While in
Florida I took advantage of the abundance of citrus fruits and learnt
how to make marmalade and preserves. That was also the year I became
a work at home mother. This meant that I spend most of my time at
home. I filled in my time learning more about gardening. I grew
beautiful hot peppers and experimented making hot sauces which I gave
away as gifts. Our stay in Florida left me yearning for a huge back
yard to grow a wider variety of vegetables.
Laying the Groundwork
The next
turning point came as a realization of the fragility of our food
security. It happened when the family moved to upstate, New
York. It was at this point that my gardening transitioned from
being a hobby to a sustainable necessity; our financial future faced
uncertainty. That year I purchased a copy of “Square Foot
Gardening” by Mel Bartholomew; I wanted to make sure I made the most
of our small gardening plot.
By reading that
book, I learnt about crop rotation, soil conditioning and how to make
the most of a small gardening space. I added a strawberry patch
to my small garden in the hamlet. The patch produced enough
fresh berries for the season and enough to freeze for the rest of the
year.
My gardening
techniques and methods improved, and as a result my garden
flourished. I gave away much produce to friends and neighbors. When we
purchased a second freezer, I learned about freezing the harvest.
Upstate New York
is also apple country. It was here that I learned about cider making
and jelly making. Every fall we picked apples at a friend’s farm. I
canned apple sauce and apple butter. I found that I enjoyed taking
control of what I feed the family. Not only was it enjoyable, but my
new preoccupation was great for our bottom line.
|
One of three garden plots Upstate
New York 2003 |
Pioneers Were the Real Inspiration
Being in rural
New York also allowed me to learn more about American history; I
learned to appreciate the life that the early pioneers lived. They
had to traverse and tame the rugged landscape of the Catskill
Mountains, its steep slopes and rocky ground. The winters must have
been extremely harsh and they must have had to spend most of the year
preparing for the winter. My interest in the early pioneers seemed to
intensify after we decided to switch from heating with natural gas to
wood (it was much cheaper). I broadened my vegetable garden to
include winter squashes, greens and root vegetables; the kinds of
produce that could be stored for use in the winter. It was now
necessary to not only store food for the winter but also to make sure
we had enough wood to stay warm in the winter.
Learning other
sustainable country living techniques started to follow. I bought
another book titled “Country Wisdom & Know-How”. The book was full of
information about homesteading. It was then I knew that it was my
goal to reconnect with a sustainable lifestyle. I remembered the
lessons from my childhood; saving money by growing our own produce and
teaching our children the value of farming.
Planning a Homestead
At this point in my
life, all the knowledge that I have acquired from my childhood through
to my adulthood has come together. With it, I plan to create our
perfect homestead that has been a lifetime in the making. As I
look back on my life so far, I am grateful for my African roots; it
was there I learned about simple subsistence living and how important
having foresight allows you to be prepared to deal with anything life
sends your way. I am also grateful for the American pioneers; it
was from them that I was able to translate what I learned as a child
into a new style of simple living.
