On the Job

The first day, the first week, the first months, the first year... Welcome to the job. Fresh and smiling, ready to face the challenges and ready to bring new ideas and a new prospective to the workforce. 

Thrilled to dress the part, thrilled to have your ideas listened to, thrilled to be a part of the team, a part of the organisation.Then when one least expect, it happens. The encouraging jestures, the smiles, the check ins, the pat on the shoulder, the lunches..were all part of a well orchestrated plan. 

A plan to get something that was not on the agenda, that was not a part of the job description. Everything changes. Uneasiness sets in, discomfort becomes the norm. Trust has been lost never to be regained again. 

What to do? Who to tell? Doubts are the reality of the day. "Is this just me overreacting?" .... "Am I being unfair?" ... "What did I do to garner this much attention?" The questions continue to circulate, the pressure mounts. Something has to be done and it must be done now. 

Does any of this sounds familiar? It's the sound of sexual harassment at the workplace. It doesn't take much to end up here. 

As youths within the workforce, one must be mindful of the environment. Not only is there a state of vulnerability but fear and intimidation rains supreme. Yet one must not be afraid to speak up, one must stand up and bellow to the world and not be forced to play the "Silence" game.

Hell to the NO!!!!!!!!!

Sustang D Fergus

Today In Agriculture

 

Have a Great Weekend All

The Novice

Heels in the Field

About 1½ weeks ago, I took one Ronalia Jackson into the backyard of our office (ECTAD) to aid me in composting. This was an event. Did she or didn’t she have heels on? Not to sure…yet my best guest is that she did... Come on 9½ times out of 10.

Getting Ronalia to accompany me took a lot of reminders. Literally calling upon her days in advance and even more so on the morning of the ‘event’.

Skepticism was probably present in her mind but her voice was silence. Oh I missed out on a photographic moment. Imagine “Ms Prime and Proper”, “Ms I Can’t Touch Dirt”, “Ms Agriculture is so Disgusting” was holding a fork, using a fork with dirty heels. Life presents such beautiful moments.

Hurriedly though, Ms Office Essential was glad to get out of the mud. Back to clean shoes... reapplying make-up and dressing as the “Prima Donna” that she is.  Did the novice enjoy her brief time in the company of compost? A Bit … I have to work on her a bit more

One By One To The Fields We Go

 Sustang D. Fergus

Meeting Again

 The dreaded words… Please attend on a scheduled date and time at …… Hours of long drawn out presentations, discussions that seemingly don’t go anywhere and lots of issues and problems presented with no formal solutions. Yes, the typical meeting held everyday and everywhere it’s possible to have one.

Then Along came Eastern Caribbean Trading Agriculture and Development Organisation (ECTAD) with a view to change the usual meeting protocol. Perhaps just slightly to make it a bit more fun. Well meetings can be called fun.

ECTAD is currently hosting 3 days of meeting which began yesterday, 23^rd November, 2010 at the SVG CIC and runs through 25^th. The first day was planned with agricultural stakeholders. This was very fruitful as stakeholders included Farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture, Bureau of Standards, IICA, Mr John Soler (Sol Caribbean Ltd) and Mr Angus Steele (President of SVGCIC) were present.

Topics surrounded what stakeholders can do to aid ECTAD in its Crop Production & Marketing Programme. An overview was given of ECTAD’s work and current Projects by Ms Nyasha Durrant, ECTAD Administrative Officer. 

Group work was of key importance as farmers were able to pinpoint to ECTAD what the organisation can do to aid farmers. 

A key highlight of the day’s event centred on farmers sharing their experiences after the passage of Hurricane Tomas. This was a moment of sadness and unexpected joy as their stories were being told, sometimes for the first time.

Yes meetings and more meeting. Following the protocols set for general meeting. Today Wednesday 25^th November is slated to deal specifically with Farmers whilst Thursday 25^th is dedicated for an Internal Meeting of ECTAD Executives.

I will keep you updated

Sustang D. Fergus

SELECTION! SELECTION!

Deconstructing the Plant

Oh the promise of fruitfulness, of bounty, of blossom, of plenty...........PLANTS

My first crop…beautiful at the inception, dead by mid-season. Correction, death came to my beloved much sooner than that. To be honest I didn’t know what I was doing. Lack of water, little water, no water, no sunlight and the list goes on. The perfectionist in me however didn’t give up, I had to learn how to do this right. Surely as time slipped away, as distant sounds were being heard, new beloveds were found...........

As you welcome anew, seedling of variations into your fold, into your gardens. Please consider:

With a Friend

• Time – what can one spare for the land
• Soil – What will work best for any plant
• Type of Plant – Can this crop survive in this environment
• Money – How much are we willing to spend (this option should be first, don’t you think?)

As with any decision to be made, we must select from the varieties that are available. However our choice should be made on what is best and not what looks or seems the best. Come on think of it as an exercise in your democratic right…Ok…that is a bit much but you get the idea.

It is all about taste and what we fancy. In my own garden there are lots of vegetables. Why? … because I am a veggie girl in my own veggie world…non pun intended…View your garden as a friend that you want only the best for …long term relationship not just dating . If that’s what it takes, work with it.

