[written on 10/28/25]

While tending the nursery on my balcony, my cup of Scotch Bonnet pepper seedlings caught my eye.

Nearly 2yrs ago, a family friend gifted me a handful of fresh Scotch Bonnet peppers grown in her mother’s front garden in Jamaica. She remembered I’d recently started a farm & she encouraged me to save & plant the seeds.

I immediately planted several seeds.

Seedlings sprouted up a week later, then quickly died😕.

I sowed the Scotch Bonnet pepper seeds again a couple weeks later and…nothing😶

I stashed the remaining seeds in my fridge & decided to wait for warmer weather & more time to learn how to properly grow peppers, since I was clearly doing something wrong.

I finally planted the Scotch Bonnet pepper seeds again a few months ago with little expectation that the seeds were still viable🫣.

Once they demonstrated a will to live & sprouted rather impressively, I did my best to provide for their needs. Ironically, the seedlings today look the best they’ve ever looked while their homeland is being ravaged by a record setting storm😔

Caring for these little plants has taken on new significance as I witness the storm’s destruction on the island. I’ve become keeper of the seed🤲🏾

I pray for the people of Jamaica as they rebuild from rubble. I can only hope I’m given the opportunity to gift seeds from my Scotch Bonnet peppers back to the generous Jamaican mother who first shared them with me😇

The people of Jamaica have historically demonstrated the grit it takes to persevere✊🏾. I have no doubt the island will come back stronger than before🇯🇲!