On Sunday afternoon, 42 people young and old arrived at Green VI’s EcoPark in Tortola for the second “No Dig Farming and Composting” workshop presented by English agricultural educator Charles Dowding.
The crowd listened to Mr. Dowding give advice on sustainable methods for growing food and for composting in the Virgin Islands before asking their own questions. Then, Mr. Dowding, with the help of some volunteers, made a new soil bed with the compost that was ready at the EcoPark.
The free workshop was part of an ongoing series hosted across the territory by Green VI in collaboration with BVI Farmers Network. Already, 83 people have registered to participate, and more activities are coming soon, according to Green VI.
“Charles is one part of a series of workshops that we’re going to be hosting over the next two years,” said Green VI Executive Director Charlotte McDevitt. “And it’s really to strengthen what’s already being catalysed with organics management. And so we’re also going to be hosting workshops with local farmers, regional farmers, and [Green VI Senior Project Manager Natasha Harrigan].”
Social media
Through a grant provided by Green VI, the BVI Farmers Network brought Mr. Dowding to demonstrate the “no dig” farming advice that he shares on social media platforms like YouTube, where he has more 700,000 subscribers.
“Before even Charles came, we’ve been making an effort to divert the amount of organic material that would end up at our landfill,” Ms. Harrigan said.
This effort, she added, began at several public schools, each of which received compost bins.
Additionally, Green VI has partnered with the Department of Waste Management and the Department of Agriculture on a project to make mulch out of bush and yard cuttings.
Composting advice
During the Sunday workshop, Mr. Dowding said the VI is optimal for composting because heat is vital to the process.
“You want your compost to heat materials — to pack down on each other — and then you get more contact between everything,” he said.
He also encouraged composters to get creative in attaining organic waste, suggesting that they collect it from neighbours and friends.
Other advice included encouraging participants to cover their soil beds with cardboard to eliminate weeds. And beginners, he said, should start small.
‘No dig’ farming
In addition to giving advice on composting, Mr. Dowding encouraged attendees to embrace “no dig” farming, which involves replenishing topsoil with compost at planting time.
Attendee Marc Downing, who has been composting for about 10 years, said he found the workshop useful.
“It’s great to meet somebody who’s really done this and has had results,” Mr. Downing told the Beacon.
“I think if you do things in a more natural way, you’re going to get good results.”
After the workshop concluded, each attendee picked out two organic seed packages to take home. The seeds will also be available for attendees at the upcoming workshops this week, Ms. McDevitt said.
Separating waste
Mr. Dowding also explained how composting benefits the entire territory by reducing the waste stream.
“As an island here, there’s not any room here because they’re running out of landfill,” he said.
He added that he planned to address the matter with government officials.
“Part of my mission is to persuade the [agriculture and fisheries junior] minister, Dr. Karl Dawson, to take on board the need to compost,” he said.
Supermarkets, he added, should also join the effort.
Mr. Downing agreed.
“I think government needs to get involved to support [composting] somehow,” he said.
Soil imports
Green VI also plans to use composting projects to reduce the amount of soil imported into the territory.
“Eventually, we’re hoping to phase in a lot of the food material that would have been taken to the landfill as well,” Ms. Harrigan said. “And we’re hoping to make that into compost, which is really good fertilised soil, which could be used in farming and gardening. We do bring in soil a lot, so we’re hoping to reduce the amount of soil coming in and actually reduce the amount of organic waste that will sit on landfill and just be able to utilise that.”
Ms. McDevitt agreed that such steps can make a big difference in the territory.
“About 50 percent of what goes to our dumpsites is organic, and it should be diverted to make either mulch or compost,” Ms. McDevitt said. “It’s a nobrainer, really.”
Getting involved
In addition to participating in the workshops, Ms. Harrigan encouraged VI residents to “get involved in the school gardens.”
Interested residents, she added, do not need to know a lot about farming.
“So even if they don’t feel like they’re expert farmers, and they just have an interest — we’re willing to work with these persons in the school gardens to assist them with learning new skills or new techniques,” she said.