meet a Vincy
t” ette and “Cap Vonnie Roud
Mr. Guy, in his element, with students in his garden
Mr. Guy w ith group of st a ud displaying ents a selection of natural fru and flour m it drinks ad a variety of e from tubers
Lawrence “Captain” Guy A National Living Treasure By Vonnie Roudette
Among many extraordinary people who live in our valley community, there’s an exceptionally wise one residing in Top Village, Vermont. Mr. Lawrence “Captain” Guy originally hailed from the neighbouring valley of Marriaqua. As a young man, he crossed, on foot, the mountain that divides two beautiful valleys and descended into Vermont. ‘Capt’ has the appearance of a person in his late 70s but his actual age is 95. My first glance around his house and garden years ago, confirmed that he leads a physically active life, growing nearly all his own food, with ample surplus for others. Visitors to his homestead are showered with homemade treats. Mr. Guy’s vivid recollections of bygone days create a living context of island heritage and community culture. Skilful storytelling along with gesture and expression . . . a glint of the eye . . . he joyfully employs as means of sharing life experiences that have inspired him into a productive old age. His abundant knowledge of traditional cuisine includes producing cassava farine, arrowroot
46 Discover St. Vincent
and cassava starch, fungi, preserves, sweets, and fruit cordials. He makes flour from a variety of tubers and fruits - sweet potato, green banana, breadfruit, cassava, tapioca - that he dries and grinds on any of his collection of meticulously hand-punched zinc graters. He explains that when he noticed so much wastage during the prolific breadfruit season, his solution was to make flour, which stores well and makes a healthier alternative to wheat flour. He now is embarking on a project with the Contemporary Young Artists’ Movement (CYAM) to demonstrate this process from harvest to the finished product. Mr. Guy’s resourceful activities extend even further as throughout his life he has survived through his knowledge of traditional culture. As a youth, he apprenticed as a lumberjack and carpenter, learning his first trade from his father in Mesopotamia. A sought after coffin maker, Capt. crafted the caskets of many departed valley dwellers. His skills in construction have been put to use building many styles of house, including the one he presently occupies, for