Faux A Chaux residents continue to benefit from a series of theoretical and practical training geared at improving the economic empowerment of parents enrolled in the Community After School Backyard Kitchen Garden Programme.
The empowerment comes from months of agricultural training that saw participants learning crop cultivation techniques, resulting in the eventual harvesting of fresh produce that their households will consume.
The initiative comes as a result of a partnership with the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, the Saint Lucia Conservation Fund (SLUNCF) and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund.
Social Transformation Officer for Castries Central and South, Fredora Justin-Alcindor says, “for some people, backyard gardening is just another hobby, but for the participants of the Faux A Chaux Afterschool Programme Community Kitchen Garden Project it is a vehicle for cultivating community and soil. It also provides participants with a means to grow what they eat. When I think of community empowerment, I think of projects such as these, that unify the public sector, private sector, and disadvantaged communities.”
The Kitchen Garden project began with a comprehensive three-day training in agricultural best practices for the programme’s 30 parents. In addition to cultivating crops, the programme also serves as a vital bridge in helping to unite the community.
“This is going to bring the community back together. Many people have the notion that when you hear Faux A Chaux it is not something good. However, as a community any time we have a project we get together and we execute it together as one big family.”
With the theme ‘Cultivating Community and Soil,’ the project seeks to encourage deeper community values and a greater appreciation for growing what we eat. Participants learned soil types, alternative methods of small-scale gardening, compost-making, and the application processes. They also got an opportunity to visit an established farm to gain a better understanding of how a farm operates.
“I am hoping that it benefits me more in understanding about agriculture and way in which I can manifest it in the community and develop ourselves because it is beneficial for the whole community as well and the youth coming up in the community as well,” noted participant Shane Verneuil.
The project included at least two farmers’ markets and will conclude with a graduation ceremony. The farmland for the community garden was donated by former Agriculture Minister the late Ira D’ Auvergne, with monetary contributions totaling $5500 coming from Sandals Grande, the Saint Lucia Air and Seaport Authority (SLASPA) and the Saint Lucia National lottery.