Blogs

St. Croix Source  ::  Sera Harold Drevenak and Paul Chakroff

If you have ever enjoyed a stroll on the beach or snorkeled over the coral reefs, you can thank the parrotfish. 


These colorful creatures create much of the sand on the Caribbean’s idyllic shores and keep the brilliant reefs healthy. In an intricate underwater partnership, parrotfish feed on algae that otherwise smother reefs. They also clear the way for corals to re-grow by chewing off tiny bits of coral skeleton, which are then excreted as sand. One parrotfish can create up to 200 pounds of sand each year.


Yet these important reef dwellers -- critical to the survival of endangered corals -- are plummeting to dangerously low population levels. People are fishing for them faster than they can reproduce.


And parrotfish are not the only fish in trouble. Many other Caribbean species, including red and Nassau grouper, are imperiled. Others, such as queen conch and vermilion snapper, are at risk of depletion.


Fortunately, the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, which sets fishing policies in U.S. Virgin Island waters, is considering new rules to place limits on catch of 35 species. Public hearings are set for 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 20 at the Buccaneer Hotel in St. Croix and July 21 at the Windward Passage Holiday Inn on St. Thomas. A final vote could come later this year.


Fishery managers must act decisively to help restore fish species to healthy levels for the sake of the ocean ecosystem and future fishing and tourism opportunities. Decades of overfishing in the Caribbean threaten to destroy a paradise that draws millions of tourists and powers the economy.


Studies already have linked the staggering decline of coral reefs to overfishing, and unsustainable fishing rates are the most likely cause of the loss of large predator fish, such as Nassau grouper. We must ensure we are not catching fish faster than they can replenish themselves, and that means setting sustainable fishing levels.


This isn’t the first time fishery managers have acted to end overfishing. For instance, in 1990, they set restrictions on some fishing gear and prohibited the catch of some fish. And in 2005, fishing limits for still other species were enacted but not made binding.


The current proposal is a stronger plan to halt overfishing. It’s a more cautious approach that also carries more effective tools to ensure the plan works and is enforced. It is based on recommendations from government scientists and the Council’s science advisory panel. And Caribbean islands will get their own individual limits and rules. That means what happens in Puerto Rico won’t impact fishermen in St. Croix.


The proposed rules may reduce catches between 10 and 25 percent, depending on the species. The cuts aren’t expected to significantly harm the fishing industry, although individual fishermen may feel some economic impacts. Those affected, however, may be able to supplement their income through legislation that is gaining steam in the U.S. Congress.


About 60 lawmakers, including V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen, are pushing the Coastal Jobs Creation Act -- $80 million over five years to help fishermen while depleted fish populations are restored. The measure would create jobs for fishermen to perform research with scientists, remove marine debris, revitalize ports and participate in projects to restore fish habitat.


Caribbean waters are teeming with life and it benefits everyone to safeguard the jewels of this region. If we are responsible stewards, we will be rewarded with bountiful fish and a flourishing economy for years to come.


And enough parrotfish can continue their delicate dance that makes Caribbean reefs and beaches some of the most stunning places in the world.

Sera Harold Drevenak grew up in St. Croix as an avid angler and diver. She is a senior policy analyst with the Pew Environment Group and lives in North Carolina. Paul Chakroff is executive director of the St. Croix Environmental Association and member of the board of the Virgin Islands Conservation Society.

St. Croix Source  ::  James Gardner

While police officials, lawmakers and the governor try to find solutions to stop the recent spike in juvenile crime, NFL legend Roland Williams thinks he may have something to help: football.

With his two Super Bowl championship rings flashing in the sunlight, Williams spent the last few days running around the UVI field, teaching hundreds of kids the ins and outs of the game and what kind of life skills they will need to make it to the top. The three-day camp, well stocked with a number of pro athletes, was sponsored by Williams' organization, Youth Lifeline America, which brings both high-profile stars and community members together to empower children.

In just a few short days, it looked like the athletes' teachings were beginning to make an impact. Balls were soaring farther, passes were crisper and teammates were encouraging one another on the field. With many local camps usually featuring pro baseball or basketball stars, it appeared that in an interest in football in the territory was beginning to make a comeback.

Williams said he was inspired to bring the camp to the territory after visiting last August.

