If your Trini herb garden is still thriving or for the most case alive, you are ready to up the ante and begin planting some vegetables. Either that or you just heard the budget and need to find some ways to cut back on your food bill. Either way, it’s time to plant your very own vegetable garden for fresh, organic and delicious produce! You will be amazed by the sweet, juicy flavors and vibrant textures that you will harvest!   Start by thinking about what you purchase in stores the most or what seems to be too expensive so you can save some money. For me, I love sweet peppers with my pasta, omelets and salads and pimentos in basically anything from my macaroni pie to homemade pizza so these were must haves for me!   Here are some popular selections: VEGETABLES Tomatoes Bell Peppers Pimentos Melongene/ Eggplant Lettuce Cabbage Kale Cucumber Cauliflower Broccoli Once you know what you want to plant, it’s time to make your vegetable ga...

The word ‘organic’ has become a buzz word when referring to eating healthier. We want organic fruits and vegetables but what exactly does this mean and how do we achieve this in our home gardens? WHAT IS ORGANIC GARDENING? Simply put, organic gardeners don't use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on their plants. Ideally, organic gardening seeks to work with nature through replenishing resources as it makes use of them like using waste for compost or rotating crops to replenish nutrients in the soil, organic gardening. HOW DO YOU CONTROL PESTS AND DISEASE ORGANICALLY? While having an organic garden doesn’t mean that you have to live with worms in your produce, it does dictate that your garden may not be 100% pest free or look magazine ready. ORGANIC GARDENING TAKES THOUGHTFULLNESS, PLANNING, AND PATIENCE To keep your garden organic start with following the following steps. 1.      Be Observant - Check your garden often and get to know y...

There are many ways to practice mindfulness, one which seems to be growing is gardening  (pun intended) . Mindfulness refers to the mental state of being calmly and consciously aware of what is happening not just in our mind and body but in our surrounding area without judgment. The practice of mindfulness stems from ancient Buddhist traditions and practices which purported that mindfulness can help to improve mental clarity, concentration, emotional flexibility, empathy, and tolerance whilst also reducing stress. MINDFULNESS IN THE GARDEN Being fully present and engaged in the garden allows the same relaxing effects to occur. If you are a regular gardener you may have experienced a time where you felt a level of pure peace and tranquility that is associated with being present in nature in the process of gardening. At these mindful moments you really feel the dirt and the potential it has in the palm of your hands, you feel the renewing warmth of the sun and the c...

If you are a Trinbagonian Rogue Gardener, you’ve probably heard a couple of these common phrases thrown at you. If not, this is a disclaimer that my mom may be crazy and overprotective… Whenever I garden too early in the morning…. ·        Drink some tea before you fall down in the garden ·        Yuh eat breakfast yet? What yuh doing out there? Whenever I garden mid-morning…. ·        You know in my days we didn’t have sunblock, we use to make straw hats or cover we head with a jersey… Whenever I garden in the evening… ·        Put on some long pants in the garden. You ain’t fraid something bite yuh fine legs? ·        Rub some Vaseline on it to stop the scratching  Whenever I ask for things to add to my compost... ·        Compost? I don’t have time for dat! Mom in he...

Like most things in life, sometimes you need a little inspiration to get things done. While most days I want to garden, there are some days I wish the plants could water and maintain themselves. Those are the days I need a little extra push to get up and go outside. Inspirational quotes can help to reignite the passion gardeners have for making food grow and watching flowers bloom.   Here are 21 of the most thought-provoking gardening quotes. We must cultivate our own garden. When man was put in the Garden of Eden he was put there so that he should work, which proves that man was not born to rest. ~ Voltaire The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. ~ Alfred Austin The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway. ~ Michael Pollan I like gardening — it's a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself. ~Alice Sebold...

If you are reading this blog and you are from Trinidad and Tobago, you know the struggles we faced with our parents and grandparents having a plant in almost every room, even if it was made of plastic! (Yeah, I see you!)  Today, that dedication to positioning plants on walls and in corners can come in handy when gardening indoors, especially if you live in an apartment. Although gardening in apartments restricts planting huge trees, it forces you to come up with creative ways to plant your favorite herbs and vegetables that maximize the space that you do have. Many varieties of salad greens can also thrive indoors with any type of pot that has adequate drainage. Did You Know- Filling your indoor space with plants creates a relaxing environment and helps purify the air. The most important thing in apartment gardening is knowing what your sunlight exposure is in the various areas of your home. If you have a spot that gets full sunlight, then full sun plants can be...

