LEGAL Affairs Minister Peter Taylor has taken his plan to promote backyard gardening directly to the people, as he personally helped distribute vegetable seeds to eager citizens at City Gate transit hub, in Port of Spain yesterday.

In April, Taylor encouraged citizens to start their own kitchen gardens to help cope with global rising food prices.

He told members of the media yesterday that backyard gardens were not a new concept but an old tradition, but with the development thrust of the last 20 years people tended to be more busy.

’Now is the time to go back to the old time days and help ourselves,’ he added.

From 9.30 a.m. yesterday representatives of the Legal Affairs Ministry began distributing small packets with ochro, corn, pigeon peas, bodi and melongene seeds, and gave short growing tips for each crop.

About 50 people thronged the table when the Express visited trying to get their hands on some seeds.

Among the recipients was 63-year-old Victoria Paul, who said the seeds would ’come in very handy’ with her food costs. She reported that she spends between $150 and $200 a week for fresh vegetables.

She noted that currently she had a kitchen garden at her Maloney home with patchoi, lettuce, pimentos and hot pepper.

Mahadeo Maharaj, 48, of Charlieville, has been growing sweet pepper, tomatoes and ochro in his backyard garden. While he praised the initiative by the Ministry he expressed concern about whether the seeds would be put to use.

’You have some people take the seeds for kick’s sake and they just throw it away or something like that.’

Taylor noted that kitchen gardens assisted with proper nutrition and diet, and also engendered a sense of pride.

He said that despite Government’s macro plans for the agriculture industry citizens always have the option to grow their own food.

Anthony Bartholomew, 62, of Morvant, said he does not have a backyard garden but because of high prices he has decided to plant one to help with his personal food costs.

’I think it’s a great initiative. Anytime you could concentrate on food, feeding yourself, I think you on the right road.’