Minister Quincia Gumbs-Marie
It is harvesting time and staff of Zenaida Haven are very proud of the produce grown having been selected to be part of Fork Farm Hydro-Ponic Project. On September 16th 2023 Zenaida Haven was air-marked as one of the recipients for one of the Fork Farm hydro-ponic systems. On 23rd November 2023, the system was officially handed over to the Centre by the project manager Ms. Isabel Rosario, Natural Resources Officer 1 – Plant Protection. Ms. Rosario assisted in setting up the system and in the days following bok choy and parsley seeds were sowed.
Ms. Rosario checked in periodically and made phone calls to ensure that the project was being managed as intended. At times it felt like baby-sitting however, the process was enjoyed by those involved. The requirements of adding nutrients, making sure the PH level was what it needed to be and adding water when necessary became easier as time went on.
On Wednesday 3rd January 2024 Ms. Rosario and Minister of Sustainability, Innovation & the Environment, Hon Quincia Gumbs-Marie returned to assist with the harvesting of the bok choy and parsley grown. Both Minister Gumbs-Marie and Ms. Rosario were elated with the results of the yield at Zenaida Haven. Mr. John Millington, Juvenile Care Worker and lead on this project, took the opportunity to discuss with Minister Gumbs-Marie the Centre’s Grow it, Eat it Project established some years ago; seeking assistance for a green-house in support of the project. She was happy to hear of the Centre’s vision for agriculture as part of rehabilitation and is willing to provide assistance where she can. Minister Gumbs- Marie and Ms. Rosario are pleased with the progress Zenaida Haven is making in agriculture.
Mr. John Millington
Juvenile Care Worker
