Feature on Antigua and Barbuda Point Express Newspaper
Feature on Antigua and Barbuda Point Express Newspaper
Category Archives: Donations
Press Release: GARD Center Handover of Hydroponics Video
Video of the GARD Center handover of Hydroponics Unit to Pares Secondary School. Funded and in partnership with the Global Environmental Facility Small Grant Program (GEF SGP)
Posted on the Facebook Page of
Antigua Ministry of Agriculture, Lands,
Fisheries & The Blue Economy
(June 3, 2025)
Press Release: Pares Secondary Receives Hydroponic Unit from GARD Center
May 28, 2025 – Antigua News Article- Pares Secondary Receives Hydroponic Unit from GARD Center
Antigua Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs Said: On Tuesday 27th May, the GARD Center donated the first of three hydroponic units. The recipient was the Pares Secondary School, one of the participants of a previously held training.
Project Sponsored by The GEF Small Grants Program
Press Release: Donation by Zemotec Inc. to Pares Agriculture Dept
GARD Center would like to thank Andy Wetherill of Zemotec Inc. for the kind contribution of funds for Agricultural Equipment which was donated to the Pares Secondary School’s Agricultural Department. Pares Secondary School’s Agri-Science teachers and students will benefit from this equipment as they will now be able to plant and maintain a thriving garden into the foreseeable future.
GEF SGP Highlights of 2023 GARD Center’s Project Field Visits
GARD Center GEF Small Grants Programme project themed : “Increasing food security by reducing the impact of drought and improving security.” practical training on field visit to Blaire Christian’s Backyard Garden in Bolans April 20, 2023
GARD Center GEF Small Grants Programme project themed : “Increasing food security by reducing the impact of drought and improving security.” practical training on field visit to Birchfield Osborne’s Backyard Garden in McKinnons, May 9, 2023
Composting Demonstration with Facilitator Ms. Efuru Elihu, a Backyard Gardening Technician in the Ministry of Agriculture
Press Release: Pares Community
Food Security Community Project – Pares Village and Sandals Foundation
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.
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
