December 17, 2009. Travelling up or down Dominica’s mountainous roads on foot is not easy. Then again, travelling in a car is not particularly easy either. For the human body, heat is the main factor. Asphalt at noon is unbearable and the climb is steep. That I arrived at every destination, repeatedly, and without ever …
This December will mark 10 years since my spouse Davin and I travelled to the Caribbean for one month (staying in Barbados, Dominica, and St. Lucia) so that I could be in the lands of my maternal ancestors and trace my roots. For context, there’s a post here that I wrote before the trip that …
Lizards. What impressed me most about the little cottage we stayed in was the population of lizards that lived on the property. I noticed them immediately. Upon arrival, I ran up the stairs that lead to the highest cottage (the one we were staying in) and was startled by lizards of all sizes and colours …
There is of little interest botanically to write about today, as December 14 was all about walking into town to see about procuring a copy of my grandmother’s birth certificate. After a brief side trip to check out the library, we headed to the government courthouse where I was disappointed to find out that my …
So far, I have approached each of these looking back trip posts without a plan. Sometimes I can recall exactly what occurred and I start writing straight away. Other times I go through the folders of digital and film photos taken that day and build a story around the images. Before looking at images, I …
December 12, 2009. We woke up in Roseau, the capital city of Dominica, on market day. No matter where I am in the world, I am always drawn to markets. Food markets, flea markets, farmers’ markets, foraging, gardens… I prefer to do my shopping outdoors. Markets are also where the people go. They have a …
December 11, 2009. We landed on the east side of Dominica, our luggage, camera gear, and a pillow in tow, and travelled about 2 hours by cab through the interior to Roseau, home away from home for the next three weeks. I was not prepared for how mountainous the island is, nor how lush. I …
Whenever I travel I tend to be drawn to the mundane: Where do people live? Where do they shop? What do they eat? Somehow, I often end up passing a graveyard. Over time and many trips, I have started to make observations about the different traditions that are observed around burials. And as a gardener, …
Yesterday, my friend Celia visited the House of Hope in Dominica. She and her husband Paul took photos of the visit and shot a video to give us a closer look. House of Hope from Paul Crask on Vimeo. The following photos are of the organic food garden that is in progress on the property. …
Guest post by Davin Risk I am asked now and again if “I am a gardener too” and my answer is an invariably unsure, “Well, yes and no, I help.” As Gayla’s partner I am often by her side in gardens and a certain level of gardening knowledge has seeped into my brain via osmosis. …
Hello Friends, Just a reminder that the House of Hope Drive is on until Saturday when I’ll be drawing a name for the prize. We’re currently up to $1, 130, which is crazy INCREDIBLE! Thanks so much for contributing! My friend Celia, who lives in Dominica, is going to be visiting the House of Hope …
Like caladium, anthurium are a tropical I never could get into. I have a penchant for freakish, alien plants, but there is something about their waxy, fake phalus-like appearance that bugs me. They just seem so Hollywood — the plastic surgery disasters of the plant world. Last year’s trip to Dominica changed that. There, for …