Food security and farming became pressing issues in The Bahamas and for the first time, the country had faced a food crisis of a magnitude never experienced. The catastrophe caused by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 and COVID-19 in March 2020 presented extraordinary challenges that the One Eleuthera Foundation readily embraced.
Nearly 14,000 people were displaced by Hurricane Dorian after the category-5 storm devastated parts of Grand Bahama and the Abacos. Six months later, The Bahamas temporarily closed their borders for 3 months, reopened in July, and with the new surge of COVID-19 cases, again closed inter-island borders. These actions deemed necessary to save lives, placed tremendous pressure on the economy, the people, and greater demand for obtaining food whether purchased or donated.
Approximately 25% of this small island nation population has been marginalized by the pandemic and Hurricane Dorian. It was reported by Hands For Hunger that more than 100,000 people faced food insecurity because of increased poverty and 1 in 10 people have just $4 a day to spend on food. Unemployment levels exceeded more than 40% by July 2020 and are oftentimes higher on the islands outside of New Providence. Farms, feeding programs, and NGOs became essential for survival.
The One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) had developed a Hurricane Dorian Relief (HDR) Program that assisted 600 evacuees mainly from Abaco who were temporarily resettling on Eleuthera while they rebuilt their homes and lives. The almost $1 million program assisted in housing, schooling, retraining, employment, meals, and expansion of their farm.
From their inception in 2009, One Eleuthera had always paved the way towards strengthening communities and planning for the future. They worked with partner organizations to establish small gardens with the Cancer Society of Eleuthera and the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) and both spaces also supported farmer's markets.
In 2012, they started a holistic 5-acre farm at the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) in Rock Sound. Known as "The Farm at CTI," it has served the communities in Central and South Eleuthera as a supplier, a marketplace and it became a visitor's destination. As part of CTI's training program, students gained experience in solar panel installations, in agriculture and as chefs preparing healthy meals for the Tea Room restaurant that promoted a farm to table experience. When the evacuees arrived in Rock Sound, they too had access to healthy meals and farm-grown produce.
"We were always involved in local and national conversations that dealt with food security and health issues," said CEO Shaun Ingraham. "In 2012 when we started our Pathway to Wellness series the experts clarified that 60% of all deaths in The Bahamas were a result of non-communicable diseases (NCD). These NCDs are hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, and accounted for half of all deaths of people 45 years and older. That being said, we needed to offer a solution and part of it was growing fruits and vegetables and encouraging backyard farming."
Healthy foods were accessible when the island's borders were closed and under the HDR Program, the farm had expanded its infrastructure with new programs as well as employing two experienced Dorian evacuees who had extensive farming experience.
Farmers Michael Lightbourn and Deon Gibson's livelihoods in Abaco had been jeopardized by Hurricane Dorian and they had welcomed the opportunity to join the team at CTI. Lightbourn is the sustainability officer and agricultural engineer while Gibson is the agricultural manager at The Farm at CTI.
A decade ago, Lightbourn installed a 1200-plant site vertical hydroponic system that allowed Lightbourn Family Farms to provide a variety of mixed greens year-round to the local community. Later, he contributed to the Bakers Bay and Schooner Bay agriculture programs and joined in on a venture with friends to grow year-round greens and plant fruit trees orchards.
"The Farm at CTI was like a canvas - artwork that wasn't complete. Everything was laid out and it just needed to expand to become more functional. I saw an opportunity to make it a more regenerative farm that would lead to more sustainability."
Lightbourn said that they have completed the installation of a 4,000-plant site hydroponic system, completion of the grow beds with irrigation systems and a 7,000-watt solar system was recently powered up for the farm's needs. According to Lightbourn they are maximizing the space and growing a large variety of crops using various agriculture techniques in minimal space. They are creating a hybrid of traditional in-ground row cropping and vertical hydroponics that earmarks greater crop diversity and an extended growing season. They have also created 4 acres of citrus and other tropical fruit trees that surround the 1-acre growing area.
