Allegory of Provision Grounds

Provision grounds were assigned plots of land that colonial planters and plantation owners assigned to enslaved and indentured workers for the production of their own sustenance, in an effort to offset the plantation’s operative costs. In her article “Yam, Roots, and Rot: Allegories of the Provision Grounds,” Elizabeth DeLoughrey explains the idea that “European colonization of the neotropics alienated humans from nature, reducing humans to labor and ‘nature to land’” (59). The provisions that they were able to grow were plants that could be planted and thrive with a small amount of maintenance and care by the grower. Those individuals were able to return to their provision grounds when time allowed to harvest their yield and turn over the crop for continued sustenance. DeLoughrey goes on to explain, “By setting aside time and space for the slaves to cultivate root staples such as plantains, yams, taro, and corn, the planters saved money on food imports and discouraged runaways by providing an opportunity to cultivate a link to the soil and community. Yet they also inadvertently supported a vibrant internal market economy in which slaves provided the majority of the region’s sustenance and gained significant amounts of currency, autonomy, and even freedom” (63).

In a similar vein, Pepper Pot (along with other stews) is a dish that served as a significant resource for a quick meal, preservation of meats and vegetables that would have otherwise gone bad before they were eaten, and a piece of food culture that constantly evolved with the availability of scarce resources. It brings to mind a sense of freedom from reliance on a hierarchical provider, allowing those in the home to have consistent access to a satiating and nutritious food, a system of preservation of sustenance, and a space for authentic personal creation and creolization of available materials and resources.

To read more of DeLoughrey’s article, find the full text here: “Yam, Roots, and Rot: Allegories of the Provision Grounds”