Cuban agriculture

What I've Learned from Farming in Cuba

What I've Learned from Farming in Cuba

My biggest source of gardening inspiration is the Orgoponico Alamar Vivero, one of the largest urban farms in Cuba. One recent morning, when my kids’ school was closed for vacation, we decided to make a field trip there ... 

Gardening in Our Backyard

Gardening in Our Backyard

One recent Sunday afternoon, while my husband was kiteboarding and I was home with the kids, we started the seeds in plastic yogurt cups. My kids helped for a little while, but soon got bored of shoveling the dirt, and turned their attention to the Little Mermaid in Spanish, which was playing on my computer.

How to Enjoy Any Exotic Fruit

How to Enjoy Any Exotic Fruit

The exterior of the anon is like no other fruit and brings to my mind the shell of a turtle, though the texture is like that of a very mushy banana. When it ripens, the fruit begins to bubble and split open, revealing a custardy white flesh specked with black, watermelon-like seeds. 

Finding the Meaning of "Local" at the Cuban Farmer's Market

Finding the Meaning of "Local" at the Cuban Farmer's Market

I spend about five to six hours of my week buying food for my family, because in Cuba, there is no one-stop supermarket like Safeway or Whole Foods. Even daring to put the words "Whole Foods" and "Cuba" in the same sentence seems comical, or tragic ... or both...