In Deon Gibson’s case, he had also left Abaco due to the extensive storm damage caused by Dorian and the lack of safe accommodations where he had resided. He had obtained training in sustainable agriculture while in Cuba and Vermont, USA. He worked at Bakers Bay where he contributed to a 100-bird laying flock and a 1.5-acre fruit orchard and 1 acre of row crops. Gibson assists with the beekeeping program at The Farm at CTI and is helping to establish poultry farming. He offers his insight on the effects of Hurricane Dorian and the food supply chain.
"Dorian was the worst hurricane we have had. It showed our reliance on imported food which is such a crippling factor to us. When the food stores weren't able to open, people looked to the farms to supply them," said Gibson. "As well, many backyard gardens were started and we were happy to work with those in the communities."
The Farm at CTI uses diversity and regenerative agriculture methods like composting, building, and improving soil life and improving biodiversity in the ecosystem. The birds that visit the farm help take care of pest management and only organic pesticide spraying is used when necessary. Neem is one of the important ingredients used for pesticide management and those trees had originated from the Abaco Neem Farm. The pollination by honeybees helps the flowers produce fruits and seeds and the honey that is pulled from the hives is sold for consumption. The beekeeping operations started with 4 hives and through a grant that the One Eleuthera Foundation was able to secure, they plan to expand the operations to about 20 hives over the next two years. A Global Environment Fund (GEF) grant will assist with a processing facility.
"Part of the concept was to put together different growing methods," said Gibson. "A regular farm grows dedicated crops while the Farm at CTI grows vegetables, fruits, and flowers.
Although the crops are seasonal, The Farm at CTI is working towards a yearly production of goat peppers, kale, collard greens, cabbage, beets, string beans, swiss chard, eggplant, a variety of romaine, salad mix, grape tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, parsley, basil, cilantro, mint, thyme, oregano, dill, radishes, okra, bananas, pomegranate, mulberry, papaya, citrus, and sugar cane.
The One Eleuthera Foundation is the government recognized NGO for the island of Eleuthera for the national Food Security Task Force and they have also participated in various food programs in The Bahamas. One Eleuthera's partner, SEEP (South Eleuthera Emergency Partners a non-profit) recently secured a 1,000-gallon fire truck that will also offer support to local farmers to improve the quality and quantity of food they produce.
Ingraham added, "We are part of the regenerative farming solution and continually seek ways to improve farming for the betterment of our planet."
The Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) is the first and only postsecondary, non-profit, training, and business enterprise institution on Eleuthera. They encourage growth and development for learners to become better citizens and to contribute to building a vibrant economy for the island of Eleuthera and The Bahamas. More information is available on www.oneeleuthera.org/projects/CTI.
The One Eleuthera Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2012 to identify, invest in, and strengthen projects that improve the island of Eleuthera and further its economic, environmental, and social development. Additionally, they support projects on other islands like New Providence and in the wider Bahamas. One Eleuthera is a successful NGO with operations in The Bahamas and in the US that has 501(c)(3) status. More information is available on www.oneeleuthera.org.
This article is part 3 of a 3-part Hurricane Dorian "Reflections" series.
Part 1: "Reflections: Evacuees and Economy Get Boost From One Eleuthera" is available at https://bit.ly/2P6oqYK
Part 2: Reflections: Strong Communities Helped Dorian Evacuees Get Through Personal Storm. Available at https://bit.ly/2PI8hc1
Deon Gibson, agriculture manager at One Eleuthera's The Farm at CTI (right) is seen cultivating a kale crop. Photo provided by OEF.
The Farm at CTI uses solar to power the timers and zone control for the hydroponic growing system to automate the watering schedule. The panels were installed by students at CTI as part of their training program. Where you traditionally put one plant in the ground, we have 16 – 20 plants in a vertical tower. Photo supplied by OEF.
A variety of the organic vegetables that were grown at The Farm at CTI in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. Shown are cassava, parsnips, beans, peppers, papaya, cabbage, and beets. Photo provided by OEF
Written by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry
