By Cheri Wood

If you haven’t heard about Ol’ Freetown Farm then you are missing out on fresh natural eggs from free range chickens, organically grown greens, awesome animals and a host of activities that kids are sure to enjoy. This family managed farm is just another wonderful addition to the list of attractions for local residents and eco-tourists who are looking for a unique family-friendly experience that is healthy, educational and fun for all.

Since the farm opened in 2012, thousands of children from schools all over the island have visited to learn about animals and interact with many creatures they may never see anywhere else on the island. The farm provides a unique setting where children are allowed to pet several of the animals and get really get close to others. The farm also hosts many tourists, and its location 6 miles east of the College of The Bahamas is a convenient stop on the way to the Lucayan National Park.

Upon arrival you can expect to be greeted by one of the friendly staff members who will take you to meet the wonderful animals who live at the farm. Some of the animals you can expect to see are Leah the eclectus parrot, Winston the guinea pig, Patches the former house pet pot belly pig, and Magnolia the miniature horse. There are also goats, several types of chickens, snakes, geese, peacocks, horses and rabbits. The animals seem to enjoy visitors and they communicate in their own unique way with those who are willing to talk to them.

By Cheri Wood

So what do your New Year’s resolutions look like? Did eating healthier in 2013 make the list?

For most of us this is a resolution we make each year.  Without doing any research I think it is pretty safe to say that most of us fall off the “eating green” wagon soon after we make the commitment. One of the excuses we can no longer use for our inability to stick to a righteous resolution is that the island does not have enough healthy food choices to keep us engaged in our quest for better health. This might have been the case several years ago, but in 2013 Grand Bahama’s food stores now offer a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables along with more healthy options than ever before. We even now have a food store that caters to the island’s vegetarian and vegan customers by offering only products that are organically grown and processed.

IT’S ABOUT TIME is the name of a new mini food store located on the corner of Explorer’s Way and West Mall (across from Supreme Dry Cleaners). This 100% Bahamian owned store only offers organic products and is packed with choices never seen before on Grand Bahama. IT’S ABOUT TIME offers sprouted grain items, protein rich foods, gluten-free products and snack chips that are actually good for you. From hemp oil to quinoa flour, this place is a haven for those who believe in eating healthy.

By Cheri Wood

If you think the police are looking the other way when an empty box of chicken flies by their windshield, think again. If an environmental offender is seen throwing that empty box of leftover lunch out of his car window it will cost him a lot more than the embarrassment of getting pulled over and picking up his tossed out trash. It will cost him $100 in cold hard cash. And those who think they can continue to dump their household debris all over the island, they just better watch their back. The fines for dumping start at $500 and there are many eyes watching.

Environmentalists on Grand Bahama have been waiting a very long time for littering offenses to be taken seriously and the time we have all waited for has now arrived. In the past, officers would issue a citation for individuals to appear in court to face accusations of environmental unfriendliness. Many of the offenses would be ignored and prosecution pursuit was minimal. Now with new laws in place, Road Traffic officers nationwide are taking trash tossing much more seriously. They are now empowered to issue littering citations on the spot for fines incurred for environmental offenses.

In March of 2012 the Bahamas Road Traffic Regulations were updated to include section 21 (e) which states that a $100 fine will be issued to persons “unlawfully or willingly discharging or throwing objects from a motor vehicle”. For the more serious offenders who drive around in vehicles that spew debris all over the road, their fine escalates to $200 as per the Road Traffic Act 220. These regulations are just a couple of ways the RBPF (Royal Bahamian Police Force) is enforcing the message that we must keep our environment clean.

Written by Cheri Wood

We have been researching and tagging sea turtles in the Bahamas for many years. In 2009 we even passed legislation to protect these creatures, making it illegal to kill them or take their eggs. Why are we doing all this? Is it really worth the effort? What is it about these turtles that make them so important? Well for starters they are one of the most ancient groups of creatures that inhabit our planet, but that alone is not the only reason we should respect them.

Sea turtles have been roaming the seas and shorelines of the earth for over 100 million years. There are 7 species of sea turtles in the world and 3 of them reside in the waters surrounding Grand Bahama. The Green turtle, the Loggerhead and the Hawksbill frolic around our shores and graze in the grasses of our creek and mangrove systems. The island is a haven for these beautiful animals and they selflessly keep our sea grasses mowed, provide food for other species and assist with the health of our coral reef systems. Each of the 3 species has its own place in our ecosystems, and like most things in nature each one is as important as the other.

The Green turtle is most commonly seen in our creeks and water systems on the north shore. As we know, these mangrove areas are a breeding ground for many fish, ducks and birds. The Green turtles eat the sea grass which grows in these waters. Without the turtles the grass would become overgrown, interfere with water currents and block the sun from reaching plants that are a necessary source of food and nutrients for other living things.

The Loggerheads are found in deeper waters and eat mainly shellfish. The way they crush the shells helps the nutrients in the shells disintegrate quicker into the water. Their constant grazing also contributes to the health of the sea floor and all the organisms that live there.