THERE ARE QUITE a few green thumbs in Harmony Hall, Christ Church.
The district, located off St Lawrence Main Road, is a quiet one where residents can take the time to get back to nature.
Pearletta Charles-Hinds was spotted cutting grass next to her home. She said it was Government land but she abhorred seeing bush next to her house. Besides, she had a use for the grass clippings.
“I like to grow things so I wanted to create mulch for my plants. This land next to me is overgrown so every morning and evening I clear piece of it and cut up the grass to dry,” she said.
Charles-Hinds said she did not consider her efforts to be strenuous as shemwas accustomed to that kind of work since schooldays.
“When I lived in St George, we used to do something similar – clear the land and plant. I learned about mulching at school – I always had a love of gardening,” she said.
Charles-Hinds said she would love the opportunity to buy the land so that she could plant an orchard.
Across the road, Pauline Hunte, her sister Suzette Henry and Henry’s husband Richard are lovers of agriculture as well. However, their focus is a tad different.
“He plants flowers and we grow things to eat,” said Hunte.
In their yard, crops such as bananas, pawpaws, spinach, peas and herbs can be seen. In addition, they said the team narrowly missed their cassava haul.
“We try to eat as much natural foods as we can,” said Hunte. “You can’t go into the supermarket and buy everything – it too expensive,” her sister added.
Suzette said their love of the land began with their father, who cultivated it religiously before selling it to them five years ago. She said they started planting some crops “to help ourselves” and carried on from there.
Richard’s love for plants veers more towards flowers and he is responsible for keeping the property in good shape.
“I have always loved plants from since I was small,” he said. “They are a part of nature and I love nature. Plus, plants beautify a house. No matter how pretty you try to make a house, without plants it looks plain.”
Among his plants, Richard counts poinsettias, yellow hibiscus, palms, desert roses and Snow- on-the Mountain.
“Growing plants is relaxing and I am very proud when my plants thrive and bloom,” he said.
Hunte also gave her views on the area. She said the family had been there since 1977 and she found it was a place which was largely trouble-free; everyone was friendly and people minded their own business.
“It is kind of quiet here,” she said. “Sometimes you get one of two people with their music playing loud but it is a quiet place overall; you don’t get a lot of trouble down here.”
Cladeus Grecia said he was one of the first people in Harmony Hall when he moved in a decade ago and has seen many changes.
“I must have been the third person here then but now a lot of people have moved in after [the] National Housing [Corporation] moved in people,” he said.
Grecia agreed with his neighbour about how quiet Harmony Hall was, saying this was one of the reasons he liked living in the area. However, he had a few concerns.
“One of the things is when the ZR rush through in the mornings and the motorcycles too,” he said. “I does be scared because my grandchildren does be riding bicycle around here. The other thing is I wish they would give we some natural gas.” he said.
Despite the issues, Grecia said he was quite satisfied in Harmony Hall.
“I feel good here, I am happy,” he said.
