Grizelle “Isoke” Davila knows about change. She taught world history and geography at Elena Christian Junior High School before her life took a major turn.
She was in a terrible car accident 23 years ago, sustaining multiple fractures that left her disabled. To make a living. Davila had to re-invent herself; so she began to plant fruit trees and herbs on property she owns in Work and Rest.
“I grew up working in a garden,” Davila said. “My mother, Daryl Roebuck, was a big influence on me. She always had a vegetable and herb garden.”
As a youngster, Davila helped her mother maintain the garden – planting, weeding, raking, hoeing, cutting grass and harvesting.
As a Rastafarian, Davila added, she is in tune with nature, the earth, natural living and growing healthy food.
“A friend told me my gift is growing things in abundance,” Davila says.
Davila works from 5:30 to 11a.m. daily in her home nursery, which she calls Tropical Ay Ay. Before it gets too hot, she tends to fruit trees such as Surinam cherry, guava berry, sea grape, guava, pomegranate, sour sop, banana, palms and more. She propagates and starts fruit trees in plastic pots that she has sitting on wooden pallets around her yard. She also grows and sells a large variety of medicinal and culinary herbs including tarragon, basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, mint, moringa and comfrey.
Davila said she started growing the medicinal herb comfrey after the late Henry Carter, a well known local farmer, saw her after her accident and suggested she use the herb to help heal her fractures.
“He told me to take this plant and he taught me how to use it and apply the leaves to my injuries,” Davila said. After she used the comfrey she began to heal and feel better, she said. Today, she is a testimony to the healing properties of the herb. She was so impressed with the healing powers she began to make oil, salve and bath salts from the comfrey root and leaves that, she says, can be used for skin conditions, broken bones, sprains, and sore muscles.
In 2000 Davila obtained a farmers license and became a vendor at the St. Croix Agricultural Fair, selling her potted herbs and fruit trees. Being a vendor at the fair has allowed her to hone her skills as an entrepreneur.
In 2006 she launched her comfrey and herbal product line that includes bath salts made with local sea salt and herbs, salve, infused oil and fertilizer. She makes and packages the body products in her lab/kitchen and the fertilizer is made in buckets in the garden by composting the leaves of the comfrey plant.
“I love it when I see people buy my products in twos and threes,” Davila says. “I feel good to be able to give my testimony, knowledge and information to people about the therapeutic value of comfrey.”
In February Davila had the honor of having the Farmers Market at the St. Croix Agricultural Fair named for her. She said she loves working at the fair and has seen it really grow over the years.
Davila also makes wine out of every fruit imaginable and wants to expand her wine making. She said she had to do something with her abundance of fruit. Sea grape wine is her best seller, she said.
She has been taking classes and has attended seminars offered by the V.I. Small Business Development Center to grow her business.
“I’m working towards going international with my products,” Davila said.
Davila was born on St. Croix 53 years ago. She graduated from St. Croix Central High School in 1979 and has a bachelor of arts degree from New Jersey University. She has three grown sons, the youngest of whom is still on St. Croix, helping her in the nursery.
She sells her products and plants at the Farmers Cooperative Market in Beeston Hill. Her therapeutic products are also available at Riddims in Christiansted and the Seventh-day Adventist Book and Health Food Center. She sells by word of mouth and delivers plants directly to the buyer. She said she goes to the Bordeaux Fair on St. Thomas and is a vendor at most of the food fairs on St. Croix and St. Thomas.
“I just want to be financially stable and independent,” Davila said. “And I want to help people by sharing the knowledge I have about healing products.”
She said one day she would like to move to the rain forest, expand and make her own little Utopia there.
“It gives me peace to be out in my yard and nature,” Davila said.
More information about Davila’s products and plants is available by calling her at 340-719-9148 or sending her email at iamisoke@gmail.com.
