Thanks to all those that attended this year’s event and those working behind the scenes that helped to make it a wonderful event.
6th Farm-To-Table
Category Archives: Agriculture
Press Release: GEF Small Grants Programme – Increasing Food Security
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) recently received funding from its partner the GEF Small Grants Programme, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme for the project: “Increasing food security by reducing the impact of drought and improving security.”
This 8-month project officially began on 6 February 2023 and will be completed in October 2023.
Focus of the project emphasizes these main areas:
· To increase public awareness about Climate Smart and sustainable Agricultural technology and approaches, by producing and distributing brochures.
· Training Workshops will be conducted using Climate Smart Agricultural Practices.
· Repair and upgrade current hydroponics unit and to construct secured fencing around its perimeter.
· To increase production of crops locally adapted ground provisions such as sweet potatoes and cassava varieties.
Green Business – 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.
GEW2022 – Unleashing Ideas
14-20 Nov- Antigua & Barbuda and across the globe. Join us in celebrating entrepreneurship.
Global Entrepreneurship Week Antigua & Barbuda 2022
November 14th-20th, 2022
Global Organizer of Global Entrepreneurship Week
Schedule for
GEW Antigua & Barbuda 2022
Thursday
Nov 17 2022 – Entrepreneurship Training
Saturday
Nov 19, 2022 – Breakfast & Mini Expo
EbA Project: Training Drone Pilots for Monitoring Ecosystems
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
Video Clip: Beginners Beekeeping Course Sponsored by Mill Reef Fund Continues
Sponsored by Mill Reef Fund
Video Description
Beekeeper Instructor teaching students about the hive and the queen. This was a project undertaken by the non-profit GARD Center and sponsored by Mill Reef Fund of Antigua & Barbuda.
GARD Center CSA Course Highlights – EAG Sponsor
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
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
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
Update of Training Sessions at the GARD Center
Evening training is currently ongoing at the GARD Center in Beginners Beekeeping sponsored by the Mill Reef Fund and Climate Smart Agriculture with Business Enterprise, Hydroponics and Backyard Gardening funded by the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) and the Sandals Foundation. These training sessions are held at the GARD Center in Mercers Creek from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
During these 14 weeks of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) training, participants have been involved in Business Enterprise sessions to include Costing and Pricing, Communication & Marketing, Intellectual Property, Business Plan, Parasitology, Budding and Grafting and Vermiculture. These training courses and are now in their sixth week of training and the participants have been engaged in climate smart discussions and vibrant class sessions. As these courses progress, each participant is eagerly looking forward to more practical hands-on training and field work. In the weeks ahead, participants would also engage in Packaging and Labelling, Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics practicals along with field visits.
Group A – Sponsored by the Sandals Foundation.
Budding & Grafting
Group B- Sponsored by the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG)
Marketing and Communication
Vermiculture 
Parasitology
Over 30 persons have shown interest in 12 weeks of training in Beginners Beekeeping of whom 25 participants are currently receiving the tools and hands-on training to prepare them to begin their apiaries. Each participant will receive the added component of Business Enterprise to include Packaging and Labelling to develop their brand and business idea. During the training participants have shown great enthusiasm in class sessions and a WhatsApp group was created to share information and ask questions to expand on their knowledge in Beekeeping. Each participant constructed their own bee frames and were outfitted with bee suits to carry out a field visit at the Urlings Primary School to remove a beehive. The bees were safely relocated to bee boxes and the honey extracted from the beehive was refined. The beeswax was used to make lip balm and other products and each participant received a sample.
12 Weeks of Training in Beginners Beekeeping sponsored by the Mill Reef Fund
Orientation Day
Orientation 
Orientation Day
Making Lip Balm with Bee’s Wax
Extracting Honey
Making Lip Balm from honey 
Assembling Bee Frames
Using A Bee Smoker
Students watching as how to use the bee smoker is demonstrated.
Field Visit to Urlings Secondary School to Remove Bee Hive
Participants assisted with the removal of a bee hive from the school.
