BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, February 28th 2012 - One day I was introduced to paradise right here in St. Kitts. Majestic mountains dominated the background, while the beauty of the Caribbean Sea stretched out before me. Fruit trees of all descriptions -- some I’d never heard of -- Sugar and Custard Apple, Gooseberry, Sour Sop, Passion fruit, and of course Bananas, Oranges, Star fruit and Guavas. The leaves were dancing in the aromatic air. Herbs with names like French Sticky Time, Pressure Bush, Love Bush, Worm Bush, etc and some I knew that smelled like perfume, Purple Flower and White Basil, Sage, Lemon Grass, and many others, graced this beautiful organic farm named Riches of the Earth.
I couldn’t wait to bring my children to this beautiful place. The children and I (at that time) lived in Basseterre, surrounded by noise, cement, alleys, etc. I asked the owner, Sydney Berkeley, if I could bring my youth from the Community Achievers Project to his organic farm and he agreed. That was the beginning of our youth learning to reclaim their heritage.
Sydney Berkeley is a Kittitian who holds onto treasures taught to him by his grandparents and his mother. Called Dr. Sting by many, Sydney treats many suffering Kittitians with his herbs. They come to him for all types of trouble ranging from worms, high blood pressure to the common cold. He goes into his medical village of tropical herbs and snips a bush here and cuts off leaves and/or flowers and gives instructions to the ailing visitor as to how to make and drink the bush tea. More than likely, Sydney’s grandparents learned their knowledge from their parents, and so on, going all the way back to Africa.
Last year, CAP successfully mentored and trained seventeen (17) out of twenty-two (22) high school students ranging in levels from 4G3 – 4G7 when we first met them. Under our tutelage, fourteen graduated from Basseterre High School. Of the three remaining students, one student (who is handicapped) is still attending AVEC, learning Graphic Design and making jewelry, another is farming and selling his produce at the market on Saturday and the third is a clown and masquerader. Of the 14 who graduated, the majority of them have returned to school for higher education. James Goggin/USAID/Barbados and Windsor University of Medicine assisted CAP with financial support.
We have identified two youth who have manifested the attitude and aptitude to work hard on the farm and to become successful business people. As Kyla Herbert and Joseph Hodge grow into young adults they are learning how to become accountable. Each day Kyla and Joseph come to the farm learning about their rich heritage as Kittitians.
They learned that Sydney’s great grandfather, Edwin Theopolis Coker was a sugar plantation owner and engineer who helped design the main road and the old airport, a black man. They learned that both fruits and herbs have medicinal benefits. They have learned that they live in a country with rich soil that belongs to them. They are learning to preserve the soil to keep it free of chemicals. They are learning that their African ancestors were most probably the first merchants to travel the seas. With these positives images to fortify themselves, they are learning how to prepare to operate a successful business.
Armed with the knowledge their ancestors brought to this country, Sydney, Kyla and Joseph are ready to showcase their creativity. Using the same label, Home Grown, as our popular Pumpkin Soup in 2009, the CAP team has manufactured two organic herbal teas, which addresses different illnesses. Research has shown that Sour Sop destroys certain cancer cells.
Fruit juices are popular drinks in the Caribbean. However, many people do not like too much sugar. We are catering to people who want a sweet drink as well as to those who want little or no sugar. We will make sugarless juices and the customer can add Stevia or Agave Nectar as a sweetener. I’m sure our African ancestors did not load their drinks with sugar. The CAP team focus is mainly on the nutritional benefits of the fruit, but we strive to make the drink delicious too.
The Bible validates the nutritional and medicinal value of fruits and herbs. Ezekiel 47:12 says, “God made the fruit for meat and the herb for medicine.”
Kyla and Joseph helped design the labels along with another enterprising young African American, Devonne Beech, (my niece). We hope to encourage partnering our youth with the best talents of youth from all over the world.
To further ensure the safety and longevity of our products, our packaging is designed to properly seal in the nutritional contents and to promote hygiene.
As unemployment looms larger, it is necessary to forge our own way, to be inspired to invent, see opportunities in all situations, use the skills our forefathers brought to this country, and to seek spiritual guidance.
CAP is showing our youth to reclaim their heritage.
