New Category : Garden

Keeping it fresh and Bahamian

Tue, May 23rd 2023, 09:38 AM

A local farmer is answering the call to provide Grand Bahamians with healthier and affordable food choices through the farm, Local Organics. 

Tiffany Dennison, a former attorney, noted that she gained an appreciation for sustainability and subsistence farming along with an awareness of the state of food security in The Bahamas, especially Grand Bahama.

"It is fundamental that we start farming here because if anybody or anything takes out Florida, no one is sending us food," Dennison said.

She noted that Grand Bahama's reliance on imports has also lowered food quality overall in the past years as food items are affected by varying conditions such as temperature and humidity while in transport.

In response, Dennison established her farming business in 2007.

She credits the farm's early beginnings to a beloved friend and business partner, Charles Wayne Hall, who shared her concerns and love for agriculture and also introduced her to aquaponics.

Now, she operates Local Organics with two investing partners and a team of four.

The half-acre farm is located behind Garden of the Groves and is equipped to grow produce hydroponically and aquaponically.

Hydroponics is a technique of growing plants in a water-based nutrient solution instead of in the ground, while aquaponics includes introducing aquatic animals to the water to provide it with nutrients through their waste.

When asked about her process, Dennison explained that fish are kept in an above-ground pool where their water is pumped through rows of hydroponic tables.

She added that these methods proved to be beneficial as she is able to breed fish, Jamaican red tilapia, and cost-effectively grow large amounts of produce with less water.

"I'm running them through brackish water, so they'll actually be cleaner and they'll taste more like snapper," she said. "It picks up the flavor of everything, which is great for, like, stew fish."

Local Organics produces a variety of edible flowers, herbs, strawberries, tomatoes, and its most popular item - leafy green vegetables.

The farm's spring mix has become quite successful on Grand Bahama as numerous stores and restaurants including Express Food Mart, Solomon's, Livity, Green Gamut, The Stoned Crab, and Flying Fish buy it wholesale.

Flying Fish Co-Owner and General Manager Rebecca Tibbets noted that the restaurant has been using the lettuce for eight years.

"We like to support local small businesses and since it's grown locally, and not traveling, the quality is higher than bringing it in," Tibbets said.

The Stoned Crab restaurant owner Oliva Pagés said the restaurant uses a number of Local Organics produce such as tomatoes, onions, lettuce, mangos, and peppers.

"We're a green restaurant, so we try to promote any local business ... to reduce CO2 from shipping," Pagés said.

"The taste is 10,000 times better since they don't use any harsh pesticides ... and it has a way longer shelf life."

Dennison noted the spring mix is very cost-effective for her to grow, and at $6 per four-ounce box, is affordable for her retail customers as well as the restaurants.

She added that it's been rewarding for her to contribute to improving the island's food supply chain while partnering with other food businesses beyond the farming of produce.

One of these businesses is Blue Water Organic Farm, a startup specializing in shrimp grown in two of Dennison's aquaponic systems on her second property, Fairfield Farms.

Blue Water Proprietor Michael Johnson explained they are close to their first "crop".

"Right now, we're at the point where we are about four more months for them [the shrimp] to reach maturity, and when they've reached [that point], then we could introduce it to the commercial market for sale," he said.

The project drew the attention of Cabinet ministers on the island last week.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation Chester Cooper; Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey; and Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Clay Sweeting visited the farm on May 16.

Cooper said Johnson's product could be a "game changer" for the island.

"We have investors who want to come to The Bahamas to really invest in containerized farmers farming, and we need young, progressive farmers like Michael, who went to BAMSI (Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute) who've learned what do," Cooper said.

"Being able to deliver fresh shrimp, we can distribute them almost on a daily basis. ... This is what tourists want — locally grown product."

Sweeting added, "This shrimp farm is one that we would like to assist and capitalize with. So, we're going to work together, see how we can help, whether this business planning will help to expand the farm, so that this can be a success story."

To Dennison, it is what drives her vision of the future of farming in The Bahamas.

"I'm interested in helping anybody [who] wants any help," she said.

"If I help you with your system and your product, and I teach you how to make your product, guess what? I'm going to buy your product - anything that helps people [move] forward."

Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister takes 'Trees that Feed' initiative to Grand Bahama

Mon, Oct 31st 2022, 10:25 AM

Representing the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Ann Marie Davis continued her initiative for New Providence and the Family Islands of planting ‘Trees that Feed,’ during her latest visit to Grand Bahama Island.

Following a tour of the Backyard Nursery Display Area at Coral Vita Saturday, October 29th, Mrs. Davis, accompanied by Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Ginger Moxey, and Mrs. Patrice Russell, wife of Senator Kirkland Russell, donned gloves and took to the soil at Coral Vita to plant a single breadfruit tree, which is at the fore of her initiative.  Mrs. Davis and Minister Moxey also visited the Grand Bahama Children’s Home, and planted a breadfruit tree there.

Breadfruit is a newly recognized superfood.  Mrs. Davis said she chose breadfruit because of its gluten-free and cholesterol-free qualities, and because just one breadfruit tree can feed a family of four for over 50 years. Each breadfruit tree can bear around 200 fruit per year, producing fruit within three to five years, and trees can live 80 years or more.

Today, breadfruit is grown in over 90 countries.  Popular in countries throughout the region like Dominica, Haiti, Trinidad, and Jamaica, Mrs. Davis pointed out that breadfruit is now gaining popularity in The Bahamas.

