April 6, 2009 — A handful of people — including a teacher, an agronomist and a community activist — scouted the back lot at Addelita Cancryn Junior High School Saturday morning, intent on finding the optimum spot for a vegetable garden.
"This area floods," said Richard Pluke, Fintac senior agronomist and entomologist, as the group skirted a low area in search of a plot with enough light. Fintrac has worked hand in hand with local farmers for the last four years supplying sustainable technologies.
Wendy Diaz, long-time geography teacher, author and activist, noted it should be "out of the public eye," where it can grow unfettered.
Completing the trio was Chloe Beyer of Grow V.I., a not-for-profit group working to bring together farmers, restaurants and consumers to promote sustainable agriculture. The trio was accompanied by a couple of first-time volunteers. Byers is one of the forces behind the young organization, sending emails encouraging volunteers to help the Bordeaux farmers working on weekends.
Last December the organization showed what could be done using local produce in a lavish dinner. (See "Chefs Showcase Locally Grown Food For Farm-Restaurant Partnership."
The project is many-pronged and aims to yield social and educational benefits, as well as the produce grown on the 20-by-10-foot plot.
The volunteers — Karen Williams and University of the Virgin Islands biology student Idreds Tariq — wandered the grounds as well. Williams said she has one aim in mind.
"It's selfish," she said, "I like to eat."
A tiny addition to the group, not really a volunteer, was Pluke's 2-year-old daughter, Daniela.
"One of the dreams of Grow V.I. is for each school to have a garden," Beyer said before making a reference to Michelle Obama's well-publicized White House garden: "And we now have an opportunity to create one. We can plant a vegetable garden modeled on the first lady's."
Closer to home, the project ties in with the territory's first lady, Cecile deJongh, who is currently overseeing a territory-wide Healthy Living Challenge video contest, stressing the importance of healthy living and developing healthy eating habits.
The public-private initiative has gardens at Gladys Abraham, Lockhart and Jane E. Tuitt elementary schools, Pluke said.
"We hadn't really managed to make the breakthrough to Cancryn until now, with the help of Chloe and the V.I. Grow volunteers," he said. "The gardens are the final result of our composting program."
The group decided on an area where optimal sunlight and water will nourish the plants. Soil is another consideration. Diaz pointed out a small hill that might yield enough soil, but she said she has no idea of its composure. Pluke said he'll send a sample to the States for a test that costs just $26.
"A load of topsoil is $700," he said, a remark met with gasps from the group.
Next weekend Carlos Robles, UVI extension specialist, is scheduled to bring seedlings to the project.
Diaz said the 25 students of her after-school program, Tshwane, will tend the garden this summer, along with the Cancryn School Improvement Committee students.
"They basically try to help create a better living environment," she said. "I'm one of the advisors."
Editor's note: The Source will monitor the progress of the garden with a running account of what's needed, as well as the problems and the successes in the students' and volunteers' efforts.
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