ORGANIC GROWERS AND CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF BARBADOS
History of the OGCA
The OGCA was first registered as an NGO with the community development department in 1998. This was a natural outgrowth from a series of workshops conducted by The Bawden Environmental Park Group that is located at Bawden St. Andrew. These workshops started in 1997.
The principle founders of the Park Group were Professor Oliver Headley, William Hinds, Melvin Jordan and John Hunte.
People in attendance at the environmental workshops went on to form an advocacy group and held formative meetings at the offices of Carlton and A1 Supermarket under the Chairmanship of the owner, Mr. Andrew Bynoe.
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The decision was made by this group, which included a food safety specialist, medical Doctor, Massage and alternative health practitioner and small farmer to seek out organic farmers and to bring them together as a unified entity. the small farmer was given this task and within a year small farmers from various parts of the island were identified, IICA was engaged to develop a CD Rom training program in organic farming and a certified organic farmer with the Soil Association was volunteering on the organic farm in Bawden St. Andrew.
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The Ministry of Agriculture was exposed to the Soil Association Standards and they became involved in increasing awareness of organic agriculture.
Membership was defined by the ability to complete a variety of training programs. The first was with CD-roms at the Barbados Community College (BCC). A farmer was used as one of the tutors on this early program along with a tutor from Trinidad. A total of 30 people were trained using this method. Other courses were undertaken in classroom type settings and practical field courses which were funded by the European Union and managed by the Bawden Environmental Park. A total of 60 people were exposed to organic farming methods and standards over a five-year period. Other training courses were conducted by David Bynoe, then of the Ministry of Agriculture and now of the UNDP small grants program.
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The OGCA has maintained market stalls at #169 -170 inside Cheapside market, every Saturday, from the opening of that market and was one of the founding members of the Holders farmers market every Sunday at Holders Hill, St. James.
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Farms on the pristine East Coast
This is a view to live for. Nestled beneath the grounds of the Codrington college for the priesthood, the local Nyah Bingi, (order of the church of Rasta) Rasta Fari developed since the 1990s. Assisted by a grant from the UNDP, Global Environment Facility, this group of young rastas created the Cornerstone organic farms on a 7 acre portion of land that was donated to the community by the nearby Anglican Church college. The land is fed by a year round spring of fresh water and has views overlooking the fishing village of Consett Bay.
National Organisation
Since the late 1990's the OGCA has grown to include small and larger farms. From 3 acre lots in the north, to garden size plots in the South and in between there are a number of 4,5, and even a 300 acre plantation that is coming under organic management. Both the Organic Growers and Consumers Association and it's sibling organisation, the Bawden Environmental Park has recieved recognition and environmental and community awards from the Ministry of the Environment, The Pan African Commission and the Governor Generals Award for the Environment
INLAND BEAUTY
In 1997 the Bawden Environmental Park community group started its small farm on 7 acres beside 2 spring fed, fish filled, freshwater ponds in the hilly parish of St. Andrew. Still Waters organic farm became and remains a focal point for OGCA farm education and tours, community involvelment and an intern training base for local and international students. Several off shoot cottage industries developed around this farm such as a Sea Island Cottage industry for women and renewable energy projects using solar distillers and PV as well as passive air dryers.
Food on the table
All of our growers have one basic goal in mind and that is to help to feed ourselves and our families. Any monetary gain is secondary to this and we have all invested far more than we have made in profit. We believe that our way of producing fruit and vegetables is the best and cleanest way to provide food for ourselves our families and our community and that organic farming is a good way to sustainably care for our environment.