Author Archives: GARDC Admin

Call for Expressions of Interest to join the OAS Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Project

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Announcing to the OECS member states of Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines the Call for Expressions of Interest to join the OAS Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Project. This project targets women-owned and women-led Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and is designed to empower women to actively participate in and benefit from the digital economy and to build sustainable livelihoods.

By participating in this project, women entrepreneurs will have access to mechanisms and various opportunities for digitizing their businesses, building an online presence, accessing financial services, accessing international markets, among others. Cutting edge information on relevant topics for business development as well as mentoring programs will be provided and direct access to a MSME Clearinghouse which provides toolkits and resources to access the digital economy, financial opportunities and partnerships. A National Working Group has been established in each country made up of partner institutions to provide support to businesses.

MSME Women entrepreneurs operating within these member countries, are invited to apply at https://forms.gle/E5h5GrVcVrxchsyi9. This registration link will remain open until April 27, 2023.

The better equipped our women entrepreneurs are, the greater their impact on economic growth and development of their families and communities.

The OAS WEE project encourages wide circulation to all eligible women. For more information, contact the Caribbean Project Manager, Lizra Fabien at LFabien@oas.org. 

Green Business – Vetiver Engineering and Value-Added Products

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View Full Article – Vetiver Engineering and Value Added Products

From its inception in 2020 EbA Project Partner IAMovement has engaged directly through our CBO/NGOs with the ten communities in the four implementing countries in business opportunities utilizing vetiver systems, handicraft and product development. To date the Project has engaged with more than three hundred community residents in either VS-VEEP installations and nursery operations and /or Handicraft Training.

EbA Project: Training Drone Pilots for Monitoring Ecosystems

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  • Participants viewing drone, while standing is Craig Thomas, National Specialist IICA Antigua & Barbuda (Photos Courtesy of IICA Antigua)
  • Dr. Broadbent of University of Florida on the left is the ‘drone training facilitator’
    (Photos Courtesy of IICA Antigua)

View Full Article – IICA -Training Drone Pilots Sept 2022

One of our many partners IICA Antigua and Barbuda, has started a training program of 9 drone pilots here in Antigua and Barbuda. These pilots are to help with the collection of information regarding the EbA project here in Antigua and Barbuda.

Additional Photos:

Drone Training Facebook Post – Antigua Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs

GARD Center CSA Course Highlights – EAG Sponsor

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Our Sponsor for this Project

The Center has successfully completed 14 weeks of training in Community Climate Smart Agriculture with special focus on Business, Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics. This training sponsored by the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) focused on the communities of the North, East Marine Management Area (NEMMA). The course commenced on 31st May 2022 with sessions held every Tuesday – Thursday from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at GARD Center. 

The latter part of the training encouraged participants to engage in practical, hands-on training and field visits were made to Hydroponics Farms and Backyard Gardens. The practical components also saw persons constructing raised beds, a compost bin, and a Mini Hydroponics unit as part of a Start-Up Kit. Additionally, participants engaged in planting seeds as well as transplanting seedlings into raised beds as part of their practical sessions. 


The Completion Ceremony for the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) was held on Wednesday 31st August 2022 at GARD Center and 8 out of 11 trainees receive certificates, a Mini Hydroponics and Backyard Garden Start-Up Kit with other complimentary tools to assist with their Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics journey.    

Practical Sessions and Field Visits for Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics Class Sessions

Bowen’s Hydroponics Field Visit

SHAADE Hydroponics Field Visit

Backyard Gardening Field Visit to Mr. Osborne’s Property

  • \Mr. Osborne’s Backyard Gardening

Crabbs Plant Nursery Field Visit

Cleaning GARDC Hydroponics System

Exploring Types of Hydroponic Systems

Finding Donkey Manure for Raised Garden Beds

Building Raised Beds

Constructing Compost Bin Using Pallets

Planting Cuttings of Flower Plants Using Powder in Perlite

Volunteering and Planting Seedlings

CSA Course Highlights – Sandals Foundation Sponsor

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Our Sponsor for this Project

The Sandals Foundation sponsored 20 persons in Climate Smart Agriculture for Youth with Hydroponics and saw 14 successful participants who received training. The course started on 30th May 2022 and sessions were held every Monday – Wednesday from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at GARD Center. 

The latter part of the training encouraged participants to engage in practical, hands-on training. In addition, field visits were made to Hydroponics Farms and Backyard Gardens. The practical components of the course encouraged persons to construct raised beds and a Mini Hydroponics Unit as part of a Start-Up Kit. Another part of the practical sessions encouraged participants to engaged in planting seeds as well as transplanting seedlings into raised beds. 


The course ended with a Completion Ceremony on Wednesday 31st August 2022 at GARD Center and the participants received a Mini Hydroponics and Backyard Garden Start-Up Kit with other complimentary tools to assist with their Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics journey. 

Completion Ceremony

Group photo with sponsor (Sandals Foundation), Ministry of Agriculture Representative, Trainees and GARD Center Staff



Hydroponics top student award, Fellisa Simon

Building Raised Garden Beds

  • Practical session and field visit for Back Yard Gardening & Hydroponics. Building of raised garden beds
  • Planting of Seeds

Introduction to the Hydroponics System

Backyard Gardening Field Visit to Mr. Osborne