Growing up, I spent countless hours in my grandmother’s garden, scaling the tallest trees and learning to identify a variety of local plants. It was there that I discovered the profound connection between where my food came from and who I am. But everything changed during the summer of 2017, when Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on our sister island of Barbuda. The devastation was unimaginable, and it became glaringly clear that the climate crisis had arrived in full force.

The impacts were immediate and severe. My grandmother and I were struck by the realization that we needed to take action to protect our community and ourselves. We turned to the land that had always been a source of sustenance and solace. We began growing more fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs, and started exchanging seedlings and slips with our neighbors. Our goal was to empower our community to grow more of their own food and build climate resilience.

The following summer, as we continued to distribute food and support our neighbors, I witnessed the seeds of hope emerging from the destruction. The land, which had always provided for us, was now helping us rebuild. In the Caribbean, food is more than just sustenance; it is at the heart of our culture. It brings us together and carries the weight of our traditional ecological knowledge and resilience.

Yet, the need for a climate-resilient food system in Antigua and Barbuda has never been more urgent. Our recently updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) does not adequately address how to protect marginalized communities, including farmers and those experiencing food insecurity. We need our NDC to reflect the needs of our farmers by investing in drought-resistant crops, enhancing soil health, and integrating traditional ecological knowledge into our adaptation strategies.

Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Support Local Farmers: If you’re in the Caribbean, connect with local farmers and learn about their efforts to build climate resilience. Your support can help strengthen local food systems.

2. Advocate for Inclusive Policies: Push for the inclusion of farmers and other underrepresented voices in climate policy development and negotiations. Their perspectives are crucial in shaping effective strategies.

3. Sign the Petition: Join the Caribbean Climate Network’s petition to urge leaders to take bold action in supporting climate justice and adaptation in our communities.

Every action counts. Let’s embrace hope, stay proactive, and remember that everything begins with a seed. By standing together, we can shape the Caribbean we envision for future generations. Let’s advocate for food sovereignty and effective adaptation strategies to ensure a resilient future for our islands.

Stand with us. Act now to advocate for the Caribbean you want to see.