Green Thumb
I am sure that most of you have noticed the bush fires in the past few days. We are in the peak of the Dry Season […]
For many weeks, pumpkins have maintained a high retail price at the markets. Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), belongs to the family ‘Cucurbitaceae’. Pumpkin is a good source […]
I would like to wish all readers a bright and prosperous 2023! As we enter the new year, we can use plants to bring calm and […]
For the past four years, the main goal of the Green Thumb column was to encourage our readers in the traditional and modern methods of producing […]
PART ONE Increased flooding and rising food prices are two factors that we have been facing in the past few weeks. The MET office issued their […]
In the September 16–22 issue, we investigated the concept of agro-processing. To recap, agro-processing refers to a subset of manufacturing that processes raw materials and intermediate […]
In previous articles, we would have discussed small ruminant farming. Small ruminant farming is the farming of goats and sheep for meat, milk, skin for leather […]
We live in times where food prices have skyrocketed, and the cost of living is constantly on the rise. Foreign exchange is also on an all-time […]
In the past few weeks, most of my family and colleagues would have battled a version of the virus. As of two years now, the scare […]
You often see them populating garden shops in all shapes and colours. In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are […]
Beautiful landscaping is one such feature that really adds visual appeal to any home. There are many companies that offer landscaping services, but if you would […]
The July-August vacation period is here once again. When school is out, I do believe that this is an important time to teach children many skills […]
With the recent increase in wheat flour prices, the alternative of utilising root crop flour has been peaked. Cassava and sweet potato flour have become viable […]
The anticipation of a beautiful long weekend filled with festivities is amongst us! For some, it’s the perfect opportunity to start that do-it-yourself gardening project. It […]
As a recent pet mom, it is always a challenge to keep my puppy away from all things green and chewable. If you own a dog, […]
My earliest and perhaps fondest memory of planting a crop was the first time I planted corn seeds. I recall being only six years old, sprinkling […]
It’s the month of May once again where we celebrate all mothers. Mother Mary is our first mother as she was exemplified for her humility to […]
In my recent conversations, the debate of growing crops traditionally was compared to the modern techniques that exist for crop production. In this article, we will […]
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach to managing landscapes, cropland, livestock, forests, and fisheries, that address the interlinked challenges of food security and accelerating climate […]
Herbs are broadly defined as any type of plant material used for scent or flavour or medicinal or spiritual purposes. Thousands of herbs are used all […]
The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service declared the start of this year’s Dry Season on January 6, 2022. According to the Met Office, compared to 2021 […]
After decades of steady decline, the number of people who suffer from hunger, as measured by the prevalence of undernourishment, began to slowly increase again in […]
As the world-altering Covid-19 pandemic evolves, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced it has designated the new strain a “variant of concern” and named it Omicron. […]
The Season of Advent is once again upon us. There are four Sundays before Christmas, and the season is a particularly important time in the Church […]
It has always been a mindset to think about promising careers as being jobs in the fields of Law, Medicine and Engineering. This has been so […]
In case you missed it, the Finance Minister Colm Imbert has announced a $52.4 billion budget for the next fiscal year. The theme for the budget […]
The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7. October falls during […]
Fertigation is the direct application of fertilisers for soil adjustments, water adjustments and other water-soluble products into an irrigation system. In this system, fertiliser solution is […]
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrology and are […]
The Trinidad and Tobago Prisons Service is privileged to have Commissioner Dennis Pulchan leading their organisation. In his 38 years of service, Commissioner Pulchan has worked […]
By Sydney Valere For over 25 years, my line of work has been one of touring and guiding tourists and cruise ship passengers to all the […]
Rayanna, I have a ficus that was doing so well. It was full and we were able to shape it etc. Then all of a sudden, […]
Microgreens are young vegetable greens picked just after the first leaves have developed. They are approximately 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) tall and are known for their […]
In the tropics, we have two seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. We have entered the rainy season which began at the start of […]
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi is a celebration associated with the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with His apostles before His crucifixion and the celebration […]
Over a year has passed since COVID-19 has plagued our world. It is very sad to state that in our country, we are facing a crisis […]
May is once again here where we celebrate Mother’s Day and our Blessed Virgin Mother Mary throughout the month. Flowers, chocolates, and cards are popular gifts […]
Volcanoes are natural structures formed from plate tectonic movement where one plate moves under the other and delves into magma under the mantle, allowing magma to […]
The month of March marks exactly one year since the COVID-19 pandemic entered our borders. It has been a testing year, but we are nevertheless thankful […]
