Eleuthera, Bahamas – Healthy eating is an essential part of building and maintaining a healthy body and a strong immune system. This can lead to the body being able to prevent and better combat certain illnesses and ultimately longer life.
During One Eleuthera Foundation’s (OEF) inaugural Pathway to Wellness Symposium in 2012, it was noted that 60% of all deaths in The Bahamas are a result of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) and account for half of all deaths of people 45 years and older. The most prevalent illnesses seen in all clinics on Eleuthera and in the Health facilities throughout The Bahamas are Chronic Non Communicable Diseases (CNCD), namely Hypertension and Diabetes. Such illnesses are preventable and controllable through the implementation of daily exercise, diets rich in fruits and vegetables, and a reduction in the intake of salt, fats and sugars.
Through its Health and Wellness Initiative, The Pathway to Wellness, The One Eleuthera Foundation in conjunction with its partners, is working to reduce the prevalence and negative effects of CNCDs by facilitating programs that encourage and provide avenues for people to take better care of their health.
In partnership with Cancer Society of Eleuthera, OEF will celebrate a milestone as they invite the public to join them on Saturday, April 5th, 2014 for the opening of Eleuthera Community Farms (ECF). The farm is located at the Society’s Wellness Center in Palmetto Point. This grand event will be fun and entertaining for the entire family and will include: tours of the farm and nature trail, cooking demos, great food incorporating produce from the farm, homemade juices, bouncing castle, face painting, music and much more, all at one small flat fee.
Through the kind generosity of Sameer and Tricia Bhatti of Philadelphia, USA, the vision for a more healthier Eleuthera is fast becoming more and more a possibility. Under the skilled management of Sherry Fax, who is an avid farmer herself, a vast variety of organically grown fruit and vegetables can now be accessed at the new Eleuthera Community Farms. ECF successfully reaped its first harvest of greens (kale, arugula, spinach and lettuce) last week, published in a previous article by The Eleutheran. All items sold out almost instantaneously.
The main concept of ECF is to make healthy foods more affordable and accessible, hence encouraging people to make healthier food choices. It is further anticipated that through demonstrating the ease of growing such products, local Eleutherans will catch the ‘health craze fever’ and create their own backyard gardens to provide fresh produce for themselves.
For more information on Eleuthera Community Farms launch and crops, call 242.332.1804, 242.334.4630 or email info@oneeleuthera.org.
