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Organic Farming

Bawden Environmental Park

Still Waters Farm.
Located at the foot of a picturesque valley beside two freshwater spring fed ponds 

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We currently cultivate seven acres of land at Bawden. This acreage is devoted to organic vegetable production, with two acres planted in a variety of fruit trees in 2002 by volunteer students of the University of Toronto 

We practice tight, colourful intercropping. Our farm consists of a mixture of Plantain, banana, field peas and Sweet Basil. Aloe vera is also incorporated as a part of our pest deterrant system and the area around our orchard is planted with the pest repelling Neem tree. Cash crops include string beans, cucumber, butternut squash and just about any other crop that we can rotate to increase the viability and integrity of our clay soil. 

Although we have yet to become organically certified, we practice organic pest control. In addition to intercropping and crop rotation, we use natural insecticides such as Neem extract and rely upon natures natural predators to take care of unwanted bugs.
 
Weed control and water retention are vital and we prefer to use the natural mulch of the grass to dress the earth and keep it.

Patience and observation are key in life and on the organic farm and we encourage other farmers to let the experience of organic farming bring this and other character building  virtues into their lives and work.

Groups are invited to tour the farm and learn more about our agricultural practices. We are always looking for volunteers to stay, learn, and help.

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Bawden and the larger farming community in Barbados
The organic Growers and Consumers Association
Food you can trust from farmers that care

Bawden Environment Park is a founding member of two farmers' organizations. 

Our first community involvement was to assist in the creation of St. Andrew's Small Farmers and Cottage Industry Cooperative. The group was registered as a legal Cooperative in April 1997 and now boasts 70 paid members - farmers and artisans who live in Bawden Village and its surrounding communities. The coop's aim is to maintain 600 acres of agricultural land in the region.

We also helped to establish the Barbados Organic Growers and Consumer Association (OGCA). Organic agriculture demands a collaborative approach: our group shares farming experience, knowledge, labour, and marketing information and expertise. Our operations manager, John, has worked as tutor for a CD ROM based organic farming course in collaboration with the Inter American Institute for Co operation in Agriculture(IICA). This course is used as a basic requirement for entry into the OGCA. Several farmers from different parts of the island have graduated this course and have gone on to be a part of our joint marketing program which includes a box delivery scheme and joint public market stall.
New potential farmers and consumers apply to be involved every day and we now have a data base with over 120 names.