Compared to men, women and girls are still more severely affected by poverty, hunger and disease. When food is scarce, female family members often get the […]
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most bio-diverse places in the world, filled with wildlife unlike any other. ‘Wildlife’ can be defined as all organisms […]
‘Precision agriculture’ is simply new ways and use of technologies to increase crop yields and profitability while lowering traditional amounts of input needed to grow crops […]
I am sure many of us are breathing a sigh of relief as 2020 ends! The year 2020 has definitely proven to us that we should […]
It has been a whirlwind of a year but somehow, we’ve made it to the month of December! Even though we may not feel like it, […]
Earlier this month the Church commemorated two important solemnities. The Solemnity of All Saints on November 1 which dates to the 4th century is a day […]
As Christmas approaches, one can expect to see vendors in vans or on foot selling bags of bright, red sorrel. Caribbean sorrel is actually the sepals […]
The much anticipated 2020-2021 Trinidad and Tobago Budget was read on October 5, with the follow-up debate on Friday 9. With post-budget talks reflecting fears of […]
The economic impact of COVID-19, according to the World Bank could push near 100 million people to the edge of the extreme poverty line. It also […]
Cassava has been an integral part of the diet of this region since the days when only the First Peoples inhabited the islands of the Caribbean […]
The Church celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15 during the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. This season is represented by the […]
Successful gardening requires a combination of sufficient sunlight, moisture and healthy soil. This may seem easy enough to achieve but during the rainy season all these […]
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is probably the most efficient crops to grow hydroponically. It belongs to the Asteraceae daisy group. Known for being a leaf vegetable used […]
While the rainy season provides an abundance of water for your garden, it unfortunately also gives rise to certain pests, diseases and nutrient deficiencies. As worrying […]
In previous articles, we have explored many different types of hydroponic systems. A recap: hydroponics is the art of growing plants without soil but by using […]
By Rayanna Boodram If you go to any beauty counter, it is guaranteed that you will find rows of skincare products featuring plant-based extracts. There are […]
An important and traditional branch of livestock farming that has been regularly ignored and undermined is small ruminant farming. ‘Small ruminant farming’ is the farming of […]
The coconut palm and some of its most basic by-products have been serving Caribbean societies for as long as we can remember. The coconut is a […]
In the recent years, kale has slowly progressed its way into our diets. Whether in a soup, salad or smoothie, it is definitely one of the […]
It’s the latest fruit craze. Dragon fruit, also known as ‘pitaya’, is the fruit of several different Hylocereus cactus species. The plant, native to Southern Mexico […]
After the last article on ‘Herbal Remedies’, my Green Thumb fans, your request to delve into the wonders of lemongrass have been answered. Cymbopogon citratus, commonly […]
Herbalism is the study of botany and the use of medicinal plants. Herbal remedies date back to the Paleolithic Age, which is approximately 60,000 years ago. […]
A healthy plant begins with a healthy seedling. Over the past few weeks, I have been observing the wonderful trend of pop-up vegetable stalls now providing […]
Insects are very harmful to gardens. They chew, bite and suck on plants causing damage to the leaves, stems and roots which overall decrease the photosynthetic […]
The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mother Mary. For us Catholics, during the entire month of May, it is customary to commemorate […]
The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service predicted that the dry season for 2020 will last from January to May 2020. There is no fixed date for […]
Prioritising food security is everyone’s business these days. If you have not realised by now, we have reverted to the ‘old time’ days where kitchen and […]
Staying healthy during COVID-19 COVID-19 has been around for weeks and from the daily reports released by the Ministry of Health, it is expected to last […]
Easter 2020 is here! Due to COVID-19 we are indoors but keeping our spirits high and celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. […]
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that usually cause respiratory illness. They include viruses that cause the common cold and more serious illnesses such as Middle […]
Lent is the period where we reflect on Jesus Christ and the time He spent in the wilderness enduring temptation. For us Catholics, the Lenten period […]
Innovation is extremely vital in modern-day agriculture. The industry continues to face challenges such as shortage of labour, reduced annual budgets from governments and the many […]
Cactus, deriving from the family Cactaceae, has over 1750 known species. It is popularly known that cacti are perfect for areas with intense humidity. It is […]
With the blink of an eye, we are in the final week of January 2020, and it seems that only yesterday was New Year’s Day. As […]
Dear Rayanna, My name is Amrad and I am an avid reader of your articles. I need some help for my soursop tree. Up to about […]
The year is once again coming to an end and I’m sure that we can all agree that 2019 brought many challenges. Rising food prices, fuel […]
We’re well into Advent now but also preparing for Christmas, the season where we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. By now […]
The season of Advent is once again upon us. Advent commences four Sundays before Christmas and is a very important time in the Catholic Church as […]
Earthworms, belonging to the phylum Annelida, are tubed-shaped segmented worms. They are found in soils throughout the world. These decomposers (organism that feeds on decomposing organic […]
As we know, the month of November is dedicated to the departed. It begins with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and continues throughout the […]
Just like human beings, plants get sick. All plants are susceptible to diseases. A plant becomes diseased when it is disturbed by a causal agent which […]
Since 1970, the North Atlantic has had an increase in hurricane activity. Data is showing that climate change increases the chances of these devastating weather events […]
The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. It is approximately six million square kilometers making up 40 per cent of Brazil’s total […]
It happens to everyone! We can all relate to those nights where we need to sleep but for some reason we just cannot. A restless night […]
Investing is the act of taking money and placing it into property, shares, ventures and financial schemes with the expectation of achieving a profit. Investment farming […]
The wet/rainy season has begun and I am sure we are all very happy that the rain is finally here. Our mountains are once again starting […]
It’s the one special day that we celebrate dads around the world. Usually when we think of gifts for our fathers/grandfathers/godfathers/father figures, it is usually associated […]
We simply cannot live without them! Pets, especially dogs and cats, have become integral parts of our families. Pet parents are now ensuring that their ‘fur […]
For the past year we have continually examined hydroponics and its many benefits. Hydroponics, the practice of growing plants without soil as a growth medium, has […]
There is a saying “April showers bring May flowers”. The Easter period is the time of year where our gardens awaken with beautifully coloured petals and […]
In the past weeks the trend of bush fires has been rampant. As the temperatures rise during the day, these fires ignite, naturally or by human […]
It is a fact that seafood is staple for a Lenten diet. In Church history, there was no rule on the consumption of fish for days […]
The 40-day period of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, represents the time Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ spent in […]
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT to distinguish turmeric from saffron because of the similar bright yellow colour. However, do not be fooled as turmeric and saffron are […]
Valentine’s Day, celebrated February 14 annually across the globe, is the day where we show the people who mean most to us how much we love […]
Food security is everyone’s responsibility and it begins at home. Due to the harsh dry season and unpredictable rainy season, I am sure we are all […]
Grow boxes are container-based gardens which can be both soil or hydroponically based. They are usually square or rectangular and can be constructed using plastic, wood, […]
As 2018 comes to an end and 2019 approaches, the negative impacts of climate change will continue to increase. The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Services issued […]
With Christmas a little over a week away, it’s important to remember the reason for the season, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As the days […]
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us! Christmas is the season where we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. […]
Job 14:2 tells us “Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain”. In the Holy Bible, […]
A fortnight ago, Trinidad and Tobago was severely affected by heavy rainfall initiated by an ITCZ which resulted in heavy flooding. Properties, personal belongings and vehicles […]
In Botany (the study of plants), succulents are plants that possess thick, fleshy leaves which are used as water storage. They have unique, striking appearances which […]
Even though we are in the month of September, most of us are already planning for Christmas. In the Caribbean, it is a Christmas tradition to have […]
By now we are all aware that jobs in Trinidad and Tobago are very difficult to obtain. It is without doubt that we live in a […]
There are over 20,000 known species of bees worldwide. Bees are one of the most helpful creatures even though many see them as being pests. The […]
For the past two weeks, Trinidad & Tobago has experienced heavy rainfall which is expected to continue since we are only one month into the rainy […]
In the May 6 column, we learnt about Nutrient Flow Technique (NFT) Hydroponic Systems. As promised, the below gives details for the design of a backyard […]
Today, you can find just about any plant type in your plant shop. According to the variety or variegation of the plant, it can be quite […]
Landscape architecture involves the design of a specific area to achieve social, environmental or aesthetic results. It adds value to properties, creates a serene environment and […]
As we come to the end of the dry season and welcome the rainy season in June, we can expect frequent showers of rain. Plants prefer […]
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) is one of the five types of hydroponic systems. Simple backyard systems or commercial crop production can be done with this system […]
Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle from germination, flowering and seed production, within one year or a single growing season. The entire plant (roots, […]
Palms, belonging to the family Arecaceae, consist of over 2,600 species and are grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Today, as we celebrate […]
by Rayanna Boodram PART 1 All plants are susceptible to pests and diseases. Climate change and agriculture are interrelated processes. Climate change can simply be defined as […]
Welcome to ‘Green Thumb!’ Each article will be focused on tips and DIY (do-it-yourself) projects that you can try at home. I have dedicated my career […]