ahead for the sector, but the agriculture industry can attract youth by:

• Educating them in agriculture

• Helping them to understand the financial gain that can come from agriculture

• Making them aware of the fact that they can have a voice at policy level and in the media

• Allowing them to be engaged in agriculture in an innovative way

As we look to find solutions to feeding a world of nine billion people by 2050, the Caribbean will continue to create a culture of independence, based on the involvement of the youth.

A 15-Year-Old Jamaican Goat Farmer

It is exciting to see the next generation of farmers emerge, as the world looks to them to be the future players in the global food security drive.

Kaheim Jauvae McLune is only 15 years old and he is already an established farmer. This ambitious youngster keeps rabbits, ducks and goats. He attends Oberlin High School in West Rural St Andrew, Jamaica and his favourite subjects are mathematics and ... you guessed it … agricultural science!

Grown at Home was happy to connect with this teen entrepreneur to ask him about his farming experiences.

GAH: Kaheim, can you tell us what led to your interest in goats?

KJM: I got started in goat farming when I was five or six years old because that was when my mom bought me my first goat. That goat gave me one kid. Then, Mr Katon Black, who is a good steward of my community, gave me a brown and white native goat1. Five months later, she had a baby buck.

GAH: How many goats do you have?

KJM: At one stage, I had five goats but now I have only two goats. Some had kids and some were sold. I once experienced a great loss of three graded2 kids. The kind of goats I now have are a graded Nubian goat and a native mother goat.

GAH: Do you raise goats for milk or meat?

KJM: I raise them for meat and my goal is also to get into genetics

GAH: Was there a transition between when you first started to keep goats and now?

KJM: I am constantly undergoing transition because farming is a process. My knowledge has increased and I have matured. I remember when I had to sell my first goat, I cried, but now I can make my own decisions concerning the business of goat farming and its future.

GAH: Do you enjoy goat farming and why?

KJM: I enjoy goat farming because I love goats and I like caring for them. I am an outdoor person and farming is a type of relaxation for me.

GAH: What is your typical day like?

KJM: My typical day contains activities such as checking on my livestock, grazing the goats, cutting grass, preparing feeding bags and watching them feed.

GAH: What is entailed in maintaining healthy goats?

KJM: To maintain health, I have to ensure that their environment is clean. I have to make sure that no feed is left in their trough overnight. I have to change their water daily, trim their hooves when needed, and make sure they are dewormed.

GAH: Are you involved in finding a market for your goats?

KJM: Yes, I market my own goats. There are butcher shops in my community, so I don’t have a problem marketing my goods.

GAH: Do you have a mentor from whom you can get advice?

KJM: I get a lot of advice from people in the Belmont community, starting with my family. My brother and uncle are both farmers, and

my mother is involved in farming on the side. In addition, I am a member of New Belmont Farm Club and I watch a lot of vlogs by Farmer Khalil. Mr Khalil Brown is an animal nutritionist, researcher and farmer. I also keep in contact with Mr Bernard of the Small Ruminants Association of Jamaica and I am a member of Emmanuel Apostolic Church. The congregation is a big support system to my life.

GAH: Do you find goat farming financially beneficial?

KJM: I see farming as a financially beneficial business but it takes great passion and patience. I am currently adjusting my business and pushing to make more space so that I can produce more stock. If I do that, it can be even more financially beneficial.

GAH: What advice would you give to a youngster who is interested in farming?

KJM: My advice would be not to think of agriculture as a dirty job. It is good to be next to nature and to be learning at the same time. There are a lot of jobs created in agriculture so do not allow yourself to be discouraged.

FOOTNOTES

1. Native goats are those that have been around from colonial times. They breed without any formal breeding programme and survive naturally in Jamaica’s physical environment.

2. Graded goats are those that are made up of more than one breed of goat.

3. Raising goats for genetics is when quality stock is sold to farmers for breeding purposes. These animals will help to upgrade the breed variations on other farmers’ goat operations.

Kaheim

is an established goat farmer having begun farming at age 5.

