Sandals, Beaches help Esher Primary establish farm

LUCEA, Hanover:

In an effort to boost the agricultural production at several primary schools in Hanover and Westmoreland, the Sandals and Beaches Resorts in Negril have launched a subsistence farming programme dubbed 'Schools Go Green in 2014'.

The Esher Primary School in Lucea, Hanover, was the first to benefit from the initiative recently, with the creation of a vegetable garden. Cabbage, lettuce, pak choi, cucumber, and peppers are among the crops that were introduced, and tomatoes and several herbs are to be added.

A team from Sandals and Beaches Resorts visited the school and provided seeds and seedlings, prepared the land, and worked alongside several students to plant the vegetables. Repair work was also completed on the fence and gate surrounding the farm.

Principal of the Esher Primary School, Lesbia Phillips, lauded the initiative. She said the institution, which has 540 students, provides lunch each day - some free of cost to needy students - and as a result, a large portion of ground provisions and vegetables are purchased.

"If we are able to produce a significant amount of our food, we will be able to cut costs and channel those funds into other areas of the school's development," said Phillips.

Vice-Principal Desiree Brissett said the garden space has been available for approximately three years but that successive periods of drought had hindered its usage.

GRATEFUL FOR ASSISTANCE

"We have had several groups promise to help us get the garden started, but those plans did not materialise for several reasons. In addition, the fence and gate were in need of repair in order to protect the area from stray animals, so we are grateful to the Sandals and Beaches Negril team for volunteering their time, money, and services to assist us," Phillips said.

Regional public relations manager for Sandals Resorts in Negril, Kendra Johnson, said at least another two schools would be targeted for the project this year.

She said Esher Primary was selected as one of the participants in the programme because of the needs they had identified and the fact that they already had the requisite land space.

"They also have very active 4-H and Environment clubs, which could stand to benefit significantly from a project of this nature. It is also an opportunity for all the students to understand how to nurture the plants in their environment, eat healthier, and acquire skills that will help them to provide for themselves in the future if the need arises," she said.

"We are very excited about it and we will definitely make sure we water the garden every day so we can have lots of vegetables to eat," shared Michael Griffiths, a prefect and a member of the Environment Club.

Throughout the school year, assess-ments will be conducted to determine the viability of the programme, and new crops will be planted to enhance meal options for students and staff.