Reducing Imports

Every one seems to automatically think that because we are smack dab in the middle of nowhere that EVERYTHING must be imported. So far from the truth. We will never be able to remove ourselves entirely from importing goods but we can take measures to eat healthier produce, provide for less fortunate Bermudians, provide more jobs and ultimately develop a greater sense of responsibility and community on this island. Building after building goes up in Bermuda without the slightest concern of multiple use spaces, uncollected water run off, or gray water use. It's been going on for as long as we've been here but only in the last couple years has it truly become an apparent problem and a problem that is so easily addressed, it's pathetic. We are lucky that we don't have to worry about rain water run off, among other things which is exactly why we should take advantage of what we can.

Bermuda has nearly endless options in terms of what we can grow here. So why is it we grow barely any of our own food? Why is it that it's hard to find the sign that says "Bermuda" in the grocery store among all the signs for "Mexico", "Chile", & the "USA"? Let's not even get started on the fact that most of those imported fruit and vegetables are genetically modified to the maximum and drenched in chemical pesticides as "FOOD, inc." and "How Will We Grow Our Food?" discusses.

Fact is, it would we quite simple to start incorporating the growing of our own produce. First by making homeowners more aware of what they can grow and how easy it is. Of course this is a small section of the market as many people don't want to be responsible for a garden. So how could we grown enough? Or at least a significant portion to reduce the importation of produce already being supplied to the island?

Community garden projects? -

This has worked several times over, in places much larger than Bermuda.

A bartering system with the community? -

Gardeners selling their goods to local grocery.
What else? Where else? -
When ever I see a new building being stacked up in Hamilton and now Southside I can't help but imagine all the food they could provide from the planters on rooftops or nearby poly culture gardens instead of monoculture grass and hedges. Or to think that places like the Salvation Army don't have gardens to supply some food to its homeless shelter residents, is just absolutely ridiculous. Salvation Army isn't the only one. Other establishments that house less fortunate don't seem to have any gardening program in place either. I attempted to do my research but couldn't find anything of note in the end. Hopefully, I missed something and there's a fine example out there.

------------ !Must Sees! ------------

Food Inc.

How Will We Grow Our Food?
The World According To Monsanto