I never met my paternal grandmother, she passed before I was born. However, when her mother immigrated from the Bahamas in the early 20th century she planted a secret garden in her yard in Miami, FL. At the time, gardens were for poor people, "country folks", and immigrants, but my grandmother and great-grandmother liked their own fresh vegetables and herbs. Therefore, they planted their vegetables in between their flower bushes and shrubs and picked the fresh vegetables at night. Many decades later, my uncle and father have started their own gardens which are their pride. My uncle even came in second place in a city-wide garden competition in Chicago, IL because of his sprawling garden where he grows collard greens, tomatoes, beans, and so much more. My husband and I now keep a small garden and I think of my grandmother and her Caribbean roots each time I pick my beans, tomatoes, green peppers, and spring onion... during the daylight hours. 

– Christina Greer

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant