Nobody plants cabbage like 'Maas Rope Head'
Published:Saturday | March 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Nedburn Thaffe, Gleaner Writer
ALBION, Manchester:
HIS STINT in farming might not be as lengthy as most farmers in the farming communities of Manchester. But here in Albion, nobody plants cabbage like Barrington Bailey, or 'Maas Rope Head', as he is commonly called.
From street sweeper, bus conductor to restaurant and sound-system operator, Bailey tried his hands at many things back in the days. But it is his cabbage patch that has tongues really wagging in Albion.
Perched neatly on top of a hill overlooking almost the entire community, you cannot miss it. Rows up on rows of purple cabbage, as neat as newspaper columns are a beacon for every farmer to see in a community known primarily for farming.
"Mi used to do all kind a things back in the days, but me get old now. Mi caan bother with them things there no more, so mi do mi little farming," Bailey said.
Former dreadlocks
Putting his lush cabbage patch aside for a while, The Gleaner sought and got a response from the farmer about his unusual name, which is popular among locals.
"Mi used to be a dreadlocks back in the days, but me cut it off. The name still sticks with me," he said.
Bailey said he has been farming for the past 12 years, and although he enjoys what he does, farming in the hills is not always easy.
"Mi plant every little thing, but one a mi biggest problem around here is water," he said. "We nuh have no running water around here, so sometime mi wi plant mi things and them burn up in the dry season."
"Right yah now, I would want to try with some hot pepper but them things deh tek water," he said.
Asked about his masterpiece that has people talking, Bailey was evidently not the one to toot his own horn, but admits that planting cabbage has its advantage.
"The only thing mi have to worry about a bats. The bats them love the cabbage, but once you spray it, you alright; them take roughly three months fi ready," he said.
However, with things not going too well now on the market scene, he admits times are tough and he is not able to cater to his cabbage patch as much as he wold like.
Money worries
"Before them start roll up, mi should'a spray it again, but the chemical weh mi use expensive. A $1, 500 for it and it hard fi find that deh money deh all the time," he said.
Bailey disclosed that he has thought about approaching the Rural Agricultural Development Authority for assistance, but he cannot deal with the bureaucracies involved.
"You have to go through too much with them fi get little help. Mi willing fi borrow, mi willing fi pay back but mi caan get no help," he said.