Fresh, Organic Herbs & Greens!

One of the tragedies of living in such a beautiful island, is the sad dearth of quality food. This is slowly but surely changing, as there are a few of us to whom not eating pesticides in every bite is important, and some of them have turned farmer.

Eleuthera Island Organics (EIO) has changed locations, and is on a much bigger farm these days. Edgar Seligman enthusiastically showed me around the new property, located just south of Eleuthera Island Shores (between two old silos, on the Atlantic side, by a row of palms). Using a combination of the shade from trees and shade cloths, EIO has managed to create an environment that will produce year round, despite the terrible strength of the sun in the summer months. EIO is busy planting and harvesting after a number of setbacks from munching caterpillars to watermelon thieving raccoons. They are preparing to launch as a C.S.A. (Community Supported Agriculture) in October. Currently, they are delivering a weekly order or fresh organic herbs to the Coral Sands hotel in North Eleuthera.

This year, for only $25 per week, we can expect to see a weekly box with a variety of delectables, such as swiss chard, a pound of lettuce, three kinds of fresh basil, orange mint, sage, dill, thyme, tomatoes, yams & sweet potatoes. If we're lucky, we'll get figs too! They also have plans to grow peanuts, which makes (my) Jon happy!

I saw three different varieties of avocado, a couple of peach trees, at least three different types of mango, there will be guavas, passionfruit, papaya, bananas and more! EIO has been using a combination of washed seaweed and ash as fertilizer around the trees and they are loving it. Edgar said that he was amazed at how quickly they had grown in the last few months and thinks that it's likely that they'll be producing next year.

Edgar and his crew at Eleuthera Island Organics have given us a reason to look forward to the fruits of each and every season.