Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Oct 18, 2025

Garden Programme producing fresh, organic food in District 7

Garden Programme producing fresh, organic food in District 7

Fresh, organic food is being produced in District 7, as a direct result of the success of the District 7 Garden Programme.

According to a press release from the 7th District Committee on January 25, 2022, the programme, which was launched last May, is well underway with 13 participants growing various “quick” crops under the tutelage of local agriculture expert and entrepreneur Mrs Arona Fahie-Forbes.

Commenting on the progress made with the programme, Deputy Premier, and Representative for the Seventh District, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said, “I am delighted to see not only the crops growing, but also excited to know it is the direct result of the learning taking place. It is proof that participants are not only learning theory, they are actually putting into practice the agricultural principles being taught.”

Food security


The overarching vision of the programme is to increase and improve food security, entrepreneurship, volunteerism and the physical and mental wellbeing of under-resourced residents of District 7.

One major goal is to diversify economic opportunities for residents, the press release stated.

To that end, Honourable Wheatley further commented, “Programme participants are also learning the business side of agriculture as they prepare their crops for a ‘market day’ later this year, where they will package, price and promote their goods.”

The agriculture minister said this particular aspect of the programme will provide both economic and food security to participants.

Apprenticeship


Programme facilitator Mrs Arona Fahie-Forbes said the apprentices officially started in November and “hit the ground running”.

She expressed that she is looking forward to seeing even more great progress on the current crops. These crops include watermelon, corn, tomato, okra, squash, peppers and eggplant.

"The participants are learning much about the process of gardening, in addition to plant fungus and viruses,” Mrs Fahie-Forbes said, adding “They are also learning how to overcome gardening challenges, more specifically the fowls that have been picking out the seedlings and the powdery mildew on some of the plants.”

The facilitator has been working with the apprentices to address these challenges when they meet as a class weekly.

Apprentices give feedback


One of the apprentices, Mr Harvey Anthony said the programme has been challenging, but worth it. He said, “We got to learn the fundamentals of farming - from plowing, clearing the land by raking up and shoveling the rocks, and also weeding. All of this by hand.”

Apprentice Glenn Cherubim said he is learning a lot from what he describes as a ‘back-to-basics’ programme, and that he is happy to be able to provide some food security to his household.

Another apprentice, Icilma Potter, stated, “I see the difference in how plants can thrive when you take care of them. I am impressed to see that even though our crops are small, they are not only budding, but some of the crops are already ready to reap.”

Grading will take place before market day.

How to become an apprentice?


According to the press release, for more information, or to express interest in participating in the District 7 Garden Programme, as an apprentice, or sponsor, contact Programme Coordinator Mrs Roxane Toussaint at 443-6161 or email roxanetoussaint@yahoo.com.

Persons interested in watching the Launch of the District 7 Garden Programme can go to the District 7 United Facebook group or copy and paste this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/District7United/permalink/4114558661916076/.

The D7 Community Garden Programme is in line with the Government of the Virgin Islands’ vision for Agriculture, which contributes to the economic growth, social well-being and protection of the Territory’s natural environment. The project is mainly funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Agriculture and Fisheries.

The District 7 Garden Programme, which was launched last May, is well underway with 13 participants growing various “quick” crops under the tutelage of local agriculture expert and entrepreneur Mrs Arona Fahie-Forbes.

The overarching vision of the programme is to increase and improve food security, entrepreneurship, volunteerism and the physical and mental wellbeing of under-resourced residents of District 7.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
DJI Loses Appeal to Remove Pentagon’s ‘Chinese Military Company’ Label
EU Deploys New Biometric Entry/Exit System: What Non-EU Travelers Must Know
Australian Prime Minister’s Private Number Exposed Through AI Contact Scraper
Ex-Microsoft Engineer Confirms Famous Windows XP Key Was Leaked Corporate License, Not a Hack
China’s lesson for the US: it takes more than chips to win the AI race
Australia Faces Demographic Risk as Fertility Falls to Record Low
California County Reinstates Mask Mandate in Health Facilities as Respiratory Illness Risk Rises
Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Trump-Brokered Gaza Truce, Hostages to Be Freed
French Political Turmoil Elevates Marine Le Pen as Rassemblement National Poised for Power
China Unveils Sweeping Rare Earth Export Controls to Shield ‘National Security’
The Davos Set in Decline: Why the World Economic Forum’s Power Must Be Challenged
France: Less Than a Month After His Appointment, the New French Prime Minister Resigns
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that Hungary will not adopt the euro because the European Union is falling apart.
Sarah Mullally Becomes First Woman Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
×