Revitalise agriculture in Grenada

Placement number: 0209
Location:      Granada
Preferred Languages: English
Date:  April to December
Minimum Period : 2 weeks

This community service program will start in Early Spring 2008 by building an organic nursery -that does not yet exist in Grenada- to produce seedlings for short crops as well as spice trees. The beneficiaries are -often older- farmers that could not start up their farm because the access is still blocked and/or covered with dead trees and debris, caused by hurricane Ivan in September 2004. The program is a private initiative of the resort.

Since local volunteers are not available, the resort decided to introduce the Volunteer Vacation that offers a balance between volunteer work (4 hours on weekdays) and enjoying the island. Volunteers only pay for meals, drinks and services; the accommodation is free. Volunteers are asked to work every morning on weekdays and enjoy a high end activity program, including social contacts with locals. For the nursery the project seeks support from nursery suppliers. Everything from shade cloth to nursery sprinklers is welcome as the nursery needs to be built from scratch. The size can be as small as 200 square feet. Organic seeds have already been committed -and sent- by High Mowing Organic Seeds.

The resort is carbon neutral and during your stay your help to off set your CO2 emissions from your flight and probably more - see the top video on the right for more info.

Role of Volunteer

This volunteer vacation lets you experience the friendly people of Grenada at local festivals and volunteer work, enjoy the beautiful nature, hike to waterfalls and explore Robinson Crusoe beaches, watch dolphins and whales, do a Catamaran trip, ride a horse, scuba dive and other great activities. On 5 mornings per week you assist farmers to rebuild their crop or tree farms (destroyed by hurricane Ivan in September 2004). Most of the selected beneficiaries are older people without the resources to start up their small farms. The work involves everything from operating chainsaw, forking work to setting up a simple nursery and teach the farmers how to organize their operations efficiently (we'll tell you how).

Weekly itinerary
Weekdays: mornings: after breakfast we bring you to your farmer to assist him to get his farm back in
                                    action. Lunch at the resort; enjoy local or international food. Alternative
                                    have a lunch with the locals.
                Afternoons: snorkel the reefs; enjoy our ocean kayaks, horseback riding, a Catamaran
                                    sailing/snorkeling trip, scuba diving, whale/dolphin watching and other great
                                    activities 4 course Dinner at our gourmet restaurant or at the beach or at a
                                    local restaurant or at Fish Friday Fridays: Take an island tour and join in to go
                                    to Fish Friday, a cultural festival where you eat with and meet the locals and
                                    enjoy the local culture. Many go back more than once... or relax at the resort Saturdays:                  Enjoy a massage, explore secluded beaches or.... take any of our five hikes
                                    and walks.  If you're a foodie, consider to join our cooking classes: Caribbean
                                    food with a French accent. In the evening lime with locals, dine fine or not.
                                    Experience our Full Moon Beach Dance Party
Sundays:                     Enjoy our 7 course gourmet lunch and relax.

Watch the 2nd video on the right for pictures and to get a grasp of the area.

Cost

Travel

Volunteers will be picked up at the airport.