Barbadians need to get back to basics and grow their own food.
This was the number one suggestion from most of the Nation’s online readers who were asked what consumers can do to cope with the rising cost of living.
Many who responded said Barbadians needed to “swallow their pride” and start small kitchen gardens, barter these crops with other neighbours and get back to raising animals.
Some online readers also suggested car-pooling as a way to cut down on gas and help with control their transportation costs.
This is what some of our online readers had to say:
Jabarrie Prescod: “We can start to plant our own kitchen gardens; lettuce, cabbage, carrots, thyme etc. In situations where space around the house does not lend itself towards the use of garden beds, one can use cut-open barrels and old fridges. The money saved by doing this can be allotted to other expenses. We can also try to cut down on wastage of water and electricity. Efforts should be made to invest in solar energy where time and money permits. “Persons should plan their routes when taking a journey choosing the shortest route possible. They could make sure their car tyre pressure is at the recommended levels and avoid speeding and driving around aimlessly”.
Vita Ifill: “Bring back barter or trade. This will work even better in food, if people grow their own foods. For example, if John grows tomatoes and Peter grows cabbage, they can trade with each other. That would help to reduce the cost on food”.
Dawn Rollins: “We need to take a few steps backward and start growing our own food. We have a lot of waste land on our properties and we can utilize them by planting certain crops for our own personal consumption. We can also raise a few chickens and keep a few animals for slaughter.
“If some homes do not have the facility, then Barbadians can join together and utilize the land of friends. They can exchange vegetables, fruit and meat grown at home. Having said that, this should let Barbadians realize that a mistake was made, when we stopped growing our own food, fruit and raising animals. I hope Barbadians continue this after the storm has passed.
“They can car pool. This will assist significantly in reducing the purchasing of petrol. They can rotate this on a monthly or weekly basis. Those who have had babies and young children can pass on clothing to their friends. Barbadians are popular for the “I do not want my child in nobody’s hand me downs”, but in the UK, in the US and Canada, it is done. Even the rich do it. We have to put aside our foolish pride and let common sense prevail. Even used clothing for adults can be traded. We did it as teenagers, why not as adults? In these harsh economic times, there is no room for foolish pride or errors. We must be practical in every possible way. Money and resources are scarce. We have to bite the bullet, cut and tighten our belts, at least until we are out of the woods. The question is, can Barbadians do it?”
More on the cost of the living in The People’s Forum in the SUNDAY SUN
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