Hmmmh! Think of it as ..........................

   

Do I choose This                          or                                   This?

What to wear?

Do I even like pink? purple? Turquoise?

     

Commitment at all Cost

Sustang D Fergus

What's in the Packing?

You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression. How believable true this is. No matter how much one tries to make amends for what was presented before, it cannot be undone. Presentation! Presentation! Again... Presentation!

Wait a minute, Is this about agriculture. But it is. Oftentimes the way a product is presented to the consumer leaves a great deal to be desired. We have all had the experience of wanting to buy local or regional products but had a change of heart due to the presentation or lack thereof.

Honestly I would much rather buy a product that is properly packaged unless I know otherwise. It may not be the best among the selection but it had caught my eyes. .. Hoping it is not the demise of me. Just kidding. Come on, it is also about my health, my well being, you health, your well being that is at stake here.

This lack of presentation is one of the key reasons that so many local and regional products go unnoticed, unpurchased at various markets. No one wants to spend valued money on such a product. Our hard earned dollars cannot be thrown away frivolously. 

If that is the way a product is presented, it states only to clearly to the naked eye that the producer, don't give a damn and couldn't care less. Then why should I? Really, why Should I Care to eat Caribbean Food, If you Don't Care Either.                            

Two of my Favourite site: http://www.ecgcsvg.com/
                                       http://www.pinehilldairy.com/

...Pondering in my head....

Sustang D. Fergus

Why Stake?

Took a look at my backyard garden,.... I have a lot of work ahead of me this weekend. Not only do I have to do a lot of "weeding' and 'turning' of the soil, I definitely have a lot more staking to do.

Staking? What is that? It is the art of driving a stake into the ground next to, and as a support for a plant. It is important that support is offered to our garden plants. Oftentimes we forget this vital element.

By doing this, plants are prevented from toppling, flopping, bending or getting uprooted by the wind. Believe me not every gardener enjoys this task.

Here are some pointers for effective staking


- Basic components - a pole, string and rubber tubing

- Use durable materials - bamboo, timber, metal or plastic

- Insert stake deep enough so that it stands up sturdily.

- Stake height must be taller than  plant after being driven into the ground

- String must be threaded through a short length of rubber hose -helps to prevent the string from cutting into your plant’s stem.

You will be amazed at the transformation that will occur after a few hours of dedications.. Maybe just a couple minutes give or take.


One of my favourite site: http://www.ehow.com/how_172742_stake-plant.html

       Go On.. Dig In

Sustang D. Fergus

Scholarships Now Available

Scholarships Now Available!!  Certificate Programs – OAS  Click for more information.

Are you Kidding me? I must have......................

Face it, we all cut corners to save a nickel or dime here or there. The hard economic times have pushed us in this direction of intense budgeting.... Weighing the value of each item, sending ourselves into the abyss of our psyche. Yet there are just some things we won't make compromises on... 

Soy Ice Cream

A little Bland, but Spice it up

Water conservation

Global Environmental Days

Play you part today by recognising the days... Don't be passive but active, whatever we do today will affect us tomorrow.

What To Eat?

A Healthy Meal

Have you ever had a house filled with all sorts of food and yet cry out "Is there nothing to eat?".

Yes we all have had those days. Tired of eating and preparing the same meals...  Perhaps... Or are we just too lazy to lift a finger in the kitchen... Or step it up a notch, a personal chef to make our dreams come true.. pause..If we could be so lucky.

While we ponder, let us meditate under the sweet smiling savour of.............. Can you smell it? Has your senses been inspired?

I don't know about you but I am feeling a bit hungry as I look at the pictures proceeding.

Fried Plantain

Roti

Am I sensing a theme here or is it just my imagination............

Come on Won't you eat me....

Veggie Delight

                                   

Need I Say MOre ..................................

Rice & Beans

Maybe not the most eye-catching foods but it is what I like... Almost the bland but most filling.

 Sustang D Fergus

Christiana Potato Growers Cooperative Association Ltd.

 The Christiana Potato Growers Cooperative (CPGCA), legally established in 1959, is one of the few, if not the only farmers cooperative in Jamaica that has managed to stand the test of time and maintain the respect of its members since its inception. More

Gardening Pleasure

For your timely enjoyment

Thanks to the following
1. Container gardening
2. Garden- container

Container Gardening

Lettuce in a Bag

My kind of Juice

Container Gardening? What is this you speak of? Growing plants in containers... A novel idea if there was any.  Let me think......... 

If you have any little space -  behind the door, the window pane..... you to can become a container gardener. Find any container and I mean any... Watch it transform into natures playground. 

Grow you veggies, your herbs and spices. This is  definitely  a fun project for anyone. 

Baby Croc Gardening

Just reason with me but  for a moment ....with the current state of our economies and the soon-to-be rocketing food prices after "Hurricane Tomas", container gardening should sound inviting to you. Right? Keep your thinking caps on... 

What better way to utilise the many  containers lying around the house. Look at it this way, you will be doing your part to aid the environment. Then again, the money that you will be saving can sure be put to use for the upcoming season and for rainy days.

The clock is ticking.. Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So to the garden we venture - soil, manure, seedlings and more...

One of my favourite sites - http://containergardening.about.com

P.S. Don't forget to add water 
P.S. For the novice among us, don't forget to put holes in the bottom of the containers.
 

By Sustang D Fergus
 

Sustainable Agriculture

Tell Us What Activities You Have Planned? Any Happenings? Events?

What do you make of this?

Agriculture is about building capacity through networking and hands on training. With this in mind we encourage you to share and  reach out...Lend a hand.....

Have any interesting activities related to agriculture that you wish to share? Be our Guest.. Be Our Guest. Reach out to all

Journey over to Lights! Camera! Agriculture!! .. Only a click away

What type of Vegetarian are you?

Nafie Williams had this question for - What type of vegetarian are you? I once thought of myself as a vegan.. yet it begs the question... Is one still consider a vegan when one chooses to eat certain food out of respect for another? 

Here's the scenario, say you attend a dinner at a friend's house and you have a slice of cake that ordinarily you won't eat, jut to be polite and agreeable.. Are you no longer a vegan? Have I lost my Vegan Card because of that? Perhaps... I don't agree.... I really don't agree.

Aren't we all some sort of vegetarian at the end of the day.. I mean we do eat vegetables at some points regardless of what we say. Come on, the ketchup we eat on almost everything, tomatoes. So which are you?

Pescatarian/pescetarian - Persons who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish.

Flexitarian/Semi-vegetarian - is a term recently coined to describe persons who eat a mostly vegetarian diet, but occasionally eat meat.

Vegetarian/Lacto-ovo- vegetarian - Persons who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but do eat eggs and dairy products.

Lacto-vegetarian - is used to describe a vegetarian who does not eat eggs, but does eat dairy products.

Ovo-vegetarian - Persons who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs.

Yum Yum

Vegan - persons who do not eat meat of any kind and also do not eat eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin.

Raw vegan/Raw food diet - Persons on a raw vegan diet consists of unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). .

Macrobiotic - Persons on the macrobiotic diet, revered by some for its healthy and healing qualities, includes unprocessed vegan foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and allows the occasional consumption of fish.

I suppose now I can be classified as Lacto-0vo-Raw Food-Macrobiotic-Vegetarian-Vegan. Really??? We talk about that later

Just Accept It As Only Natural

My one of my favourites - http://vegweb.com/

By Sustang D Fergus

Women in Agriculture

Careers in Agriculture

Definition of Agriculture

Agriculture is the science, art and/or practice of tilling the earth to produce crops and rearing animals. It can also refer to the preparation and marketing of the resulting products, but this is more in reference to Agribusiness or Agricultural Marketing.

Agriculture can be described as farming. Farmers produce, process, market and use food, fibers, and their byproducts by raising plant crops (fruits and vegetables) and animals (such as cows and pigs). This is where we get our foods and meats and dairy products.

Semi protected farming

Careers in Agriculture

Agricultural Chemical Dealer

Chemical dealers are an important part of manufacturers’ and wholesalers’ success.

Beekeeper

A beekeeper is a person who establishes and maintains hives of bees for honey production, for resale or for pollination.



Soil Conservationist Soil conservationists provide technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, forest managers, state and local agencies, and others concerned with the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources.  



Melon field Black Bay St. Lucia

Today’s agriculture offers over 200 rewarding and challenging careers. Agricultural careers may be divided into various categories. These include: Agribusiness Management, Agricultural and Natural Resources Communications, Building Construction Management, Parks Recreation and Tourism Resources, Packaging, Horticulture, Forestry, Food Science, and Fisheries/Wildlife. more

Click to view more careers

Images of Agriculture

                                         Groove Master by Arrow


Fun.... Fun .. Just for your viewing and listening Pleasure... ENJOY

Hurricane Tomas

Hurricane Tomas

Was I just to complacent? Or did I take it for granted that my lovely St. Vincent & the Grenadines is to "Blessed" to be touched by nature's hands. Boy was I wrong. With such force and such strength, it brought destruction to my lands. 

Homelessness, millions in damage yet we were lucky to escape without a single loss of life. There could have been two deaths for sure, two 'crazies' decided to venture out during the hurricane to fix a roof... What comment can I possible act to this level of foolishness? Lucky they were blown off but suffered enough injury to land themselves in the emergency room.

Agriculture has suffered a hit.  The Ministry of Agriculture here has began it's assessment work. The extent of the damage can severely affect the already struggling banana industry of SVG. Yet let us hope against all hope.

St. Vincent October 31, 2010

Spoke to Sis, a farmer by profession who stated the extent of the damage to her home.. So sad. The suffering all around is just heart wrenching...

Can I tell you it get's better? Can I dare state it will be alright? Do I have the audacity to tell you to be grateful for life? What can I offer by way of comforting words? Perhaps offering my ears as I listen to your stories of loss... 

As we rebuild, let us dig deep for a glimmer of hope, not only for ourselves but for all of us no matter our circumstance.

By Sustang D Fergus