(Eleuthera, Bahamas) – On Saturday, April 5th, 2014, the One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) in partnership with the Cancer Society of Eleuthera (CSE), and Dr. Tricia and Sameer Bhatti of Philadelphia PA, celebrated yet another milestone in their journey of “Reversing the Trends” – paving a pathway to providing healthy options for Eleutherans. Held at the Cancer Society Wellness Center in Palmetto Point – old and young, well-wishers and supporters gathered together for the official groundbreaking and opening of their ‘healthy gardens’ – Eleuthera Community Farms & Deli.
The project began with CSE and OEF agreeing that they could no longer continue to just treat illness but should also encourage ways to prevent it. The Bhatti’s could not agree more and decided to make an investment in the future health of the Bahamas by making a generous donation while on a brief visit to the island in November of 2013.
With the land cleared, and seeds in the ground, the produce began to grow yielding its first vegetables of organic arugula, spinach, kale, and others to create the healthy and tasty garden salad served at the Cancer Society’s 1st Annual Hope Ball on March 1st, 2014.
Some 5 months after their initial visit, Sameer and Tricia, as they have become affectionately known, returned to the island to take part in the official launch ceremony for the project on the grounds of the CSE Wellness Center.
Dr. Tricia Bhatti (center in pink and white) cuts the ribbon to formally open the Eleuthera Community Farms and Deli program at the Wellness Center in Palmetto Point, with representatives of the One Eleuthera Foundation, Eleuthera Cancer Society, Rotary Club of Eleuthera, Cancer Survivors, and Supporters.
The ceremony featured renditions from youngsters of the surrounding communities. Taking part were: students of Agape House Pre-school, Conquerors for Christ Dancers – a mother and daughter duo of Mrs. Symonette and Anthonesha Ferguson who gave an uplifting dance selection, the Palmetto Point Methodist Church Children’s choir, the Global Outreach Children’s choir and National Band Champions, the Central Eleuthera High School Band.
National Parade Band Champions, Central Eleuthera High School, performed for the audience at the opening event.
Healthy meals made with the organic produce from the farm were available throughout the day. Also, persons were able to make purchases of farm produce and healthy salad dressings, while sampling a variety of bush teas.
Ms. Jacqueline Gibson, Vice President of the Eleuthera Cancer Society; Mrs. Maisy Pinder, Community Outreach Coordinator with the One Eleuthera Foundation and Susan G. Komen; Mr. Shaun Ingraham, CEO with the One Eleuthera Foundation and Mr. Sameer Bhatti all gave brief reflections on how the reality of the garden came to be and they expressed how proud they were, to be a part of this new milestone at the Wellness Center and iterated how important it was to eat healthy. Mr. Ingraham also shared that in 2013, the clinics across Eleuthera saw a startling 27,000 patient visits. He said their aim was to reduce this number as each year goes by.
The farm and deli, managed by Sherry Fax, will be operated by the Cancer Society of Eleuthera, comprising a network of farms known as Eleuthera Community Farms (ECF) with the One Eleuthera Foundation managing this overall network through a collective known as CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). CSA is a popular new trend in the US, known as ‘farm to table’, providing customers with fresher, organic food. Some sites will be farms and others will be both a farm and/or deli. It is hoped that people on Eleuthera will rethink their whole diet and make healthier food choices. “A new revolution has begun, starting from the ground up”, says One Eleuthera Foundation CEO, Shaun Ingraham.