"I just fell in love with it here," he said. "And when I had the chance to talk to some of the coaches and hang out on the football fields, I realized this place is definitely deserving of the best football camp in America."

Williams said the local athletes, who came from both districts, have been responding to the camp better than kids on the mainland. According to Sun Stroke Promotions President Rashidi Clenance, 52 students were brought over from St. Croix, thanks to the generosity of local sponsors such as the Boys and Girls Club of America.

"For them, this doesn't happen all the time, so they're really appreciating it more," he said. "And we're going to make sure this isn't the first time for us -- we're going to try to make it back every year."

Youngsters in the camp were given the opportunity to experience what a real football season was like, going through training sessions with their mock teams, scrimmages and finally games as the camp wrapped up. Teaching skills to some of the groups were celebs such as Flozell "the Hotel" Adams and Robert Hicks, who kept the group's linemen under close watch.

"Everything has been really fun so far," said 16-year-old Laquan Tyson, a linebacker at St. Croix's Central High School. "I want to go the NFL someday, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can. So far, we've learned everything from commitment coverage to how to read the plays, so it's going well."

Clenance said he thinks all the local athletes could really benefit from the camp, either by getting them on the pro field or just by pushing them toward a better life.

"I know something good is going to come from this," he said. "This isn't like anything we've had before -- it's something special. Even the football players have said they wish they had the chance to learn from NFL pros when they were younger. And now they're here, teaching our kids not only about the game, but life skills and sharing their discipline so they understand exactly what it takes to make it. It's amazing that we had this opportunity."

St. Croix Source  :: John Baur

As the song says, it's “inch by inch and row by row” to make a garden grow. And likewise it takes many incremental steps to build a whole farming industry.

Speaking Tuesday at Rotary West in Frederiksted, Agriculture Commissioner Louis Petersen described the steps the department is taking towards that goal.

“You want to see the agriculture industry blossom overnight,” he told Rotarians, “but this is an industry you have to grow.”

Since being named commissioner in 2007 Petersen and his staff have developed a plan to grow the industry in conjunction with V.I. farmers. Resources have been limited, he said, so the department has concentrated on creating partnerships, finding outside sources of funding, and teaching farmers how to help themselves.

Those steps are bearing fruit, he added.

One of the department’s first training initiatives was the Virgin Fresh Beekeepers Project to teach beekeeping to anyone interested. They had hoped to double the number of apiarists in the territory. Instead, they’ve increased that number almost 700 percent, from 12 to 103.

Beekeeping is a natural industry for the territory, he said. The bees can produce year-round, and there is little required in terms of start-up capital or land.

Those beekeepers are producing a lot of honey – well, their bees are, anyway, and the apiarists are collecting it. In the next step, the department is helping them form cooperatives to market their product. Coops also give them buying and lobbying power, he added.

The Department of Tourism is promoting their product at all its stateside offices and events.

Besides the product itself, bees are a necessary ingredient in other farming pursuits. You can’t have an orchard without bees flitting from plant to plant pollinating them. So the beekeeping program provides a base for other agriculture pursuits, Petersen said.

It’s also created a side industry. Typically beekeepers have had to purchase supplies and equipments from distributors on the mainland, but now there are people in the territory building hives, boxes and other supplies for the local industry. Some are even beginning to sell them off-island.

The department worked to get the territory included in a Specialty Crops Block Grant program that, when first initiated in 2004, only included only the 50 states and Puerto Rico. Since 2008 Virgin Islanders have been able to participate as well, and by the time the program ends in 2012 the territory will have received about $900,000.

Petersen described many water projects that have been built in cooperation with area farmers, including a water standpipe in the Bordeaux farming community that takes advantage of a naturally occurring spring. The department also has made arrangements with the Department of Housing to utilize the unused cisterns from public buildings. There’s about 12 million gallons in unused public cisterns on St. Thomas and 38 million gallons on St. Croix, he said.

Other programs Petersen touted include participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Certification Cost-Sharing Assistance Program, the Young Farmers’ Training Program, and a $600,000 loan to the V.I. Farmers' Cooperative which is already harvesting produce from its Beeston Hill site.

Tight budgets mean that the department will have to continue doing more with less, Petersen said, and every resident of the territory has a role to play. If they’re not out in the fields growing food, they can at least buy locally grown produce and encourage the territory’s farmers to take part in the programs.

