Monday Morning Update

Happy Monday everyone! How was your weekend? We at Loop Barbados had a great weekend and have a very busy week ahead. We visited the Holders Farmers Market yesterday and it was brilliant to say the least! For all of those who did not manage to make it we will be giving you a little bit of a taste tomorrow so stay tuned!

Later this week we have another meeting with our website designer and programmer. The Loop Barbados site is coming along wonderfully and the first draft sample which will include all of its unique functionality features which will be ready for testing in about a week (so excited)! Well, have a great rest of the week everyone!

Melanie & Kimberly*

 Image: Always With Butter

What will You Buy at Holders Farmers Market?

Well, in just two days - 6th November 2011 - the much anticipated Holders Farmers Market will officially commence at 9.00AM - 2.00PM and continue every Sunday there after (at Holders House, Holders Hill, St. James). The only real question many of you may now have is what will be on sale? Well take a look below for the answer to your question.

Quite a variety of local produce and items correct? Sunday can't come soon enough for us over here at Loop Barbados.

Melanie & Kimberly*

Images: Pinterest edited by Loop Barbados

The Church Perched On Horse Hill

Sitting atop Horse Hill, St. Joseph is a small and beautiful church adorned with stained glass windows and an unbelievable view of the East coast of the island. This church- St. Joseph Parish Church- was built before 1641 and was badly damaged by a hurricane in 1789 and then completely destroyed by another hurricane in 1831. The church was then rebuilt in 1839 at the present site. It sits at the foot of Hackleton's Cliff and is one of a few churches in Barbados that has such an amazing view.

It really is a serene place to visit, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you are heading down to the East Coast to Bathsheba or anywhere else, take a little time to enjoy the breathtaking view from St. Joseph Parish Church!

Melanie & Kimberly*

Image: Loop Barbados

Barbados Events- November 2011

Take a look at the various events which are taking place in November on the beautiful island of Barbados.

November Event 1. Barbados Food Wine and Rum Festival- The finest local and renowned chefs will be participating in dining events held in different locations around the island. This festival will be held between the 18th- 21st of November and boasts of gourmet cuisine along with exceptional wine and rum tastings. For more information you can look at www.foodwinerum.com.

November Event 2. International Bridge Festival- The Sun, Sea and Slam Bridge Tournament is a five day, friendly but competitive Bridge tournament from the 22nd - 26th November at Divi Southwinds Beach resort. For more information on this tournament contact Barbados Bridge League at (246) 427 4839 or see www.barbadosbridge.org 

November Event 3. Holders Farmers Market- This organic farmers market will offer organic produce, cheeses, plants, herbs and also holistic massages and reflexology to customers. The market commences on the 6th November and continues every Sunday from 9AM to 2PM at Holders House, Holders Hill, St. James. For more information on the market you can take a look at www.holdersfarmersmarket.com.

November Event 4. RBTT Golf Classic Tournament- This golf event brings together golfers from all over the Caribbean to compete in a 36 hole tournament at the Barbados Golf Club on the 26th and 27th November. For more information on this golf tournament contact The Barbados Golf Club at (246) 428 8463 or take a look at their website www.barbadosgolfclub.com.

November Event 5. Sizzlin' Sands Beach Volleyball- This event takes place at the popular Brandon's Beach on the southwest coast of the island on the 5th and 6th of November where there will be players from the Caribbean, Central America and North America competing. Look out for the beach parties and live entertainment also! For more information on this event call (246) 256 7588.

November Event 6. The Independence Pro- This exciting annual event attracts athletes from all over the world to Barbados's premiere surf break "Soup Bowl" Bathsheba. The contest will be held from the 25th November- 27th November. For more information on this event contact the Barbados Surfing Association at (246) 826 7661 or take a look at their website www.barbadossurfingassociation.org 

Hope some of you will be here to enjoy them!

Melanie & Kimberly*



Images: pinmarklet, Flickr

Not Only A Market but A Learning Experience- Holders Farmers Market

Holders Farmers Market will be a lively farmers market with great, quality produce and items being sold, plus, it will also be an informative learning experience for customers. Holders Farmers Market is striving to familiarize the public with the benefits of eating as organic as possible. Not only will they offer fresh produce and dairy, arts and crafts and holistic therapy at the market but they will have many local farmers and vendors there to give advice and demonstrations. At this Farmers Market you are given the opportunity to buy fresh, organic items as well as actually see the process in which they are made. For example- Cheese making will be going on!