One thing I love about gardening is that you can make a meal, a side dish or a quick snack from your produce. Because I grow a lot of okra I have tried several recipes that have become household favorites as a snack or a healthy side.   OKRA BITES Fried okra may not be the healthiest way to consume okra but boy oh boy is it delicious. This recipe packs a really nice crunch that leads into the delicate and flavorful okra. Who can resist Okra dredged in seasoned cornmeal, then fried until golden? This recipe only takes 25 minutes with 4 servings and it's super versatile because you can change it up in so many different ways. Ingredients 10 pods okra sliced in 1/4 inch pieces 1 egg beaten OR Buttermilk 3/4 cup cornmeal flour  1/4 cup white flour 1 tablespoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons of all-purpose seasoning 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional if you are watching your salt intake)  1/4 teaspoon ground black pep...

I have lost count of the number of times I have screamed out in my own garden then shamefully looked around to make sure the neighbor didn’t see me.  Everything from jumping toads to huge locus and of course the occasional snake have all made me instantly cold sweat in fear. You would think that after years of gardening, I’d have grown accustomed to the creepy crawlers; no, that’s not the case with me. Here is a look of some of the cool and creepy crawlers spotted in my backyard. THE TOMATO HORNWORM Tobacco and tomato hornworms are common, large caterpillars that defoliate tomato plants. Their large size allows them to strip a plant of foliage in a short period of time, up to 90% of foliage, so they frequently catch gardeners by surprise. What I saw was a hornworm parasitized by what seems like wasp eggs! I gently removed the eggs and placed the worm safely in the bushes. I hope he survived! Then there was the time I saw a worm wiggle out of a cocoon made wit...

It’s a great feeling being able to convert your trash into the usable and nutritious soil for close to nothing! In my last blog, Stop, Drop and Compost!  I talked about what materials are good for composting and what should be avoided. Today I want to share some DIY tips for creating an indoor compost and outdoor composting heap. It does not matter what size of garden you are working with or even if you are indoors, re-purposing your waste by composting is possible!   In my view, container composting is so much more convenient as you have the ability to relocate your compost should the need arise.  FOUR STEPS TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN YOUR CONTAINER COMPOST Step 1: Recycle or buy a plastic bin at least 24 inches tall with a tight-fitting lid (will keep the scent in, keep the soil moist and keep critters out). Step 2: Use a drill or knife to make 8 – 10 small holes in the bottom of the container as well as in the lid for drainage and aeration purpo...

Wouldn’t you love to just walk outside or lean over to your kitchen window for some fresh herbs and seasonings? I know I’d love to. When Trinis think of kitchen gardening a few must-have crops come to mind; chive, thyme, and "shado beni".  Adding fresh herbs from your garden to your dishes is a great way to pump up the flavor in any recipe or make some good old Trini seasoning, just add vinegar. Herbs are some of the easiest plants you can grow both inside and outside in either pots, pans or in the ground. Here are some must-have herbs for a flavourful Trini Herb Garden!   Chives - Planting chives indoor is easy. Be sure to provide with lots of sun and humidity for a healthy crop, preferably near an open window.  Chadon Beni- Commonly known as culantro or bhandhania, it's one of my faves! It is easy very to grow, they love moist but well-drained soil, though they can grow in many soil conditions. Dill - Growing dill indoors is pretty easy and it grows fast!...

Whether watering my garden or doing maintenance I would always run into the cutest little ladybugs. While this isn’t surprising as Ladybugs reside where insect pest populations are high such as in crop fields, and gardens. There are nearly 5000 species of ladybugs worldwide. They come in all different colors; yellow, orange, grey, black, brown and even pink. I have been lucky enough to spot a couple colors in my backyard and even witnessed some ladybugs mating in full action!  One common myth is that the number of spots on the insect’s back indicates its age, this simply is not true. The major benefit of having and keeping ladybugs around lies in the fact that they are nature’s own ‘pest’ controllers and are more effective than using poisonous chemicals. Ladybugs are extremely beneficial to gardeners and their gardens as the adults and larvae will prey on aphids, spider mites and mealy bugs that feed on plants. The ladybug feeds on these pests as the adul...