“Grow your plants, but most importantly, grow yourself”: Women, Resilience, and Cultural Continuity in Jamaican and Diaspora Gardens

Authors

Giovanni Whyte, University of North DakotaFollow

Abstract

This essay explores the cultural, personal, and transformative power of gardening through the stories of four women—Brenda, Linda, Keisha, and Janice—whose lives span Jamaica and its diaspora. Their narratives reveal gardening as more than food cultivation but the practice of resilience, healing, and cultural continuity. Brenda honors her ancestral legacy in St. Elizabeth; Linda finds solace after loss; Keisha fosters socioemotional growth among urban students; and Janice embraces sustainability in suburban America. Together, their experiences illustrate how gardening nurtures identity, strengthens communities, and connects people to land, memory, and future generations.

Recommended Citation

Whyte, Giovanni (2025) "“Grow your plants, but most importantly, grow yourself”: Women, Resilience, and Cultural Continuity in Jamaican and Diaspora Gardens," The Cicadian: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://commons.und.edu/cicadian/vol1/iss1/5