She loved her job as a security officer, but 49-year-old Cathy Ann Daniel was forced into the field of farming, as she was unable to secure employment in her field of choice to her age.
\nHowever, for the past 15 years, this Pearls resident have found joy and stability in planting her own food.
\n\u201cTo get a job was kind of hard for me, so I thought being self-employed would have been better for me.\u201d
\nAccording to Daniel, she plants a wide variety of crops but loves putting her time and energy into Ochras.
\n\u201cIt has less work and it\u2019s a faster selling crop.\u201d Along with her crops like corn, butternut squash, pumpkin, eggplant, and root crops, she has plans of getting into watermelon, cauliflower.
\nHer biggest challenge as a farmer is readily accessible water.
\n\u201cMost of the times when the plants getting ready, they don\u2019t get sufficient water, so I don\u2019t get good quality for the market,\u201d she said.
\nThough she has the issue with water, the practice of mulching has contributed well to the growth of her crops.
\n\u201cWhen I mulch, I use less water. I use dried grass and other stuff to conserve water,\u201d she said.
\nHer five-year plan includes getting into rainwater harvesting and rearing of pigs as a means of maximizing her vegetable production.
\nDaniel is currently a beneficiary of the Climate Smart Agriculture and Rural Enterprise Programme (SAEP) and was recently assisted in the construction of a compost heap.
\nShe had this to say about the initiative.
\n\u201cMost of time when I have to plant, I use the same manure, but I have to buy it from farmers. As I am now able to do it myself, it will assist me greatly, so I am grateful,\u201d she said.
\nIt has not been an easy journey for her, but she had some advice for prospective farmers, especially women:
\n\u201cFarming is a good thing.; it brings in an income. You may not get it the way you expect it but at the end of the day, you always have something coming in, it doesn\u2019t matter how small it is. So, I would encourage young people, women, who is unemployed, and they are home, start somewhere and eventually, by the grace of God, you will make it.\u201d
\nThings to note about Daniel:
\n\u2022 She loves planting ochra
\n\u2022 Mulching is her best farming practice
\n\u2022 She hopes to get into rainwater harvesting and pig rearing<\/p>\n
TECHNICAL TIPS ON PLANTING YAMS IN GRENADA<\/p>\n
SITE SELECTION:
\n\u2022 Loose deep, fertile clay loan soil is preferred
\n\u2022 Avoid steep, stony, gravely or waterlogged soil
\n\u2022 A sell well-distributed rainfall of at least 60 inches is required
\nLAND PREPARATION
\n\u2022 Prepare land early (March\/April), using a fork or tractor to plough the area, then make ridges or mounds (hills).
\n\u2022 Establish drains where necessary
\n\u2022 Space ridges 3-4 feet apart and mounds about 4-6 feet apart<\/p>\n
PLANTING DAYS: March
\n6th \u2013 8th: Any root crops that can be planted now will do well
\n9th \u2013 10th: A barren period, best suited for killing plants pests. Do plowing and cultivating
\n11th \u2013 12th: Good for planting cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and other vine crops. Set strawberry plants. Good days for transplanting. Favourable days for planting beets, carrots, peanuts and other root crops.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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