Topic 3 Shared garden versus creole garden
Generally, the techniques used in shared gardens are a mixture of different agricultural practices respectful of the environment: crop associations and rotation, permaculture mounds, mulching, composting, reuse of waste to create above ground bins…
The Creole garden and the shared garden use similar techniques (e.g., crop associations) but also different techniques (e.g., burning and plowing in the Creole garden versus permaculture mounds or surface composting in the shared garden).
Despite the fact that the population of Martinique is increasingly urban, there has been a renewed interest in medicinal plants and gardening in recent years. However, this cultural practice is evolving. There are now more tomato plants than yams in the gardens around the houses due to the change in eating habits and the fear of chlordecone contamination. In addition, certain knowledge about plants is tending to disappear. Thus, protective plants or wild edible plants are less and less known.
The Creole garden therefore has a future because the Martiniquais are interested in it, but to safeguard this cultural heritage, intergenerational exchanges and exchanges with research teams must continue.
