A Local resident, being pro active & making good use of his land & natural talent & also saving money. I know there are a few small farming co-ops on the Island, I will try & get some details and post later for those of you who would like to either join or simply seek advice.
Backyard farming growing success for local resident
As the government continues to encourage Bahamians to get involved in backyard farming, a resident of Grand Bahama says he is living proof that one can be successful at it.
Eighty-five year-old Nelson Chipman recently gave The Freeport News a tour of his yard in Fortune Bay, showing off his bountiful fruit trees and vegetable plants.
Among his prized produce was a 42-pound watermelon, just one of several of that size growing on the side of his home.
He also grows bananas, mangoes, peaches, lemons, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower and more.
Chipman said he began planting several years ago as a hobby and since then his garden has grown to where it now supplies much of his produce needs.
"With the economy so bad, we do it to cut expense. It feeds us now, it gives us all the vegetables and fruits we want."
Chipman attributes his success with his farming projects to simply showing some love to the plants. He said he spends a couple of hours a week tending to them.
"All you have to do is have the proper soil and water it and give it the love," he said.
"We go to the farm and we get chicken and cow manure and we mix it up and put a little miracle grow in it. All it needs is the proper attention."
Chipman said he is proud to show off his produce and hopes his story will inspire others to begin planting in their own yards.
"There's a lot of things we could do ourselves but we fail to do. We have a lot of yard and space but we do nothing with it. We should go back to the old days," he said.
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