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Who Cares
About What Kind of Herbs Grow in Jamaica?
When
I boarded Air Jamaica a couple of weeks ago, I was only thinking of warm
weather and studying the flora of the West Indies. Also when I wrote the
December article, it was November. Now It’s January and…
WAIT
A MINUTE!!!
I’m
confused here! Okay. It’s still December for me because of the deadlines
for the newspapers! You will be reading about this in January. I think I’ll
have another Appleton’s and mango juice and think about it some more.
I
have to write my January article in December because of the deadline. I
will be in Negril for another twelve days. I’ll try to get into the
spirit of 2008 and tell you some of the things to expect this year.
I
will try to focus more on herbs that you can grow in your own gardens
while offering references on what you can do with these herbs to improve
your health. I am also working on a project that will allow me to grow
some of my herbs for sale to the general public. I hope to have more
details about that in April or May of this (next) year. (2008) Another
promise to you, my readers, is that I will do a better job of answering
your emails. Besides, I’m tired of getting hate mail! (Sorry, Larry!)
Here’s
a quick rundown on what I am finding here in Jamaica. I came to get away
from plastic snowmen with lights in their bellies! Didn’t work.
Apparently it’s a novelty here. The decorations are 95 percent
Christmas, 4 percent Kwanzaa and the rest is dedicated to Hanukkah, but
only in the big hotel resorts like Swept Away, Sandals and Hedonism II
where they show off their Western politically correct colors.
The
folks here in this country celebrate their holidays with great pride in
tradition – big meals, friends and families gathering to play
traditional music (and make fun of ours – Barking Dogs, Jingle Bells) I
think if I hear the Reggae version of Jingle Bell Rock one more time, I’ll
start swimming for Cuba!
Some
things cross over national boundaries. Just today, while at Rick’s
American Café – having a burger and a Red Stripe, I
heard two sous chefs arguing. I couldn’t tell exactly what they were
complaining about, but one phrase I understood. "It is not mye yob
mon!" I guesso!
In
later articles I’ll throw in some info about the vanilla plantation I
visited where they grow thousands of orchids. I’ll also tell you a
little secret about Blue Mountain coffee. But for now, I want to tell you
about the fruits. (That grow on trees!) I have had a fresh coconut
harvested from my tree and brought to my door every morning at 6:00 a.m. I
eat fresh bananas, papayas, dates mangos, plantains, tomatoes, star
fruits, guavas, kiwi, grapes and watermelon every day! If the beef and
lamb dishes weren’t so exquisitely delectable here, I could easily see
myself becoming a fruitarian!
By
the time you all read this, I’ll be freezing my…self in Alabama. But,
it has been 84° nearly every day since I arrived. I’m not thinking much
about that right now.
Friends,
I’m sure you can easily see why I am not right now interested in what
kinds of herbs grow here in Jamaica!
Time
for my evening meal. Tonight it’s Jamaican jerk chicken and sautéed
plantains with mango and red bell pepper chutney! Bon appétit!
I’ll
be back here in February with some more information on herbs you can grow
at home.
If
you have any questions about herbs, email me at farmerht@
yahoo.com and I’ll tell you all I know. As always, check
with an expert, such as your doctor, before using this or any other herbal
remedy.
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