Opinion

Although there are two or three months of production left in our vegetable gardens there are already signs that many crops are coming to an end. Lettuces, for instance, turn bitter as the temperature rises and many of our staples become stressed. Tomatoes started from seed at the beginning of April will produce flowers in late May and by that time our nights will be warm. Regular-sized tomatoes need temperatures below 68 degrees to set fruit. The best bets for late tomato production are cherry tomatoes, particularly of the large-fruited or grape varieties.

Realize that is not someone else’s responsibility. You alone are responsible for what you let stop you. It’s all about you, your mindset, and what you will allow to get in the way of your goals.

I am an expatriate homeowner in Treasure Cay that reads your newspaper during the times spent here. I enjoy your incisive and spirited editorials on all things political and socio-economic in The Bahamas, and particularly Abaco. John Cash is a friend of some 25 years and suggested I contact you.

I picked up a copy of your paper at the airport on the way out, and read with interest the leader on the forthcoming elections, noting that your brother was a candidate. In fact the name Albury cropped up in one or two other places as well, so I assume there are long historical connections with the Abacos.

In July 2005, local government was asked to create in each township [a wall of heroes]. At the time Adam Hart was here and I was the chairman of the Marsh Harbour District.

I am a Canadian, a marine biologist and former professor at Acadia University, Nova Scotia. I have been coming to the Abaco’s since 1967, built my dream home on Man O War in 2007, and now I spend the winter here. Since 1967 I have been walking the shores and diving on the reefs around MOW and Elbow Cay. I used to bring my students annually so they could experience tropical marine biology and we could study the ecosystem. Things have changed over the years but nothing like they have since 2010.

The Bahamas is a young country in geological terms. Its soil is thin and weak, very different from our much older neighbours such as Cuba and Jamaica. Traditional home gardeners compensate by augmenting their resources with soil from the US. Others use one of two extremes: hydroponic culture or organic gardening. Marsh Harbour accountant Glenn Koepp has chosen the latter path using resources from the sea and from local businesses.

The needs of Abaco twenty years ago are not our needs today. If Abaco is to continue matching Grand Bahama as the nation’s “Second City” then we need a police force to match. One that is sophisticated and equipped. One that is able to actually respond to crimes in real time. One that can at least afford to keep fuel in their vehicles. Neither of which are a possibility today.

The end is nigh. If you plant a tomato seed today you will reap ripe tomatoes at the very end of June or early July, but only if there are cool nights in May that allow your tomato flowers to self-pollinate. Cherry tomatoes produce earlier and self-pollinate more easily so …

We have discussed before that the best nutritional method of weight loss is eating the right portions of every food group. Unless it’s medically necessary, the best route is to never cut out any food group from your diet. You may say, “What about carbs? I thought carbs were bad …