Sandy Gully ‘farm’ producing big crops
It's almost impossible to travel along a section of Seaview Gardens in St Andrew and not take a glance at the huge bunches of bananas thriving among the piles of garbage in the Sandy Gully.
Guava trees, along with pumpkin and yam vines, were also noticeable. For some of the residents, although the Sandy Gully is badly in need of a cleaning and sometimes carries a stench, there are incomes stashed between the garbage.
"Whole heap a crocodile in the gully and more time dem just come on the bank and lay down, open dem mouth and look pon yuh. But dat no prevent people from cross over to where the banana and ting deh and go pick dem because a some nice food dis gully bring. Nuff food come out of the rubbish heap but is not we plant dem. Seed just grow and the soil good," one resident told THE STAR.
The 'gully crops', according to the resident, are sold to market vendors and small restaurant owners. He stated that while some may turn up their noses at the location where the 'farm' is located, the produce is more appealing than those reaped from traditional farms.
"Yuh have man who cut all di banana dem and sell back to market people and some who have cook shop and restaurant. More time you get some really big pumpkin off it too. Mi say wah day yah mi see one banana weh have one whole heap a hand on dem. Dem big banana deh no grow pon normal farm eno," the man said.
Several pigs and their piglets were also observed searching through the gully for food. Very soon, the animals may be seasoned, cooked and be on someone's dinner table.
"Nobody nuh own dem. At first it was just two a dem but them breed up and more time yuh see nuff a dem a run up and down. Sometimes a man will all a keep a party and just lick one in the head and cook him sell it back as jerk pork. Other time it will just use as Sunday dinner or so on. Di pig dem come in helpful man," another resident said.