Eco friendly solutions in St Maarten / Sint Martin
The benefits of wildflower and pollinator gardens are so huge that farmers have started using strips of wildflowers between conventionally grown crops. The wildflowers don’t just help with pollination, they also attract predatory insects and wildlife that help keep crop-damaging insects under control. Creating a Caribbean wildflower and pollinator garden can be a great way to brighten up your space!
Vermicompost, or vermiculture, is the process of using earthworms to break down organic waste. Simply put, the worms eat your kitchen wastes, digest it, and the end result is worm castings. (Aka poop, or black gold to the gardeners!)
St Maarten, like many other small islands, relies on desalinated water. This is not only expensive, but requires extensive use of energy (and fossil fuels) to produce. We should reuse as much water as possible, and DIY gray water irrigation is a fantastic and easy way to establish new fruit trees. Continue reading “Easy DIY Gray Water Irrigation”
Pigeon peas
Cajanus cajan
Pigeon peas (aka fio fio, gungo pea, gandul)Â are high in protein, vitamin C, and can be part of a nutritionally complete meal with the addition of a grain.
Continue reading “Pigeon Peas”
Two types of Arugula (also known as rocket, rucola, roquette) grow very easily in the Caribbean. Both are pungently peppery, especially when the weather is hot and dry. They make a fine addition to salads, avocado, and cooked dishes. While both are members of the Brassicaceae (mustard) family and require similar growing conditions, there are some differences that might help you choose one over the other.  Both are ready to begin harvesting within a month.
Continue reading “Whats on the Table: Arugula”
