Drawing sustenance from the soil

Hylton Reid was at the standpipe in Warwick Square filling plastic containers in his van with drinking water. He explained that despite having a small tank at home in neighbouring Cocoa Walk, he still needs to supplement his drinking water supply here.

After his job was made redundant at Windalco, Reid was forced to turn to farming full-time to earn a living. He plants tomato, sweet pepper and melon.

Also at the standpipe was Derrick Isaacs, who washed some naseberries bought from a farmer and set them to dry in the grass. He and Reid got nowhere in their negotiations, with Reid wanting to purchase by the dozen instead of by weight. As he prepared to load the naseberries into a feed bag, Isaacs said he was looking to get back into the buying and selling of agricultural produce, even as he plans to do some farming, among other things, to earn a consistent income.

His daughter passed the Grade Six Achievement Test and will attend Bishop Gibson High, while his younger son, he claims, has been topping his class and will soon be attending Grove Primary School. His young children who, according to Isaacs, are brilliant, are the motivation to succeed at his venture, since he wants to be able to adequately provide for them.

For this reason, he is looking to put plans in place to earn some money so that when this children are ready to return to school, he will be in a position to provide the necessary financial help.

- C.S.