Four newly certified plant cultivators were recently ‘unearthed’ at 37 Barry Road, St George’s, as a means of bolstering local food sustainability.
The quartet, which includes Michail Butterfield, Gladwyn Johnson, Charles Ebbin, and Anthony Tuzo, was awarded ‘Sustainable Farming’certificates as part of Focus Counselling Services’ groundbreaking ‘Root & Rise: Healing Earth Project’, which has already proven popular via its ability to provide fresh, low-cost, organically grown plant products to area residents and businesses.
The potentially game-changing initiative is designed as a transformative, community-based recovery, training, and social enterprise initiative.
Butterfield, Johnson, Tuzo and Ebbin each endured three months of sustainable farming theory and practical application under the instruction of Chris Faria, Founder/Director of the AgraLiving Institute, a social enterprise acting locally to improve food security and provide sustainable farming education opportunities.
“It’s been almost three years since we’ve been doing gardening education here on the site,” said Faria during an afternoon award ceremony. “It’s been wonderful to see everything grow, not just the plants among the ecosystem, but also the community and the residents, clients, and administration of Focus Counselling Services.
“It’s been a really positive experience, growing nutrient-dense foods holistically and all the way around, with all of us growing together.”
The most recent graduates of the programmecommenced their training last November, with another batch of trainees due to start apprenticeships in March.
Leslie Grant, Executive Director of Focus, expressed appreciation to The Garden Club of Bermuda for its seed donation, which enabled the project.
“We are extremely grateful to The Garden Club of Bermuda for providing the funding that has given impetus to this project,” he said. “We look forward to continuing our relationship as ‘Root to Rise’ progresses.”
Dianna Chiappa, president of the club, was present at the award ceremony, congratulating each graduate as he received his award.
“I think it’s great what you’re doing here at Focus,” said Chiappa. “I think there’s lot of work that still needs to be done and developed within the plan, but it’s a wonderful start to the overall project.
“To grow your own food is a healthier way of living. It’s cost-effective, because food is expensive. But also it’s a useful skill to learn, one which you can perhaps take and use somewhere else.”
Food sustainability addresses the complex challenge of providing nutritious food for a growing global population while safeguarding the planet’s resources for generations to come. It involves a holistic approach to how food is produced, processed, distributed, and consumed, recognising the interconnectedness of food systems with environmental health and societal well-being. This broad concept encompasses various aspects, from agricultural methods to consumer choices, all contributing to a more balanced relationship between human needs and ecological limits.
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