Plantain Chips

This well-loved Caribbean snack provides you with a quick munch.

Ingredients: 1 unripe / green plantain Olive oil or cooking oil of your choice (1 cup or just enough to submerge the plantain slices) A pinch of salt (optional) (Serves 1)

Method: Peel and thinly slice the plantain into circles or slices. Thoroughly heat the oil in the frying pan.

Gently place the slices into the hot oil. Be careful not to cause

Utensils: Frying pan

Pair of tongs Paper towel Plate

Measuring cup

Watch them closely because they can quickly burn. Use tongs to remove from the pan as soon as they turn golden. Place a paper towel on a plate. Put the chips there to drain.

Sprinkle with a pinch of

Wholesome Home-Harvested Snacks

Fresh Fruit

The easiest snack to prepare is fresh fruit, straight from the tree. Just wash, peel and serve. Avoid giving children fruit and vegetables with seeds that could cause choking.

Carrot Sticks

Brightly coloured and full of nutrients, carrot sticks need no mixing, blending or cooking.

Ingredients: 1 carrot (Serves 1)

Utensils: Knife Bowl or plate Carrot peeler

Method: Peel the carrot. Cut into sticks. Serve.

assistance.

Cups

Why not allow your to produce simple, snacks for your family? goodies are the that keep children ready. Even small easy recipes with

Wholesome Home-Harvested Snacks

your backyard healthy family? These perfect after-school treats children satisfied until dinner is small children can make these with your

Watermelon Slushie

One watermelon vine gives you a plethora of fruit. At harvest time, freeze some to use out-ofseason.

Ingredients: 3 cups watermelon 2 cups ice Honey to sweeten (if necessary) (Serves 1 - 2)

Utensils: Knife Measuring cup Blender

Method: Cut up the watermelon. Remove the skin and it is best to remove the seeds. Blend all ingredients together. Pour into cups or glasses.

Mango Ice-Cream

Mango trees grow all around the Caribbean. You may even have some in your backyard. Try your hand at this simple, satisfying treat.

Ingredients:3 cups heavy cream 2/3 can condensed milk 1 ripe (Servesmango 2 - 4)

Method: In a bowl mash the mango into a puree. Whip the cream in another bowl with a hand mixer until it forms Whip in the condensed milk and the mangoScrapepuree. the mixture into

Hand Potatomixermasher or fork 2 bowls Scraping Freezer-safespatulacontainer with lid Measuring cup

THE STORY OF Coco Cottage

HOW TO LIVE SUSTAINABLY

by Camille Alleyne

Al Layne and his family live almost 75% sustainably at Coco Cottage in the parish of St Philip, Barbados. They have all the water and energy they need, and give them six weeks and they can be sustainable in food as well.

The journey to becoming self-sufficient began for the Laynes 30 years ago and their experiences create an amazing story that should inspire us all.

Al had always wanted to live in the countryside, in peaceful solitude – away from neighbours and close to nature. When the acreage became available for purchase, Al, with the full support of his wife, jumped at the opportunity to acquire the property. They built Coco Cottage and to this day, they have no regrets. The sunrise views are stunning, the adjacent forest is a place for quiet reflection, and the nearby stream is a life source.

Building a life in this remote paradise came with its own challenges. The house plans were ambitious and skilled

builders were few. After several failed attempts at contracting the house, Al decided to handle the project himself. Believe it or not, Al had an immense dislike for woodwork while at school. He explains, “I hated woodwork and had no intention of getting into carpentry or anything of that sort. Out of frustration and with a family to provide for, I decided to face the challenge and become a ‘do-it-yourself’ home builder. I soon discovered that the theory and practice I learned in the begrudged woodwork classes were emerging. Anything I designed I could build. Day by day, the lines on the blueprint took shape on the landscape.”

According to Al, “If you want to build a sustainable home, it would not be one found in Fortune 500 magazines. That may be accomplished eventually, but that is not where it all starts. It is a process. As a result of establishing Coco Cottage, I was launched into another career – that of designing and building homes and offices. Amazed by my achievement, I began building homes for others who wanted cost savings and efficiency. Being in the business of building homes brought

unexpected satisfaction and advanced my adventure in sustainable living, inclusive of water, food and energy.”

