Home Grown Organics - Our first workshop

Our first workshop stemmed from the need to find a more affordable alternative to store-bought organic products.  After all, safe food should be available to everyone regardless of our wallet size. We offered the home grown solution - If you grow it, you know (what went into) it and you get to eat it, share it or sell it with pride and confidence.  And, as we learnt at the workshop, you don't 'bong to have' a garden plot; even a balcony could be set up for growing some of the food needed to sustain a family.  

But the venue was perfect... in every way.  It belonged to an avid horticulturist who had attended the various workshops held by La Souce over the past year.  The orchid garden was simply beautiful and the bromeliads, the most unusual varieties I have ever seen.  Interesting features like the stone-filled tyres forming a pathway to the kitchen garden where we planted the herbs and the tree stump that was repurposed as a home for a stunning assortment of bromeliads... and the pond built by La Souce at their last workshop.  This was Some of our participants were able to purchase a few plants.

Tree stump repurposed in a magnificent way

As the aroma of Appolonia's Select Organic coffee filled the air (special thanks to Ryan and Appolonia Stollmeyer for supplying us with samples ) as participants began to arrive, excited to meet one another and the organizers.  In fact, I have not seen a more enthusiastic gathering in a long time.

Nicholas Mohammed

Jameel and Ciele of Green Thumb provided the seedlings which participants would later sow into the new organic bed under the guidance of Carlson of La Souce.   Following brief introductions, the first speaker Nicholas address took the floor, delivering a dynamic introduction to organic gardening as he focused on the need to treat the earth and all the creatures dependent on it with care and consideration.  Organisms work hard to make soil healthy for plants to grow as well as pests and  how to encourage natural predation in our gardens (think ladybugs devouring the dreaded mealybug).  According to the IUCN human activity has already forced 869 animal species into extinction.  Nicholas' plea was, "don't kill them, just control them'. 

The next speaker wished not be highlighted on the internet and so his name will be withheld but we must acknowledge his erudite contribution on selection of plant species and varieties for the soil available.  His simple, sensible message: "Instead of planting what we want to grow (we should) ask, what does the soil want to grow?"  

Gillian Goddard

Our third speaker held our attention for over an hour.  This special lady's name is apparently synonymous with 'organic lifestyle' in T&T because everytime I had spoken to someone about the We Organic TT journey,  they referred me to Gillian Goddard, '...she owns a cocoa estate, Sun Eaters organics' and 'that's the person you need to speak to'.   And as she spoke, I understood the reason.  Gillian is dedicated to living a zero waste and organic lifestyle and  to helping others along the path.  She works with the farmers with the Alliance of Rural Communities (ARCTT) who prepare 100% organic CSA baskets every other week.


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John Stollmeyer

We were fortunate to also have in attendance John Stollmeyer of Wa Samaki Permaculture Eco-Systems, the focus of a recent movie, Quiet Revolution, by Rhonda Chan Soo and Edward Inglefield.  Wa Samaki has become a teaching and learning hub for ecological agriculture and sustainable community-based living.   Their next Permaculture Design Course will be held over 2 weeks in March 2017.  Read more

Participants listening attentively

Carlson Teloka

Carlson Teloka conducted the practical session with discussion and demonstration of each step:  The quality and composition of the soil required for growing organics, how to prepare the ground for proper drainage, how to select and plant the seedlings.  Some participants assisted in preparing the organic vegetable/herb bed and planting the seedlings while others took photos.

Armed with a lot of new knowledge to put into practice at the end, all agreed it was a day well spent.

Preparing the bed for planting