Ginger Ridge Honeybee project reaps sweet success
Published:Wednesday | May 13, 2015 | 11:27 AM
GINGER RIDGE, St Catherine:
PARTICIPANTS IN the Ginger Ridge Honeybee project had a lot to be proud of recently.
At a special service of appreciation held at the Blue Hole Seventh-day Adventist Church, St Catherine, visitors enjoyed the attractive by-products on display which included honey bun, cakes, honey glazed chicken, among others.
Social Development Commission community development officer for the area Monica Douglas Gardener was overcome with emotions as she viewed the attractive display.
"You don't know how proud I am, look at what they did," she told Rural Xpress, pointing to the various products made by project members.
President of the Ginger Ridge Community Development Committee (CDC) Devon Wilks told the gathering it was a long hard battle to get to where they are now, adding that many times he had thoughts of quitting.
discouragement
There were days when, in trying to mobilise the CDC, he would get discouraged as sometimes it was just two members who turned out.
For trainer Hugh Smith, senior plant protection officer who works in the apiary unit in the Ministry of Agriculture, it was a moment of pride for him.
Apart from the obvious spinoff of generating income for those involved in the project, Smith said it's also a way of helping the natural resources of the area.
"This area is prone to disaster, but the honeybee is seen as pollination and it reduces landslide."
The project saw 20 primary participants and 20 secondary participants (the primary train one member from their own family) to facilitate the expansion of the project.
According to Smith, some have already started earning and there are plans to market the products further afield.
The participants found a sweet way to say thanks to those who helped them on the journey as a song - We Made It - was specially written and performed in tribute to the team that made it happen - Douglas Gardener, Patrice Sterling, Digicel Foundation which donated some $2 million to fund the project and Hugh Smith who was the facilitator in training participants.
They were also presented with specially made plaques from the participants.