Food for the Family

Al declares, “Food security is as simple as ‘potluck dinner’. If each of us plants enough for ourselves and our neighbours, we will all have enough. Food security by definition requires a return to valuing community over individuality – each one reach and teach one. Our grandparents understood that if you sell all you have, you will have to buy all you need. Our African ancestry is rich with ancient wisdom of which comes the tradition of ‘UMBUNTU – you are therefore I am’. When translated it simply means that the creator of the universe made all of creation as interdependent. Sustainability and food security require a return to interdependence.

“It isn’t difficult to become sustainable in food, but it does require a little bit of innovation and it is not as convenient as going to the supermarket and picking up a carton of milk, for example.”

Presently, the Laynes plant beans, lettuce, collard greens, kale, buck yams, eddoes and herbs. Mostly six-week crops are the focus so that food is always readily available. As livestock, they have chickens for eggs and meat. Plant matter and manure are turned into compost. Deodorant, toothpaste, insect repellant and fragrant body oil come from the numerous coconut trees that adorn Coco Cottage.

A Power Source

Producing an independent source of energy for the property was a challenging process. To begin with, running electricity to the house was quoted at US $13,500, mainly because of its remote location. It was at that point that the family began to look at utilising solar power. Until then, they gathered by candle light and kerosene oil lamps to perform nighttime duties, and this went on for about one year. Lamp light was not unusual for Al. He grew up in the Barbadian district of Brittons Hill, St Michael, where there was no electricity. “I didn’t have an issue with lamp light, at all,” clarifies Al. “There was a goal and we did whatever we needed to get the job done.

“We use GEL cell batteries for our solar power and we have a backup generator for when the system goes down.” To acquire a sustainable power source, Al had gone online and researched the building of a solar energy system, and the rest is history.

Water Security

“In terms of the water,” Al continues, “initially, we spent US $700 in pipe to run the water to our house and US $700 was quite significant at that point, and still is! So, because my property inclines away from the main, the pressure was low. It was only between 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. that we had water, and then it only trickled. That meant that even with the running water, we had to collect water from the main in buckets between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., and we had to do that every day! But then again, there was a goal in mind, a vision in mind. After that, we started to get water from the development at the

top of the hill. That created another problem, we went from having too little water to too much water and that caused the water to burst all the pipes in the house … it was crazy! What we had to do then, was to tank the water. That way the gravity feed to the house would not burst the pipes. There again, what we began to see was the evolution of Coco Cottage. With the tank, what we have now is a week’s reserve of water. We want to increase that to two weeks, because that gives us a better margin, in case the water is out. Water is also harvested from the roof. The 60 to 70 gallons collected are used to water the plants. We want to increase that to 2000 gallons of water.”

Al makes it known that rain water is drinkable. Rain water is collected in

Bequia and other Caribbean countries and utilised as drinkable water. Boiling, usually, is enough to purify it. Chlorine, however, may be added in quantities advised by water safety professionals. Fortunately for Al, there is a spring located about a half a mile from the house. Every two weeks, they catch about 5 gallons and just filter it and drink it. “The water is very, very different from that of the tap,” admits Al, “it tastes very different. The water is alive! I always knew that the spring was there but I just didn’t know that we could drink the water.

“I was at the spring one day when a young man came and told me that he drank the spring water. Another young man said that he had got an analysis done on the water and it was compared to the water from the tap in Barbados. From this he found that the tap water was heavily polluted but the stream water was not.” Al suggests that if you are concerned about the safety of your water, you may employ the services of a quality standards’ body in your country or territory to test it for you.

Becoming sustainable in food, water and electricity is possible. It takes determination, perseverance, planning and focus. Al and his family have accomplished this and so can you. The Laynes said that they did not establish these measures to become eco-people. It was their circumstances that led them to this place of sustainability - a place they would not have voluntarily chosen, but now a place they rather be.

Take a Trek Through Coco Cottage