Augustine and Thalie were the plantation's enslaved Sick Nurses, responsible for the community's general care. With no formal training, these women relied on experience, treating their fellow slaves with African and Western medicine. If their methods failed or there was an accident, they would ask permission to summon Dr Merricq.

The agriculture on the plantation relied on crops that originated from Africa, such as okra and cowpeas, as well as crops that were introduced by European settlers, such as cabbage and corn. Watermelon, which is thought to have originated in southern Africa, was also grown on the plantation, and its sweet fruit and spreading vines required a great deal of space to develop.

Sweet potatoes originated in Middle/South America and were routinely grown in plantation gardens for sweet or savoury dishes, and they remain popular today. Mustard greens were also an integral part of an enslaved person's diet, rich in nutrients and easy to grow, serving as a substitute for the greens available in Western African regions.

Pret-a-boire was born into slavery around 1799, first designated as a house enslaved person before being repeatedly demoted to the ox-cart driver and, finally, to the lowest class of field enslaved person. His life became increasingly difficult with each demotion, and he developed debilitating rheumatism and asthma. Despite these challenges, Pret-a-boire persisted and found small moments of joy in cultivating crops like cowpeas and okra and caring for the plantation's animals.

The story of Augustine, Thalie, and Pret-a-boire offers a glimpse into the complex and often brutal reality of life for enslaved people on sugar plantations. Yet, despite their unimaginable challenges, enslaved people relied on their knowledge and traditions to care for each other. As a result, they found ways to find small moments of joy and solace amid unimaginable adversity.