A View from the Top….

Last Thursday, team Organic Farm, as I often like to refer to us, embarked on the first adventure outside the world of seeds, sun and sour sop…. to a meeting with the United Nations Development Programme. Over the past few years I have learned a great deal about this international organization and its impact on the world, particularly within developing countries. At the meeting, John, our wonderful mentor, presented the most up-to-date report on the seedling project, showing pictures from past workshops and a selection of lessons learned. He did an outstanding job while also demonstrating the importance of documentation and reporting for all projects. The audience was very pleased with his work and his contributions. As an intern, I felt the larger impact of my involvement in this project. Until this meeting my vision had been limited, I knew that we would be helping many individuals through increased income and empowerment, but its larger significance remained hazy in my mind. The organic movement is more than just a form of a farming, but a state of well-being to improve one’s body, spirit, community and the world at large.

As we spend our days driving through the countryside of Barbados, I look around at the lush greenery and thank my lucky starts that its still there. The Bajan economy looks at land as real estate and not the necessary resource that we require to sustain life. Food security is a growing concern throughout the globe, exasperated by increasing demands from a growing world population. Farmers are undertaking one of the most selfless roles in society; providing the basic ingredients that our species needs to live. It is easy to forget where our food comes from and how it got there and with so many options can we ever really make the right one? I don’t have the answers, but by working with local farmers, seedling growers and my fellow interns I am certain that ‘over’standing will come my way.

- Jo