A Perfect Pairing
Enthusiasm for Turning Point Foundation’s garden project, continues to grow!
Farm Owner, Managing Director of Spaceless Gardens, and St. Maarten’s own agriculturalist, Mr. Denicio Wyatte joins to lead the training!
Turning Point’s garden project was formerly staff-led by Mr. Jennar Singhroy, who along with his wife and the residents, did a wonderful job to create memorable gardens for the institution. Recently, Turning Point’s garden transitioned to being professionally-led by Farm Owner, Managing Director of Spaceless Gardens, and St. Maarten’s own agriculturalist, Mr. Denicio Wyatte.
Mr. Wyatte’s gardening classes began with a dynamic presentation on the benefits of agriculture and the environment, as well as the challenges of climate change as it relates to St. Maarten and the individual planter. The first set of crops installed were lemon grass, sugar apple, and basil. These plants were specifically chosen to eliminate the chance of caterpillar visits as had been experienced in the past. Mr. Wyatte then summarized his first session by connecting the success of a garden to achieving one’s full potential, in an encouraging and meaningful closing.
“The garden project at Turning Point is really important to us and to our residents as well. In fact, one of our team members recently visited the home of a graduate where he proudly displayed the development of his very own vegetable garden and donated some of his produce to the center, which made us very pleased”, shared Mr. Oliver Wilson, Program Manager at Turning Point.
“On an individual level, gardening has many benefits such as decreasing stress, anxiety and other mental health challenges, exposure to vitamin D, and providing a bit of exercise. The nutritional benefits of replacing processed foods and incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables into one’s diet is so impactful, after all, “Food is Medicine”. But on a societal level, gardening has become even more relevant after what we have all experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic with the shutdown of travel and the importing and exporting complications it caused. I have followed Mr. Wyatte’s progress for a few years now and I knew he would be the perfect person to develop and push the gardening project further to the benefit of our residents, our organization and our island” states Dr. Tasheena Thomas, Executive Director of Turning Point Foundation.
Turning Point’s in-house Chef, Mrs. Louisa Burgan weighs in, “As a cook, it is lovely to prepare meals with fresh produce grown right here on property but it is even more enjoyable when our residents are especially excited to eat the meals because they are prepared with seasonings and vegetables that they helped grow. It feels even more like we are a team, each one with a part to play.”
“As important as gardening is, the partnership with Mr. Wyatte goes beyond the activity. The impact he makes by mentoring/training individuals who have faced similar challenges as he did in his youth and by being a living example of how their lives can change and improve, it’s priceless.” says, Dr. Tasheena Thomas, Executive Director of Turning Point Foundation.
When asked why he wanted to help at Turning Point, Mr. Wyatt stated:
· “I was blessed to be recruited for this project as it allows me to interact with individuals facing different challenges in life, and participate in helping them learn ways of coping and growing from their past. Being a part of the team at Turning Point, is great motivation for me personally, to be my best and encourage others to do the same.”
When asked what he loves about gardening, he shared:
· “What I love most is the joy I receive from simply watching things grow. It was amazing to me, the realization that what I grow with my own two hands can give my body exactly what it needs to heal and to thrive”.
When asked what he would like to share with the people of St. Maarten as it related to agriculture, Mr. Wyatte asked:
· If you are growing produce at home, please, don’t let it go to waste. We love to see homes with fruit trees in their yard but it is so sad to see the fruit spoiling on the ground. Donate your produce to worthy causes, exchange goods with your loved ones, colleagues, and neighbors, and make some extra income by participating in the Spaceless Garden’s upcoming Sunset Market events or the Farmer’s Market at Port de Plaissance that takes place on the first Saturday of every month.
· If you have a business and the land around your business allows for any kind of landscaping, please, don’t just grow beautifying plants, please let the landscapers grow produce (food) that can help sustain someone else.
If Mr. Wyatte could realize all his dreams, St. Maarten would have:
· An agricultural and development center that provides sustainable solutions and support of sustainable agricultural projects
· More agricultural co-ops
· Community supermarkets and community-based activities and investments
· Governmental support for this vital sector of our economy
· Horticultural preservation and enhancements
· Peace, love, unity, and fun happiness
Learn more about Mr. Wyatt’s accomplishments and efforts here.
[Link to: https://stmaartenagriculture.com/contact/]
For information on how to donate to the gardening workshop and/or purchase excess produce, please contact Oliver Wilson at owilson.tpf@gmail.com or (721) 527-6492.