For Reverend Dr Kevin Santucci, gardening has always been part of who he is.
From the age of 10, working alongside his father, he developed a lifelong relationship with the soil. Today, as both a chaplain and master gardener, he blends cultivation with community service.
That work became his Grow, Eat, Save programme, which he has led for the past decade through the Department of Health.
He launched it in response to rising food costs, increased reliance on imports, and the loss of traditional knowledge.
“If people learn to grow more of what they eat,” he said, “they can eat healthier, spend less and strengthen food security.”
In Bermuda, where hurricanes are part of life, that also means learning to protect crops and rebuild after storms.
As a storm approaches, Dr Santucci keeps the focus simple.
“The first thing I always tell people is to harvest what they can. Don’t leave mature crops to be destroyed by wind and rain.”
Preparation then turns to securing the space.
“Secure everything, pots, tools and anything loose, because the wind will take what is not anchored.”
Taller plants should be “supported or gently tied down,” while weak branches are pruned ahead of time. The aim is survival.
“You are not trying to perfect the garden; you are trying to help it survive.”
That includes protecting the soil. Mulch where possible and ensure drainage is working properly, since “too much standing water can be just as damaging as the wind.”
Delicate crops can be covered where possible, but simple steps make a difference.
“In Bermuda’s climate, gardeners must work with salt air, strong sun, humidity and frequent storms,” he said.
“Some crops are better suited than others,” Dr Santucci noted, adding that “the plants that hold up best tend to be resilient, deep-rooted, and adaptable”.
He pointed to root crops like sweet potatoes, cassava, and yams; hardy greens such as callaloo, kale, Swiss chard, and okra; fruit trees including banana, papaya, guava, mango, and loquat; along with herbs and salt-tolerant plants like rosemary, thyme, sea grape and aloe.
“Success is not just about what is planted, but how it is grown within our environment,” Dr Santucci said.
He highlights low, wind-resistant planting, mixed crops, raised beds, compost-rich soil and “succession planting” to sustain harvests. After the storm passes, patience takes over.
“The first thing I always tell people is to be safe, don’t rush into the garden until you know it is clear of hazards.”
Then comes observation.
“Not everything that looks damaged is lost” he reminded us.
“Start by clearing what is dangerous or blocking the space,” Dr Santucci said, advising gardeners “not to be too quick to remove everything,” as some plants “just need support, a little pruning and time to recover.”
He recommended re-staking fallen plants, covering exposed roots, rinsing off salt where needed and restoring soil with compost and mulch after heavy rain.
Recovery takes time.
“Don’t try to rebuild the whole garden in one day. You start with what survives, then rebuild step by step.”
And in Dr Santucci’s advice, we hear more than just advice related to the garden.
Hurricanes expose how fragile human systems are, but they also reveal the importance of resilience, community support and faith in rebuilding.
“The garden is never truly destroyed; it is only waiting to be restored.”
Those words inspire the heart and the gardening hands, in that the work after a hurricane is not simply recovery, but part of a natural rhythm, not an ending, but a new beginning.
Protect your outdoors
RG Hurricane top tips
- Think about your neighbours. Even if you’re not worried about the bulky items in your garden, they might be. In a storm, they can become dangerous projectiles, and the storm gods don’t discriminate whose garden they end up in, or whose windows they smash through.
- Prioritise dealing with your large pieces of outdoor furniture. If you leave it too late, you’ll be that guy dragging the patio table across the lawn in the pouring rain as the hurricane hurtles towards Bermuda. Don’t be that guy.
- If you’ve got a shed – use it! Load it with as much as your outdoor stuff as you can. It doesn’t matter how unwieldy it gets inside that shed for the next couple of days. But make sure your generator or barbecue equipment isn’t packed shoved away in the back corner. You might be needing them tomorrow!
- If you haven’t got a shed – use your home! The trampoline and barbecue might become annoying up obstacles in your living room, but that’s a step up from leaving them to the whim of the storm. Don’t be tempted to use the BBQ in the house though.
- Final bit of advice on the shed: tie it down with strong rope and sturdy fasteners. Nobody wants somebody else’s shed flying through their garden in the middle of a storm.