The Rotary West audience listened appreciatively, often times calling out approval and support during the presentation. Afterwards they noted they have a strict rule that the speaker be finished by 8 p.m., but in this case they let him run long and kept him at the front of the room until 8:20 answering questions.

The Virgin Islands Daily News  ::  Daniel Shea

Over the past two days, representatives of all V.I. government departments and agencies gathered together to be trained on the Americans with Disabilities Act for the first time since the act’s passage in 1990, an official said.

They received information on physical adjustments to buildings and parking lots, how to make programs more accessible and how to conduct a self-evaluation to address any accessibility issues.

Each department and agency had to designate an ADA coordinator for each district after Stephanie Barnes was hired as the V.I. ADA Coordinator in February.

“Today was the very first training for all the government departmental and agency coordinators,” Barnes said. Departmental commissioners were also asked to attend the trainings — on St. Thomas on Monday and on St. Croix on Tuesday.

At the meeting on St. Croix, a group of about to 40 people sat facing Jennifer Perry, a compliance specialist with the United Spinal Association, who conducted the training sessions.

“Accessibility is normally a daylong course in itself,” Perry told participants. “Our intent today was just to plant some seeds to get you thinking about access.”

Access is not relegated to just physical layouts, Perry said. Sometimes architectural adjustments may detract from a building’s historical or structural significance, so the idea is to ensure that the programming is available to everyone.

So, if the physical layout limits a person with a disability from entering, then the department may have to do a video tour that is available online or create some pamphlets that teach those interested parties about the site, Perry said.

Other issues are easier to address, Barnes said. Public transportation has already accommodated bus stops with wheelchair access points, and the Mars Hill Police Station’s parking lot is currently under construction to meet ADA standards, she said.

After discussion about the term “handicapped” and its connotation to disabled people came up in discussion, V.I. Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls “made a commitment” to remove all the handicapped parking signs and have them replaced with the universal sign of a wheelchair, Barnes said.

A number of the coordinators and commissioners recognized issues within their departments that also would need to be addressed.

St. Croix Deputy School Superintendent Maria Encarnacion said that most schools were single-story and that they would have to look at the few schools that have multiple floors to ensure they are in compliance.

The territory, as a whole, has been slow to adopt many of the ADA requirements, which are incredibly detailed, Barnes said — although, the Virgin Islands is not alone.

“It’s not only the territory,” Barnes said. “There are many state and local governments that have not been brought into compliance.”

According to Perry, 20 percent of Americans have a disability. The ADA regulations are meant to cover areas that are easily overlooked by those without disabilities.

One example was the installation of a protruding object on a wall at a height over 27 inches, Perry said. While it is easily avoidable to those who can see, a blind person’s cane would not detect a protruding fire extinguisher cabinet, and they may run into it and suffer an injury. Therefore, the ADA regulations always recommend putting a plant or something on the ground underneath it that would be detectable by someone with a cane.

Also for this reason, each ADA self-evaluation committee will have a person with a disability on it, Barnes said. Since it is easy to overlook a disabled person’s needs, there should be input from that population.

“You cannot effectuate change without having an individual that lives it every day,” Barnes said. “Someone who feels and knows it.”

Each coordinator will have the task of setting up a committee to perform the evaluation of each of the programs and services offered, Barnes said. She will be working closely with the committees to help them along the way.

Barnes hopes to have all of the evaluations finished within a year, she said. Then it is up to the committees to come up with concrete plans to implement the changes deemed necessary.

Each year, the committees will have to evaluate any new programming or tweaked programming to make sure everything is in compliance, Barnes said.

It will be the 10-year anniversary of the passage of the ADA on July 26. A small commemoration will be held at Kingshill School, where an ADA summer vocational program has been held for 20 young adults, Barnes said.

St. Croix Source  ::  Bill Kossler

Six of St. Croix's youth-mentoring programs came together Wednesday for a field day of workshops grounded in nature and culture at Creque Dam Farm at the V.I. Sustainable Farming Institute (VISFI).


All this month, the institute is hosting its Youth Empowerment Summer Camp (YESCamp), a summer day-camp program designed to engage campers with organic farming, nature connecting, cultural mentoring, and creative-skills building. Crucian History and Nature Tourism (C.H.A.N.T.) co-sponsored the camp and has raised the funding to date for students attending.