The ‘Trees that Feed’ initiative aligns with the Davis Administration’s overall vision for sustainable living.  

 

 Representing the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Ann Marie Davis continued her initiative for New Providence and the Family Islands of planting ‘Trees that Feed,’ during her latest visit to Grand Bahama Island.   Following a tour of the Backyard Nursery Display Area at Coral Vita Saturday, October 29th, Mrs. Davis, accompanied by Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Ginger Moxey, and Mrs. Patrice Russell, wife of Senator Kirkland Russell, donned gloves and took to the soil at Coral Vita to plant a single breadfruit tree, which is at the fore of her initiative.  Mrs. Davis and Minister Moxey also visited the Grand Bahama Children’s Home, and planted a breadfruit tree there.   Breadfruit is a newly recognized superfood.  Mrs. Davis said she chose breadfruit because of its gluten-free and cholesterol-free qualities, and because just one breadfruit tree can feed a family of four for over 50 years. Each breadfruit tree can bear around 200 fruit per year, producing fruit within three to five years, and trees can live 80 years or more.   Today, breadfruit is grown in over 90 countries.  Popular in countries throughout the region like Dominica, Haiti, Trinidad, and Jamaica, Mrs. Davis pointed out that breadfruit is now gaining popularity in The Bahamas.   The ‘Trees that Feed’ initiative aligns with the Davis Administration’s overall vision for sustainable living.  

'Farm thieves need a tougher penalty'

Thu, Jun 17th 2021, 08:51 AM

Mr Campbell told MPs that since being elected to represent Southern Shores, he has received increasing complaints from residents about their food crops being raided and stolen by thieves.

#He said it’s unfair for people who choose not to work to take the bread out of the mouths of hardworking Bahamians, who are trying to make ends meet. #“Farmers in that area, and I’m sure throughout that southwestern area, the minister and member for Marco City would confirm, continue to complain that their hard-earned labour is being stolen from them and while someone seeks just a hand of bananas, but I want you to compare it with another individual’s monthly salary because in fact, that is what it is,” Mr Campbell said during his budget contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday. #“When the farmer plants that banana sucker and waits for months and months and waters it and now there’s bananas and the farmer is counting days before he can reap that banana, but some thief decides ‘I shouldn’t have to work, I shouldn’t have to sweat, Farmer Turnquest, Farmer Kates, Farmer Jones, Farmer Sweeting…. has planted something for me.’ It’s wrong, Mr Speaker.” #He called for a review of the country’s penal code so penalties for such offences can be toughened, later noting that he had been informed that the Minnis administration intends to bring legislation to Parliament to that effect. #He said: “I believe the good minister for agriculture will concur when I say we probably need to revisit the penal code or I’m being told we’re bringing the legislation to revisit the penal code to make it a more serious offence to steal from our farmers.” #Yesterday, House Speaker Halson Moultrie also chimed in on the issue, noting a similar problem is also being experienced in his constituency, the Nassau Village community. #He said he fully supported Mr Campbell’s statements and added that he hopes to see some law reform to help curb widespread theft in the country.

He said it’s unfair for people who choose not to work to take the bread out of the mouths of hardworking Bahamians, who are trying to make ends meet.

“Farmers in that area, and I’m sure throughout that southwestern area, the minister and member for Marco City would confirm, continue to complain that their hard-earned labour is being stolen from them and while someone seeks just a hand of bananas, but I want you to compare it with another individual’s monthly salary because in fact, that is what it is,” Mr Campbell said during his budget contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“When the farmer plants that banana sucker and waits for months and months and waters it and now there’s bananas and the farmer is counting days before he can reap that banana, but some thief decides ‘I shouldn’t have to work, I shouldn’t have to sweat, Farmer Turnquest, Farmer Kates, Farmer Jones, Farmer Sweeting…. has planted something for me.’ It’s wrong, Mr Speaker.”

He called for a review of the country’s penal code so penalties for such offences can be toughened, later noting that he had been informed that the Minnis administration intends to bring legislation to Parliament to that effect.

He said: “I believe the good minister for agriculture will concur when I say we probably need to revisit the penal code or I’m being told we’re bringing the legislation to revisit the penal code to make it a more serious offence to steal from our farmers.”

Yesterday, House Speaker Halson Moultrie also chimed in on the issue, noting a similar problem is also being experienced in his constituency, the Nassau Village community.

He said he fully supported Mr Campbell’s statements and added that he hopes to see some law reform to help curb widespread theft in the country.

Exploring the world of composting

Fri, May 28th 2021, 10:54 AM

GROW WHAT YOU EAT: Tips from experts

Wed, May 19th 2021, 12:00 AM

Time to grow your own produce

Fri, May 14th 2021, 12:00 AM

Blessing ceremony held for maternity unit

Blessing ceremony held for maternity unit

Wed, Aug 8th 2018, 06:00 AM

 

HE Princess Margaret Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology held a blessing ceremony yesterday for its newly renovated Maternal & Child Health Labour Unit, and also revealed the introduction of a Maternal & Child Health Day Assessment Unit. Reverend Canon S Sebastian Campbell served as celebrant for the ceremony and prayed over the rooms, equipment and staff of the maternity ward.

HE Princess Margaret Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology held a blessing ceremony yesterday for its newly renovated Maternal & Child Health Labour Unit, and also revealed the introduction of a Maternal & Child Health Day Assessment Unit.

Reverend Canon S Sebastian Campbell served as celebrant for the ceremony and prayed over the rooms, equipment and staff of the maternity ward.