By: Jhanae Winter
By: Jhanae Winter
But don’t worry, you still have time.
The effects of the pandemic on food supply across the world is something we cannot ignore. When the bigger nations that import food and goods to us have a shortage in their own land, who do you think they will feed first? It is paramount that we have a sense of security when disasters and pandemics affect the world and our nation.
For this reason more Bahamians should invest in their own personal gardens to assist in providing food for their families. There is nothing new about the concept of backyard farming to Bahamians. Our older relatives have been doing it for years. But now it's your turn to take it more seriously and here's why.
Our Climate
Luckily for us, we have an amazing climate for growing crops. We are not as limited in producing crops compared to other counties. “The best time to start backyard farming in the Bahamas is anytime – now is better than later. The Bahamas is of subtropical climate with fairly high mean temperatures and moderate rainfall,” said Angelo Hamilton, President of Hortscience Enterprisecan. (check spelling on these two words)
Promotes Good Health
The good thing about gardening is that you are moving and active but the movements are certainly less strenuous than lifting weights at a gym. While working in your area, you are using various muscles in your back, hands, legs and that can build muscles with minimal effort. “The motions associated with physical farming form stronger muscles while increasing cardiovascular activity thus boosting your metabolism”, said Phil Davis, founder of Eden Farming Club. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America research found that a person gardening for 30 minutes can burn up to 165 calories. Likewise, a study in Sweden linked gardening to lower the risk for heart disease. Researchers found that such activities can decrease the risks of a heart attack or stroke by 30%.
It's Great For Mental Health
Want a hobby that is peaceful and allows you to become one with yourself? Gardening has been linked to lower stress levels and to improve symptoms of depression. Taking an hour
or two out of your day can help you unwind and become more in tuned with nature, which is never a bad thing. There's a peace associated with gardening as it can also release negative energy from your body simply because you are outside. “Studies have shown that there are stress relieving enzymes in the soil that calms our moods, also the direct contact with the ultra violet rays from the sun provide vitamin D while pulling toxins out of your body through sweating,” said Phil.
It's your own food
They say the further away you are from your food, the less nutrients it has. Eating food you've grown yourself is best because you receive the highest amount of nutrients possible. Likewise, you know what kind of chemicals are on your produce. Too many big companies inject steroids to help grow plants faster because they produce on a mass scale. This means all we are doing is consuming these toxic chemicals at high rates. We tend to grow more organically when it's our own food, this decreases the over usage of toxic pesticides that are damaging to consume. This also allows us to manage what we put into our bodies from an authentic organic point of view,” said Angelo.
As a country that spends millions of dollars on imported fruits and vegetables, we do not know the trip these produce takes to get from the plant they grew on to the various food stores and markets in The Bahamas. But harvesting our own, is just one trip from the yard to the kitchen. This also means less visits to the grocery store. Need a tomato, why not head to your garden to get one.
Family Bonding Time
Gardening is definitely not something you have to do alone. If you have little ones or even teenagers in the house, this is a great way to connect with them and teach them various skills. They can be assigned a small portion of plants to grow themselves and be responsible for it. Picture the smile on their faces when they see their own plant start to bud and produce a fruit or vegetable. According to Phil, the feeling of accomplishment associated with farming is matched by none. Even more so, it's a learning opportunity for all, but in particular children to know the importance of farming and appreciate where their foods come from.
Societal Impact
More Bahamians partaking in their own farms is not just great for their own wellbeing but for society as well. We can become a major supplier internationally, because of creativity and access to sun and soil, Phil said. The opportunities that are created on a macro level gives
Bahamians independence and the ability “to gain and profit from, resulting in saving and spending less on imported goods”, said Angelo.
Were you convinced? Good! Next week Bahamaslocal.com, shows you just how easy it is to start your own garden.
The effects of the pandemic on food supply across the world is something we cannot ignore. When the bigger nations that import food and goods to us have a shortage in their own land, who do you think they will feed first? It is paramount that we have a sense of security when disasters and pandemics affect the world and our nation.
For this reason more Bahamians should invest in their own personal gardens to assist in providing food for their families. There is nothing new about the concept of backyard farming to Bahamians. Our older relatives have been doing it for years. But now it's your turn to take it more seriously and here's why.
Our Climate
Luckily for us, we have an amazing climate for growing crops. We are not as limited in producing crops compared to other counties. “The best time to start backyard farming in the Bahamas is anytime – now is better than later. The Bahamas is of subtropical climate with fairly high mean temperatures and moderate rainfall,” said Angelo Hamilton, President of Hortscience Enterprise.
Promotes Good Health
The good thing about gardening is that you are moving and active but the movements are certainly less strenuous than lifting weights at a gym. While working in your area, you are using various muscles in your back, hands, legs and that can build muscles with minimal effort. “The motions associated with physical farming form stronger muscles while increasing cardiovascular activity thus boosting your metabolism”, said Phil Davis, founder of Eden Farming Club. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America research found that a person gardening for 30 minutes can burn up to 165 calories. Likewise, a study in Sweden linked gardening to lower the risk for heart disease. Researchers found that such activities can decrease the risks of a heart attack or stroke by 30%.
It's Great For Mental Health
Want a hobby that is peaceful and allows you to become one with yourself? Gardening has been linked to lower stress levels and to improve symptoms of depression. Taking an hour or two out of your day can help you unwind and become more in tuned with nature, which is never a bad thing. There's a peace associated with gardening as it can also release negative energy from your body simply because you are outside. “Studies have shown that there are stress relieving enzymes in the soil that calms our moods, also the direct contact with the ultra violet rays from the sun provide vitamin D while pulling toxins out of your body through sweating,” said Phil.
It's your own food
They say the further away you are from your food, the less nutrients it has. Eating food you've grown yourself is best because you receive the highest amount of nutrients possible. Likewise, you know what kind of chemicals are on your produce. Too many big companies inject steroids to help grow plants faster because they produce on a mass scale. This means all we are doing is consuming these toxic chemicals at high rates. "This also allows us to manage what we put into our bodies from an authentic organic point of view,” said Angelo.
As a country that spends millions of dollars on imported fruits and vegetables, we do not know the trip these produce takes to get from the plant they grew on to the various food stores and markets in The Bahamas. But harvesting our own, is just one trip from the yard to the kitchen. This also means less visits to the grocery store. Need a tomato, why not head to your garden to get one.
Family Bonding Time
Gardening is definitely not something you have to do alone. If you have little ones or even teenagers in the house, this is a great way to connect with them and teach them various skills. They can be assigned a small portion of plants to grow themselves and be responsible for it. Picture the smile on their faces when they see their own plant start to bud and produce a fruit or vegetable. According to Phil, the feeling of accomplishment associated with farming is "matched by none". Even more so, it's a learning opportunity for all, but in particular children to know the importance of farming and appreciate where their foods come from.
Societal Impact
More Bahamians partaking in their own farms is not just great for their own wellbeing but for society as well. We can become a major supplier internationally, because of creativity and access to sun and soil, Phil said. The opportunities that are created on a macro level gives Bahamians independence and the ability “to gain and profit from, resulting in saving and spending less on imported goods”, said Angelo.
Were you convinced? Good! Next week Bahamaslocal.com, shows you how to start your own garden.