Throughout the month, groups of kids from other summer camps come and spend a day or part of a day at VISFI and participate in crafts, farming activities, making music and art and other activities as part of its Natural Mentors youth programs.

Wednesday was an unusually busy day, with students from the Department of Labor job-mentoring program, the Department of Education mentoring program, the Department of Tourism's shadow mentoring program, and V.I. Waste Management's Youth Environmental Summer Camp. 


Over 50 youth shared skills and experiences from their summer programs, in a cross-program exchange meant to broaden the exposure of youth to empowering activities.


Organic farming was the centerpiece of the event, with workshops on composting, planting and what it means to be organic. But there was also percussion music, arts and crafts, and activities—from making stone tools to kneading locally sourced clay for pottery. Alongside the activities, instructors mixed in talk of what it means to be a mentor, how to choose mentors and how to be a mentor. Often the instructors were students themselves who had just mastered the new crafts.

"We are trying to teach them to ask: who are the mentors in your life, where to look for them; and also we are exposing them to some important culture bearers in the community," said Nate Olive of VISFI. "A few days ago herbalist Veronica Gordon came and taught."

Clearly having fun, the kids laughed and joked during the activities, even as they learned new things.

"The most interesting thing today was seeing them make fire," said Rokeya Connor, a student at The Manor School.

VISFI promotes sustainability through growing food locally and organically, recycling and alternative energy. VISFI's Natural Mentors program was honored in February 2010 by the National Geographic Society as one of the top 10 innovative programs in the world.

For more information about YEScamp and the mentoring program, call 719-5455.

St. Croix Source  ::  Jose G. Diaz

Hot and windy weather created perfect conditions for the Gladfelter Classic road race Sunday on the North Shore of St. Croix, as 35 cyclists took on the elements and the undulating terrain.

In the Sport Category, the trio of Apolinar Acevedo of Team Twin City; Joseph Thomas, Team Joint Forces; and Tyler Jowaisis, Cruzan Confusion left their competition behind. Acevedo and Jowaisis took off on a break in the second lap and never looked back, leaving Thomas in their wake. Acevedo edged out Jowaisis in a sprint to the finish, with Thomas rounding out the third spot in the 23-mile race.

The Expert Category saw another trio working together to keep the chase group at bay. Donald Christian, Team High Definition; Brad Chaffee, Team Miko2Max; and Troy Holloway, Independent, maintained a fair gap between them and the rest of the pack from the start in the 34.5-mile race. The trio worked together until the finish was in sight, then with a massive sprint to the line, Christian snatched the win away from Chaffee. Holloway, who had bike troubles, rounded out the third spot.

The Elite Category started with a blistering pace, and stayed in a compact group for two laps. By the third lap only the worthy or lucky were left. By the time the dust settled, six out of the thirteen Elite combatants were unaccounted for either by flat tires or simply tapping out due to the high pace in the 46-mile race. Apolinar Acevedo, Team Twin City, jettisoned his compatriots Mark Defour, Team High Definition; Morgan Locke, Cruzan Confusion; and Jonathan Cruz, Team Twin City, with a well-timed attack on the run up to the final set of hills. Acevedo rode in alone across the line, followed by Mark Defour in second and Jonathan Cruz in third.

The Masters Category was won by Peter Duthie of Team Miko2Max and the Women’s Category was won by Melissa Banuelos of STX-340.

The Gladfelter Classic was hosted by Team STX340. Each of the five cycling clubs of the The Virgin Islands Cycling Federation hosts three of the races each year.

Bill Gladfelter was a respected marine biologist and mariner who was also known as one of the best cyclists in the Virgin Islands. In 2003 at the age of 60 he died of melanoma in 2003, just six months after competing in St. Croix's half-ironman triathlon.

St. Croix Source  ::  Bill Kossler

Alongside its more traditional promotional efforts, the Department of Tourism is now using social media like Facebook and Twitter to entice a worldwide audience to come visit, Assistant Commissioner Brad Nugent told the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association Tuesday.

"Come on guys, friend us please," Nugent joked to the room full of hoteliers at Divi Carina Bay Casino. With their low cost and potential wide reach, social media have a lot of potential as a way to draw visitors, Nugent said.

The Twitter feed gives up-to-the-minute suggestions to visitors on what's going on, from music to museum shows. It also provides important updates and messages. As of Monday night, the most recent USVI tweet was a link to a message about the recent tragic shooting at Coki Point, for instance.

