Every acre is becoming ever more precious in an increasingly packed Bermuda — meaning one overgrown field behind homes in Devonshire really puts the "waste" into "wasteland".

Nobody knows that more than local MP Glenn Blakeney, the Environment Minister, who's hoping the land at Greenwich Lane can now be handed over to farmers for grass cultivation.

He believes this would both offer a shot in the arm to the Island's agricultural industry — allowing farmers to grow and sell grass for lawns — and tidy up a spot which has long looked messy.

"The farming community is all looking for more agricultural land; they identified this as a place they would like to use," Mr. Blakeney told The Royal Gazette.

The land was once a farm, but became badly overgrown until it was tidied up by the Hustle Truck around a year ago; it's since grown back.

"Having seen it once be a farm, and manicured as a farm would be done, to see the overgrowth, it frustrated people," said the Minister.

"Private owners are now looking at revenue from grass cultivation for lawns. I approached [Works] Minister [Derrick] Burgess; they are going to put out a tender so farmers who have shown an interest will get an opportunity to bid."

Farmer Tom Wadson told this newspaper the project sounds very viable and there's a lot of money to be made cultivating grass in Bermuda.

Last week, environment campaigner Stuart Hayward heavily criticised Government's Bermuda Plan 2008, which paves the way for clusters of multi-storey buildings outside the city in an attempt to cope with the Island's growing demands.

Reacting to the grass cultivation proposal yesterday, Mr. Hayward said: "Almost any land converted to crop production is a good idea. Food cultivation is a better idea than grass, for addressing our own food deficit and for retaining/expanding the skill-pool of food farming.

"Putting land into the hands of farmers seems a good idea, though the devil is always in the details. It would be good if the land is designated as cropland in perpetuity."

Fellow BEST member Aran McKittrick said: "The whole idea that horticultural production of this variety is somehow good for the environment and green is a misnomer. Growing grass and harvesting it in the manner done in Bermuda, according to many agriculturalists and farmers alike, removes the vital top soil from the land and removes vital nutrients from it as well. More importantly it does nothing to make us more self sufficient as an Island."

Mr. Blakeney could also use his Ministerial position to bring back to life Government's Community Areas Programme — a move sure to be popular with MPs clamouring for playgrounds to be rejuvenated in their constituencies. Ironically, one area near Mr. Blakeney's Mary Victoria Road was next in line for transformation before the programme was suspended under then Minister Elvin James in 2007.

"I just need to find some money out of my budget," said Mr. Blakeney, who lamented how wear and tear had made his former playground unsafe.

Taking this newspaper on a tour of Devonshire North Central, the MP also pointed to a proposed initiative aiming to encourage some Mary Victoria Road residents to take greater care of their surroundings.

Ways are being sought to help tenants buy their homes, said Mr. Blakeney, who noted residents often take exceptional pride in their area when they can fully consider their home their own, compared to those moving from place to place across the Island.

Government will discuss the matter with Bermuda Housing Corporation, he said. "It's realistic that it can happen. There's got to be a meeting of the minds," said Mr. Blakeney.

Complaints of youths congregating in that street have ceased after the introduction of a CCTV camera, added the Minister. Elsewhere in Constituency 13, a bus stop has been introduced outside Prospect Primary School, where children previously had to walk across a busy road; security has also been stepped up with a perimeter fence around the school.

Unemployment was another key issue raised by residents; with Mr. Blakeney speaking to three jobless young men hanging out on Cedar Park Road.

Urging them to book an appointment through his secretary, he hoped they could be found opportunities, possibly in construction; he said he tries to help young men by giving them tips on interviewing skills.

And doing well in an interview is not just about having all the right answers up your sleeve.

"No pants down below your a**. Come looking like you work," Mr. Blakeney told the three young men.

Next week's Up Your Street visits Sandys South Central. Residents of that constituency who would like to comment should e-mail tsmith@royalgazette.bm.