Akee (Blighia sapida K. Konig. Cupania sapida Voigt)
After reading about Akee I am left to wonder whether or not it was the forbidden fruit. It looks like an apple in shape and size and they are both a fruit.... would not want to expand much on my thought for my reasons however we will never know!!
This post is a brief description about akee, its history and consumption.
The flowers are unisexual and fragrant. They have five petals, are greenish-white and bloom during warm months. The fruit is pear-shaped. When it ripens, it turns from green to a bright red to yellow-orange, and splits open to reveal three large, shiny black seeds, surrounded by soft, creamy or spongy, white to yellow flesh—arilli. The fruit typically weighs 100–200 grams.
The dried seeds, fruit bark and leaves are used medicinally. The fruit is used to produce soap in some parts of Africa. It is also used as a fish poison.
Visit the following sites to learn more about Akee
Amist the craziness of the Xmas shopping season, as we push, shove, walk, run to get things done.. Just a moment to show our appreciation.
To readers and followers of CYSAG, on behalf of Renortha Penny and I... Saying thank you for your support...your encouraging words and for just taking a peep.
Happy Xmas Eve and even A Greater Xmas Day as one celebrate with, family, friends and strangers alike.. The meaning of this season is unique to us all, with traditions and customs of old, with new celebrants and converts gathered to listen... to sing... to add..... to entertain... to be entertained. Yes the season of great expectation, of humidity and the rationale behind our humanity.
As you partake of this season.. Live and let each other live...
For the life of me I don't understand why the common man tries to literally kill us during the Christmas season. The price tag on the most basic, yet the most essential items to make the season jolly, have gone through the roof. Granted, I understand the devastation caused by the passage of Hurricane Tomas but really....really?
Come on. I know... I get it...quick and fast money...at any cost to the consumer. To hell with us..nothing seems negotiable..
I had recently began my seasonal shopping, almost to the end, thankfully...oh the stress of giving, when I again came upon the "ridiculousness of pricing". Yes I am complaining .. and don't tell me I shouldn't..... not because I am cheap and very proud of it. I am complaining because I don't think the quantity of the goods is measures up to the pricing. Face it in this tough economical time, we all need to get our "Scrooginess" on. it
Yes about our topic...So I went to purchase some eggs and peas. Eggs and peas are essential or else their will be no cakes ... no punch-a-creme, no macaroni pies, no salads and the list can go on and on. Lo and behold, the gentleman told me $25.00 for a crate of eggs. I was not a happy camper, considering that I don't normally shop for eggs. I called him on his expensiveness for which he had some colourful words in response.
The Peas lady, $15.00 pd, moving on. Though I might get it cheaper, not to be the case at all, moved up to $20.00.. Pardon my french but .....what the hell people !!!! ..from $7.00....
Did the Vincentian society become an island filled with millionaires over night... Did Santa come early giving away money... Do spell the beans so I can get some dough too. Don't be darn greedy...
And yes, I haven't bought the peas or the eggs.. Thinking of it, I am not going to buy them. It will hurt my heart to pay so much.... Someone else will have to do the purchasing on my behalf.. I know... I know.... call me on my hypocrisy, I deserve it. I call for the promotion of local agribusiness but cry when needing to pay "the piper?
Yes .. yes guilty as charged but won't you feel slightly cheated too... Or maybe I am just to much of a miser... or just a bit to "thrifty"..
At least I have to find some rational for my behaviour.. But really, am I the only one complaining? I suppose so..............Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh.............
How am I ever going to remain quiet when I see the price if my favourite fruits and vegetables?
Gosh how I enjoy the holidays. Not only is it a time for merriment...... reflection and family. It is the time where traditions run high. In my Small SVG, the Xmas season is celebrated with lots of "deep sea" cleaning, back breaking tasks and great Caribbean cuisine. i highly doubt at this point one will be able to enter into a neighbours house that hasn't been stripped to the bone.
Curtains down......window washing ..... scrubbing of floors, mats and pots. Chlorox and chlorine applied as medicine to get the job done.. Everything needs to be near spotlessness and done with a smile to boast.
After all this exhaustive, painstaking, strenuous work, what as "Vincies" do we indulge in?
Black Cake
Ginger Bear
Macaroni Pie
Rum Punch
Punch-A-Creme
Potato Salad
Salad
Sorrel Beer
Salted Ham
Hams
Please enjoy all the fun food and merriment of friend and families and strangers alike
In any organization, one often meet persons of varying character and personalities. At first this maybe a bit intimidating however given time, these differences can make or break the dynamic of the office life.
Because we spend so much of our adult life in the office, it is most important that some sense of "family" exist. One need to feel safe. This safety ensure that we can be ourselves, leading to a more pleasant and enjoyable work time.
Face it .. no one wants to be uncomfortable ...no one wants to hate the office... especially if the money is good. Yet not even the best work environment can save us. One may just resent co-worker, employers and the job itself.
So who are these people we meet?
The Bible Thumper/Moralist - Need I say more
The Story Teller - This person just has every experience ever.
The Lying Tongue/Fox - Self explanatory
The Control Freak/Micro Manager
The Vanity/Super Model - Always in the mirror, dresses to be admired.
The Snobs - Hmmmh! Insecure much....
Leaders
Followers/Riders - Some of the laziest people who do little or no work but share in the glory of a job well done.
The competitor/Backbiter
The Nurturer/Mentors
Gossipers/"Confusionists"
I stop here... I can't possibly list all of the personalities, I am not that good... At the office , here lies R J and N D. For fear of being sued, I can only use initials. Just kidding R & N, nothing personal......... :)
Power, Money, Prestige. It is why we go to school.. It is the why behind the drive to be educated.. It is the reason for our sacrifices.