To generate "buzz" and interest, Tourism is using Twitter to announce and hold contests for free stays, free shopping trips and other giveaways, Nugent said.

Tourism is also bringing two smart phone applications designed for savvy travelers into the mix: FourSquare and QR. FourSquare is an application available for smart phones, which lets users “check in” at a location and then see who in their social groups is in the same place. The most frequent checkers-in can become a “mayor” of a location.

"FourSquare is similar to Twitter, but you create information about the place you're visiting and when other people come and visit, they log on and see everything you have cataloged," he said.

With FourSquare, word of mouth from the public expands the body of helpful available information.

QR, which stands for Quick Response code, is more akin to traditional advertising, but with a techno twist. IPhones, Droids and other smart phones can use their devices to “read” a barcode-like symbol. The phone then opens up the sponsor’s message, which may be a simple advertisement or a chance at a promotional offer.

Meanwhile, the department and its public relations firms continue with their palette of more traditional approaches, such as buying television, radio, magazine and newspaper ads. Tourism is targeting ads to niche markets, from weddings to scuba diving to culinary tourists, too, Nugent said.

Markets that might seem very specialized to an outsider can have a lot of potential for growth, he said.

"When I first started at Tourism, I was surprised to discover just how big the diving market in the territory is," he said.

When Nugent later showed a video of actual visitors to St. Croix talking about their experiences, several mentioned the beautiful diving.

"We've dived in a lot of places in the Caribbean," said one man in the video. "Dives shops make the difference, and the ones here are great," he said.

Giving the assembled hoteliers some of the latest tourism numbers, Nugent said the trend was heading in the right direction after a bad fall-off due to the worldwide economic crisis.

"As some say, we've had a less bad year," he said. "But we are not out of the woods yet."

Across the Caribbean, tourist arrivals are slowly rebounding, he said.

Although aggregate tourist arrivals to the Caribbean declined by 3.6 percent for the year in 2009, the quarterly data show a trend in the right direction, with 6.6-percent declines in each of the first two quarters, a 2-percent decline in the third quarter and a smaller 1-percent decline in the last quarter.

In 2009, 666,000 tourists arrived in the territory, down 2.5 percent from 2008. As of March 2010, the territory has shown a 15 percent increase over 2009, reporting 213,000 visitors, Nugent said.

But even with a poor overall economy, the territory has room to expand its appeal to a higher proportion of the millions who are still traveling, and Tourism is working every avenue it can to bring them in, Nugent said.

Have you heard?

St. Croix now has a Young Professionals' Network!

Just what is this group you may ask? Like so many other YPN groups around the world this group seeks to empower the young business leaders of today by providing them access to each other for the purpose of career development, business partnerships, education, and community service.

Started by St. Croix native Stephanie Felix, the St. Croix Young Professionals' Network is committed to the empowerment, professional development, and activism of St. Croix's young business leaders. Her goal in starting the YPN is to "completely revolutionize the social and professional scene of young businesspeople of St. Croix".

By using the greatest resource we have- each other- the Young Professionals' Network hopes to meet it's 5 target goals of Networking, Professional Development, Career Advancement, Community Service, and Activism. This is YOUR chance to get involved in your community in a simple yet effective way.

The St. Croix Young Professionals' Network is supported in part by the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce. Membership dues will eventually provide for all events including monthly networking receptions, leadership development workshops, community service events and public forums.

The second networking reception of the Young Professionals' Network of St. Croix will be held on July 29th, 2010 from 6-8pm at a location to be determined.

Other scheduled events are:

-Third Networking Reception on August 18th, at Tavern 1844 from 6-8 pm. This meeting will formally introduce the Membership Requirements and Procedure.

-YPN Lime: An End-of-Summer social on August 13th at Sharkey's Bait Stand from 6-10pm.

If you're interested in joining the Young Professionals' Network of St. Croix please check out their Facebook page or email Ms. Felix at stxypn@gmail.com.

Stay tuned to the calendar here on The St. Croix Lime for more details on the upcoming events.

The Virgin Islands Daily News  ::  Aldeth Lewin

Sunday was the first day for prospective candidates to begin collecting the petition signatures required to run for elected office.

Packets containing the filing documents and nomination petitions have been available at the Elections System offices in each district since June 28.

