THE Bowlin siblings live side by side in West Watooka, Wismar, Linden and they lead simple lives as farmers.

Allison Bowlin-Thomas told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has used all the land space in her yard to farm and what is harvested will be for kitchen use and excess will be sold in the community.

After the death of her husband, Bowlin-Thomas stated that life has become challenging because she has to work and is still getting used to her spouse’s passing. When the team caught up with her she was in the yard pulling weeds and clearing bushes in her garden.

She has a budding cultivation of ochroes, pak choi, calaloo and boulanger among other crops and the lands she reside on and is farming was handed down to her from her father, a farmer, who passed away many years ago.

Thomas said farming is in the blood and that they must do it to earn. She grew up in Silver Town, but used to visit West Watooka as a girl with her father, who utilised the land for farming.

The mother of two added that she is familiar with West Watooka and after marriage she decided to reside there. Bowlin-Thomas related that she has five siblings but a brother, who lives next door and is also a farmer.

“My dad always made us promise him that we will use the land to farm and grow food and we must fulfil that promise we made to him,” she said. Her father, Silvana Bowlin was a well-known man and a farmer in the community.

Thomas noted that after a day of gardening she would relax a bit but was however, brave for the sun that day. Meanwhile, next door, Philbert Bowlin, a large-scale farmer was busy tending to his farm and nursery.

The 50-year-old reported that he doesn’t buy seeds and would set his own plants in his shade house/nursery, he has some tomatoes which will be transferred to freshly cleaned beds. The father of four stated that he works alone and it is hard work but, it is his job and he would get things done without complaining.

He has pak choi, bora, boulangers, tomatoes, fine-leaf thyme, ochro, celery and all types of fruits. He started farming when Linmine closed its operations more than 20 years ago and is self-employed.

Bowlin told the Pepperpot Magazine that he wants more land to farm while, some people in the village have lands which are being overrun by bushes and it needs to be utilised because the place is too bushy. “This farming wok nice if you have discipline and ready to toil, it is hard labour no matter the weather but I have to keep going because with this job I build house and bought a car,” he said.

Bowling reported that when he began farming he started with just calaloo and as he gained experience he began planting other crops over the years. His farm is like no other, very clean and organised and there isn’t a weed in sight and to maintain it to that standard is no easy task.

Bowlin disclosed that he does the farming while, his wife would sell the produce and he has some wholesale buyers. “To take your produce from this village is difficult because the road is in a bad state and it needs to be upgraded and it takes a toll on your vehicle and a lot of people do not want to come in here to buy our crops because of the road,” he said.

Bowlin added that he also plants sweet peppers on a large scale and when he gets a good harvest he would journey to the city to sell same.