Share a Day Trip to Accompong Town on October 22, 2015

[CosmicMoose]

Thank you Shaggy but it is really the people like Mystic Bowie who are doing the most and I am only assisting when I am asked to help.

Usually, in Jamaica, it is money that most people ask for when they want assistance. I have found that giving money doesn't solve a problem as much as giving a solution and then assisting others to solve their own problem. For instance, a few families did not have money enough to give it to their children for a meal at school. I found out that feeding those children would cost about $300 US a month. I could have given $300 and fed those children for a month or I could organize cooperative farming and then they could grow enough food to feed those children and teach farming methods at the same time.

It is hard to help people when you only see them on a two week vacation every year and don't live among them to understand the problem first before helping. I realize that not everyone can take the time to do this but I encourage those that can take the time and make an effort to make a difference.

Peace and Guidance

Absolutely. Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.

I saved this article, I don't know if it would be helpful or not, but it is worth a read for info on sustainable farming (more for urban areas, but amazing how much food they grow on a small amount of land) http://tinyhousetalk.com/family-grow...re-urban-farm/

~Moose

[Accompong]

Absolutely. Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.

I saved this article, I don't know if it would be helpful or not, but it is worth a read for info on sustainable farming (more for urban areas, but amazing how much food they grow on a small amount of land) http://tinyhousetalk.com/family-grow...re-urban-farm/

~Moose

Here is the problem with farming in Jamaica as I see it. I currently (along with my friend Marshall) have about 20 acres of a variety of items planted like sorrel, dasheen, plantains, ginger etc.. Clearing the land is not easy. Jamaicans us Gramazone and Paraquat to kill the weeds and then often over fertilize with "ferti" commercial fertilizers. When you don't have much money then you can't take the time to laboriously hand weed and grow "organically".

Yes, they could grow a lot more on a small amount of land but with limited resources and the constant need to feed your family as well as your pocketbook, planting and reaping is all you really have the time for.

Water is also a problem as there is no piped in water so rain water catchments are a necessity. Most farms are outside in the hills and a far way from any catchment. Thus, there is no irrigation without carrying 5 gallon pails to and from your house.

Marshall is a very smart guy who understands his limitations and is constantly improving his methods and marketing of what he produces. These "techniques" are the "fishing" in your parable. Just teaching a man to farm in the outdated way doesn't necessarily guarantee he will eat for a lifetime. Success breeds more success. Thanks for the link. I printed it out and will take it to Jamaica soon.

Nuff Respect!

[CosmicMoose]

Accompong, I know one very good way to organically clear land and I would expect it would work well in Jamaica. Goats!
http://www.grit.com/animals/goats/ra...z14jazreg.aspx

I hadn't even thought about water. I guess we take a lot for granted here. I can appreciate all the hard work it must be then.

~Moose

[Summer]

Accompong that was a beautiful read. I am summer granny at their place and she log in leave for me so just reading. Ahhhhh memories so sweet

[Accompong]

Accompong, I know one very good way to organically clear land and I would expect it would work well in Jamaica. Goats!
http://www.grit.com/animals/goats/ra...z14jazreg.aspx

I hadn't even thought about water. I guess we take a lot for granted here. I can appreciate all the hard work it must be then.

~Moose

Goats! We got goats all over the place! Unfortunately, goats don't eat the roots so, within a short time, you have weeds again and you can't use them once the crops are growing or you will have none of the either.
Here is a little picture of our farm shortly after planting a couple of acres

Here is another picture of a more mature patch.

As you can see, the land wants to revert back to jungle almost as soon as it is planted.

Peace and Guidance

[Bnewb]

Can't have a yard here without a goat mower!!
We have a few mowers in our yard!

[Accompong]

Accompong that was a beautiful read. I am summer granny at their place and she log in leave for me so just reading. Ahhhhh memories so sweet

Just before I go back home, I tend to reminisce about my likkle section of paradise. Glad I could evoke some sweet memories.

I might exist in Babylon but I only live in Paradise. It's time again to LIVE !

Big Up Summer Granny!
Peace and Guidance

[Flipadelphia26]

Moose. You will definitely see, there is no goat shortage I'm Jamaica.

[CosmicMoose]

Moose. You will definitely see, there is no goat shortage I'm Jamaica.

Hence why I suggested goats, but hadn't considered the roots part. I doubt raised beds would help with weeds.

I waved the white flag to my personal garden here, it got overrun by weeds and some lemon balm I planted. That stuff is invasive!

I'd love to see the area there Accompong, perhaps next time I'll try and get there with Linston. Already too many things to see and do and not enough time.

~Moose

[TAH]

Hence why I suggested goats, but hadn't considered the roots part. I doubt raised beds would help with weeds.

I waved the white flag to my personal garden here, it got overrun by weeds and some lemon balm I planted. That stuff is invasive!

I'd love to see the area there Accompong, perhaps next time I'll try and get there with Linston. Already too many things to see and do and not enough time.

~Moose

Mulch helps control weeds a whole lot. We started heavily mulching our garden with clean straw this year and didn't pull a single weed from July til now.