Supervisor of Elections John Abramson Jr. said quite a few packets have been picked up in the St. Thomas-St. John District, but it’s been a little slow in the St. Croix District.

Nominees running for a district office with a political party must collect 25 signatures from party members. Independents running for a district office need to collect 50 signatures, but they can be from anyone.

Individuals running for a territorial office with a political party affiliation must collect 25 signatures from party members in each district. Independent nominees must obtain 50 signatures in each district from anyone.

Completed nomination petitions can be filed with the Elections System after noon on Aug. 3.

In order to be on the ballot, nominees must return the signed petitions by 5 p.m. Aug. 10.

Abramson said that, while it may not look like very many people are running for office based on the number of packets picked up to date, interested candidates can continue to pick them up and obtain signatures up until the filing deadline.

“We are looking forward to a very active election,” Abramson said.

The 2010 election calendar and upcoming Elections events can be accessed on www.vivote.gov.

St. Croix Source  ::  Carol Buchanan

Six days a week, from early morning to dusk, Rita Stinson can be found laboring in her three-acre, garden plot on the V.I. Farmers Cooperative land in Beeston Hill.

Stinson says it isn't hard labor in a garden, it is a labor of love.

“I love to be outside and I love the connection with the earth,” Stinson says. “It is so peaceful in a garden.”

She had spent 18 years in the kitchen and it was time for her to do what she loves most – working in the field. She was a cook and co-owner of UCA, United Caribbean Association, an ital vegan restaurant in Frederiksted.

Three years ago one of the co-owners at UCA suggested she join the cooperative. Since joining she has taken on a number of tasks to help out the farmers in the cooperative.

Stinson is the fruit and vegetable director and is in charge of quality control. She checks what comes in off the fields, grades, sizes, weighs and decides if the produce is acceptable for market. She assists in the selection of crops and seeds. She also assists the farmers in using organic practices. She helps with gardening questions they have, doing research on line and using gardening books. She can also be found working at the cooperative market Thursday through Saturday.

Upon arriving at Stinson's and Sam Smith's plot one is met with a real feast for the eyes –yellow sunflowers, red zinnias, orange marigolds, and basil in flower bordering the plot.

The scene is peaceful looking, with Smith hoeing and Stinson putting up a plastic mesh trellis for climbing spinach she said she just had to get off the ground because the recent heavy rains came early, making the spinach grow exceptionally fast.

She says rain can be a blessing and a curse.

A portion of her crop of Chinese cucumbers were turned yellow by the rain, making them unsuitable for sale in the Cooperative Framers Market. But they tasted fine, so they donated them to My Brothers Table soup kitchen.

She says farming can be a challenge because of incidents like the cucumbers. She was moved to tears recently when she lost her patch of red, green and yellow Swiss chard to bugs.

“You can loose the battle with bugs and that's when people want to give up,” she says. “You have to be resourceful and find the right organic insect repellent through trial and error.”

They only use USDA certified organic fertilizers and insect repellent.

“Farmers have to be aware of diseases and bugs and know how to address problems,” she says.

That is why Smith has planted the zinnias, marigolds and herbs around their plot to act as natural insect repellents. Stinson said Smith wants to start flower seedlings so all of the farmers can border their gardens with the flowers. She says lavender helps keep bugs off of cucumbers.

She has very healthy looking beds of greens that are planted in raised beds for proper drainage.

She did some marketing research, surveying local restaurant owners and managers to see what kinds of gourmet greens and lettuce they were looking for and what would grow well in this climate. She is growing osaka mustard, mizuna greens, arugala, and oak leaf, deer tongue, and red leaf lettuce. She is trying her hand at growing a number of different kinds of fruits and vegetables like pineapple and corn.

There are 15 farmers in the cooperative working in three- or five-acre plots. Half of the proceeds from sales goes to the farmer and the other half goes into the cooperative. Dale Browne, president of the cooperative, says there is strength in numbers when the farmers work together.

“Rita is a very dedicated farmer,” says Yvette Browne, vice president of the cooperative. “She is hardworking, reliable and resourceful.”

Stinson says Smith plans to build a greenhouse on their plot. She would like to see children do field trips to the farm and learn about the produce and make healthy food choices at the farm market.

“When people see success at raising vegetables it is an inspiration,” she says.

Further information about the cooperative is available by calling 773-3276.