The Community Garden Corp is stewarding a new project on St. John geared toward addressing food security and fostering community connection. This initiative, born from a vision of a more self-reliant Virgin Islands, will host an open information session on Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. at Bajo El Sol Gallery in Mongoose Junction.
According to Motali Sofer-Greer, founder and garden manager of CGC, the urgency of this community garden initiative was catalyzed by the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. “That crisis exposed the fragility of a system where nearly 98% of the food is imported and where what little arrives is often wilted, damaged, or nutrient-depleted after its long journey. Fresh and healthy food should not be a privilege for Virgin Islanders; it is a fundamental right. This project gives residents the direct agency to decide what our island’s food system looks like, moving us from a state of dependency to one of self-reliance and resilience,” Sofer-Greer said.
The CGC envisions the space as an inclusive community hub designed for cultural revitalization and intergenerational learning. One of the aims of this initiative is that the garden will serve as a living laboratory for reviving traditional ecological knowledge and creating a self-reinforcing cycle of shared success.
A key principle of the garden’s design is its commitment to regenerative practices. Some of these practices include building soil life, intelligent water management, and companion planting. “We stress regenerative over just sustainable because our aim is to actively heal our land, not merely maintain its depleted state. This approach is crucial because it works with our island’s climate. By focusing on soil health and water intelligence first, we create a garden that becomes more productive and drought resistant each year, unlike traditional farms that require more inputs annually. We must feed our land for the land to feed us,” Sofer-Greer said.
The CGC team is particularly eager to cocreate the garden’s social and educational programming with residents, with an open invitation to anyone wishing to host workshops or community cookouts. “The project is built on a foundation of community input. We want our community to be involved every step of the way. This ensures that the garden becomes a true reflection of the community’s culture, needs, and desires,” Sofer-Greer said.
The public is encouraged to attend the open information session on Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. at Bajo El Sol Gallery in Mongoose Junction to learn about the garden’s location, design, and the membership process.
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