No parent ever tells their child/children to grow up to be them. It is always a push for descendants to succeed and climb a much higher lander than those that came before. Any success is measured against what parents have done and accomplished.
A man or woman of the soil, considers it a failure of his or her child to return to the farm. Don't get me wrong. They can return but in the style and fashion of success. Acres and acres of land with value..Acreage with modern technology on ending. Acreage with large sums of money in the bank. Acreage with a degree behind a name. Acreage and acreage....
The land and those who treasure the land with it's abundance have never and perhaps will never get the recognition and the respect that is due to them. Even the child that grows up loving the land gives up after society and family negative bombardment. Sad as it maybe this is the reality of life for many in the Caribbean.
Agriculture continues to lose the youths..at least meaningful agriculture... Much of society is aware of the "alternative" farming and agriculture that exist. It's all about fast money with great returns. This is in sharp contrast with the view of hard work with little return.
Perhaps with effective marketing this may change, perhaps..perhaps.. I don't know of any fast fixes for agriculture and mere love and enthusiasm has not turned the sector around. What to do? What to do?
People of the land are not invited to the fancy balls and dinners. People of the lands are not called upon to make speeches. People of the land are not seen as symbols of heroism and of treasure.
Perhaps if we were prominent doctors, lawyers, engineers, technicians, Bill Gates, Rihanna, Kobe Bryant.. Maybe then respect will be ours. Isn't it ironic that all the above cannot be who they are with out the people of the land... How ironic...really the irony.
It is that time of year. What ... oh ... what to get for the persons on your list? Especially for those that love the land and all that it entails.
Here are a few suggestions that can make your shopping and gift giving easier. Just bear in mind that your gifts might be returned discretely...No hard feelings anyone.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS SHOPPING
1. MONEY
2. How else to keep in touch?
3. TOOLS - A farmer or agriculturalist needs their "bread and butter".
4. Pampering
5. Money is never too much
This list is far from complete. Depending on your budget give at your hearts content.
Fertilizers are added to the soil to supply elements essential to the growth of plants. These elements include the major nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur, as well as the trace elements such as iron, zinc, and magnesium.
Inorganic farming is the use of industrially (MAN-MADE) manufacturedchemical products such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides for rapid returns and has the tendency to leach quickly into and out of the soil. While Organic farming is defined as the use of natural organisms to provide fertilizers, pesticides, livestock feed and weed control.
Advantages Organic farming
·Disease and Pest Resistance - Plants grown in an organic environment resists most diseases and insects and holds stronger during extreme weather conditions.
·Weed Competitiveness - The crops, being healthier, are also better able to compete with those weeds that are present.
·Lower Input Costs- The greater resistance of their crops to pests and the diseases save farmers significantly in expensive insecticides, fungicides and other pesticides.
·Drought Resistance- Organically grown plants are more droughts tolerant.
·Added Value- prices are higher
Disadvantages ofOrganic farming
·Productivity- slow rate of production
·Cultivation- is practiced without extensive cleaning of the land
·Genetically Modified Crop- quick development of new verities
·Time- time consuming from the lack of industrial methods
·Skilllabour- areas of expertise are needed
Advantages of Inorganic Farming
·Works immediately- provides rapid nutrients to the plants
·Affordable-cheaper because of rapid and large production
·Convenient - ready to use and could be bought from any agriculture store
Disadvantages of Inorganic Farming
·Leeching- the already broken-down nutrients are absorbed by the plants and remainder is washed away by both water and wind.
·Unaffordable- specially formulated inorganic fertilizers come at a cost that are considerably higher than most.
·Toxic wastes accumulation - inorganic fertilizers contains other compounds which are not used by the plants, they accumulates leaving a build-up of toxic substances in the soil
Sourcing your own alternative with compost
The average person produces approximately 1 ton of organic waste per year.
Agriculture waste is waste that is produced farming activities or from farm products. Agro-waste is derived from:
·horticulture
·fruit growing
·livestock
·markets gardens
·nursery grounds
·super markets
·Restaurants
All agro-waste can be compost (biological decomposition of organic material.) to make nutrient rich organic fertilizers for plant growth and edible compounds for animals .
Nutrient content of compostare:
·Nitrogen
·Carbon
·Phosphorus
·Potassium
·Sulphur
·Iron
·Zinc
·Copper
·Boron
·Manganese
·Organic Matter
·Moisture
Types of Composting
Organic waste will break down quickly and is not prone to smell.
·Aerobic composting: - composting with air.
·Anaerobic composting: - This is composting without air.
·Vermicomposting: This is composting with red worms, it also includes composting with bacteria, fungi, insects, and other bugs.
Akee (Blighia sapida K. Konig. Cupania sapida Voigt)
This post is a brief description about akee, its history and consumption.
Although native to West Africa, consumption of ackee for food takes place mainly in Jamaican cuisine. Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica, and ackee and saltfish is the national dish. Ackee was first introduced to Jamaica and later to Haiti, Cuba, Bali, Barbados and others. It was later introduced to Florida in the United States.
The dried seeds, fruit bark and leaves are used medicinally. The fruit is used to produce soap in some parts of Africa. It is also used as a fish poison.
Although native to West Africa, consumption of ackee for food takes place mainly in Jamaican cuisine. Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica, and ackee and saltfish is the national dish. Ackee was first introduced to Jamaica and later to Haiti, Cuba, Bali, Barbados and others. It was later introduced to Florida in the United States.