Not only does Holders Farmers Market want to provide their customers with a learning experience but they are also very interested in supporting the well being of the local farmers. The market wants to encourage the local farmers and aid them in the production of growing clean and organic food which in turn supports the island's agricultural industry and strengthens the economy.

So why not come out to support the local farmers on the island and get your clean, fresh local produce and other items at the same time! Holders Farmers Market will commence on the 6th November and runs every Sunday from 9 AM to 2 PM at Holders House, Holders Hill, St. James. We hope to see you there!

Melanie & Kimberly*

Images: These Tings Take time, Pinterest 

The Hauntings of Barbados

Happy Halloween to all! To celebrate Halloween we thought we would give you an inside scoop of the Top 5 Haunted Places in Barbados. It is believed that Barbados has many hauntings because of its long and very distraught history, take a look below and see the ones we consider to be the top five scariest!

1. Fisherpond Great House- This plantation house which is over 350 years old has been said to be haunted by a number of different ghosts. One being, a young girl named Violet who drowned in the pond many many years ago. She tends to play games in the house such as locking people in the bathroom! Many bizarre happenings have been seen and heard by the owners- glasses clinking throughout the night and mysterious footsteps heard trekking up the stairs!

2. The Chase Mausoleum, Christ Church Cemetery- It has been said that the coffins of family members which were buried there in the early 1800's, moved around in the locked vault sometimes lining up vertically along the walls. At one point the Governor of Barbados personally sealed the vault but nine months later the coffins were all rearranged even though the seal of the vault had not been tampered with. To combat this phenomenon, the coffins were buried in different locations and now the empty Chase vault lies open for all to see.

3. Hanson Plantation House- This plantation house which is located in St. Michael, Barbados has been known to be haunted by slave workers. This plantation was owned by Sir John Berney and 66 African slave workers were held on this plantation in 1792. The family which currently resides at the house has witnesses on several occasions the paranormal activity such as slamming of doors and footsteps down corridors.

4. Halton Plantation House- On various occasions, an elderly man has been spotted roaming the house of Halton Plantation. No one quite knows exactly who this man is, however there is speculation that it may be the ghost of the Honourable Samuel Rouse Esq. who was buried in the family vault at Halton Plantation in 1784. Tucked away in one of the various cart roads, this vault can still be observed up to this day.

5. St. Lucy Parish Cemetery- Although no paranormal reports have been made about this cemetery, a very strange vault is located amongst the tombstones. This gravestone has inscribed on it, "This vault shall never be opened." It is said amongst many of the St. Lucy locals that two witches were burned at the stake and their ashes buried in this vault.

So, If you are visiting Barbados and are in the mood to get a scare the three places open to the public are St. Lucy's Cemetery, The Chase Vault at Christ Church Cemetery and the vault at Hanson Plantation.

Melanie & Kimberly*

Images: Loop Barbados

Are You Eating Organic and Raw?

Are you eating organic and raw? Well you now can at Holders Farmers Market.
We have all heard the word because lately, that is what everyone is buzzing about..organic. So what does it actually mean and why should you care? Well, organic food is food which has been produced using methods that:
* Do not involve synthetic inputs such as modern synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers
* Do not contain genetically modified organisms
* Are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents or chemical food additives.

This all means that the food which is produced organically is clean and like in all aspects of life the cleaner the better!

Eating organic has many benefits not only for your body and mind but also for your environment. Below are a few but important benefits of eating organic.

* Organic foods do not have pesticide, herbicide or fungicide residue on it. Who wants to be digesting food which contains all of these dangerous chemicals?
* Organic foods allow for less choline chemistry in our environment and reduce off farm pollution
* Organic foods are not genetically engineered IE it is real
* Organic foods reduce toxic load
* Organic foods have an intense realistic flavor
* Organic foods have a high vitamin and mineral content

Now finally, Barbados will be able to access these benefits and more by attending and purchasing organic food/produce from Holders Farmers Market. Holders Farmers Market opens from 9AM - 2PM every Sunday from November 6th 2011 and will be located at Holder's Plantation House. From fruits and vegetable, to milk, to eggs - Barbadians will finally be able to locate their weekly supply in one convenient place! What a relief right? Well, we at Loop Barbados certainly think so.

Melanie & Kimberly*



Images: What Katie Ate, tumblr