Provisions vs. provisioning
When we first started researching this whole cruising thing we came to find that there was an entirely new language that we’d need to familiarize ourselves with. Freeboard, halyard, bilge… the list of new words went on and on. We learned that before setting sail, especially to more isolated spots, we’d want to “provision,” that is, purchase food and supplies that we could live off until the time that we next found a suitable spot to shop. Now that we’re in the West Indies though, we’ve learned that the word provision, or more specifically ground provisions, means something entirely different.
To those in Grenada, Trinidad and other islands in the WI, ground provisions is a term used to describe a number of traditional vegetable and fruit staples that are planted in the ground. Breadfruit, green banana, yams, sweet potatoes, potatoes and other root vegetables are all considered provisions. Recipes often call for ground provisions instead of specific vegetables and restaurant menus will frequently list meals as coming with provisions instead of telling you specifically which vegetables they’ll be serving. We’re always learning!
Above image ©www.tasteslikehome.org
In something completely unrelated to food, and in our eyes a lot more exciting, check out the following video that was edited from footage shot during last Sunday’s trip to Diamond Rock. Good fun!
Hi, The hike looks wonderful, but it seems the guides would increase the safety of the climb, by anchoring, ropes to certain parts of the climb.On camera some places look steep.Maybe ,its an environmentally sensitive area? Also, in the photo of the ground provisions, are these mostly low glycemic starches?
If you saw the places we have hiked without good gear you would be shocked! In fact, I bet three quarters of the places that we hike around here would be off limits with railings all around them in the USA. That climb may be grade 4 in some places but for the most part it is really just scrambling (grade 3).
As for the GI of those starches, sorry, I have no idea. I never pay attention to things like that.
Enjoyed the video – wow what a climb. Hope to do it in a couple of years. Thanks for sharing.
Maybe there will be an actual trail by then.
Very cool raising a new flag!
We set a smaller one last year but the elements destroyed it. Guess someone has to go back at least once per year!
Great video and soundtrack! Congrats to the kid who made it to the top!
Thanks Cheryl. His brother was actually with us on the hike too but he didn’t make it onto the clip.
Great video… and I reiterate the comments already made; cool idea planting the flag, awesome that the kid made it all the way, and what a challenging climb it appeared to be.
Also, fun ride out and back in the boat!!
The boat ride might have been the scariest part for some poeple. 🙂
Hi Mike,
Forgive me if you have covered this somewhere, but how does the cost of food differ throughout the Caribbean? I’m not concerned with restaurants and eating out, but for “provisioning” of local fruits, vegetables, fish & meats. Whereabouts in the Caribbean is it more expensive and less expensive for food?
Thanks,
Erick
Locally grown foods are almost always cheap while imported stuff is expensive. Places like the Bahamas where nothing is grown are expensive. Places like Dominica where they grow a lot of produce are definitely cheaper.