NON-TRADITIONAL agricultural techniques like shade houses and hydroponics seem to be rapidly gaining currency countrywide, both at the commercial and domestic levels, thanks in no small measure to their easy adaptability.
What’s more, not only have these technologies mushroomed along the traditional soil-based agricultural zones along the low-lying Coastal Plain, but they are also slowly but surely catching on in the Hilly Sand and Clay Belt as well, especially in and around Linden in the Region Ten (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) area.
Even more heartening, however, is that while these forms of food production are gaining momentum at the commercial level, there is evidence that they are also aiding the resurgence of agriculture as a leisure activity at the urban level.
Hydroponics (from the Greek words ‘hydro’, water, and ‘ponos’, labour) is the term given to soil-less cultivation. The technique — which involves growing plants in water laced with nutrients, or in an inert medium such as sawdust, paddy shell or sand — is particularly well suited to locations where land is scarce, or soil is of poor quality. Reports are that one of the earliest hydroponic systems was established back in the 1930s to grow vegetables for airline passengers on Wake Island, a rocky atoll in the Pacific Ocean used as a refuelling stop.
Here in Georgetown, the capital, urban agriculture, using soil-based production systems as a novelty at the household level, faded during the past decade because of limited land-space and flooding among other factors, but the practice is now making a comeback due to increased awareness and access to training in the areas of hydroponics and shade-house production with the help of the Inter-American Institution for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Ministries of Agriculture and Education, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and Partners of the Americas .
As a result of these combined efforts, more and more persons are now inclined to produce their own vegetables, as is the case at Joshua House, a home for underprivileged children on Thomas Street, in the heart of commercial Georgetown.
Established in 1977 as a domicile for less fortunate children, Joshua House is home to over sixty children, and is at present managed by Mr. and Mrs. Accra, who assist in the maintenance of a loving and nurturing environment for their young wards.
In his quest to improve the lives of his charges through access to quality formal and informal skill development, Mr. Accra, who is affectionately referred to as ‘Uncle Clifford’ by the children under his care, accepted the kind offer to establish a vegetable garden in the facility’s already concreted backyard.
Mr. Accra, who had little knowledge of agriculture back then, smiled as he recalled his willingness to heed a friend’s advice.
“About two years ago, a friend from overseas suggested I contact IICA to discuss the possibility of Joshua House becoming involved in hydroponics, since, at that time, there was growing awareness and success stories of the use of hydroponics as a way of producing food without much land-space.
“For me at the time of the suggestion, not only was I motivated to get involved in growing some of our own food at the Home, but it enticed me as an opportunity to allow the children to learn a new skill as well as a recreational activity as an appreciation for how their food is produced and the environment.”

In the quest to ensure the suggestion became a reality, Mr. Accra and IICA commenced negotiations pertaining to the establishment of the now lush vegetable garden aback Joshua House.
“As suggested by my friend,” Mr Accra said, “I commenced talks with the representatives of IICA and   received immediate positive feedback support for my proposal to establish a hydroponics system, which was welcomed news by the children who were eager, since we’d discussed the project as a family unit.”

Making the reality

Filled with excitement and hope for the best, Mr. Accra and his young charges began constructing their modest shade house, using the technical know-how provided by IICA. “At the time of constructing the shade-house,” Mr. Accra recalled, “we were demolishing a wooden building. So, with lots of wood to discard, we reused some of these materials to build our structure according to the design provided by IICA. Not only did they provide technical support, but also the materials for the construction of the roof, which included ultra violet plastic used for greenhouse roofing and saran (wrap).”
Young Randy voluntarily assisting Mr. Accra in transplanting celery seedlings.
The structure at reference is a simple shed built without enclosing the sides, and a roof made of special materials such as UV plastic and saran to reduce the intensity of the sunlight, which is an important factor in plant development.
Under the ‘shade-house’, boxes of various lengths and depths were constructed high off the ground, and lined with ‘construction plastic’ to prevent the solution of nutrients from escaping, and filled with various substrates, such as paddy husk and sand, to provide the medium in which to plant their seedlings.

The experience

“At the end of the construction of the shade-house and production boxes,” Mr. Accra said, “the training sessions provided were an excellent opportunity for the children, the trainers and I to bond and learn a new skill together as we worked during the afternoons on most occasions, since this allowed the eager children to participate in the project.”
Reflecting on the early days of the project, Mr. Accra noted that there were a few challenges as he watched their modest garden blossom.
“During the learning phase, we were very eager to see our plants grow, and the children’s curiosity was very high. We cultivated celery, poi, and peppers without the use of any pesticides, but there were some incidents of pest attack which affected our crop…
“However, with the help of IICA, like a parent, and the representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, we were able to resolve the problems, but as time evolved, we began learning the art of gardening for success.”
Again smiling on recollecting the many trials and errors they encountered along the way, Mr. Accra said: “Personally, I’m quite pleased with this form of gardening, since there are few weeds among the plants, which makes it less labour-intensive; little or no use of pesticides; and the cost for establishment relatively inexpensive, since it allows one to reuse some materials.
“In most cases,” he said, “we only empty the boxes to change the construction plastic, which may be damaged after a few crop cycles. After changing the lining, in most cases we are able to reuse the substrate.  Additionally, the elevation of the boxes is an excellent way to mitigate the effect of flooding. The elevated boxes also allow for comfortable gardening.”
This happy bucket brigade voluntarily assists with the preparation of a new plant-box.
Grateful to have come this far without much incident, Mr. Accra said one of the most motivating aspects of the venture is its contribution to inculcating a positive attitude towards the environment and bonding with nature.
“Our decision to establish our vegetable garden using these techniques is one that we are proud of, as not only does it provide us with vegetables for our own consumption, but we have been able at times to produce surpluses, which we sell to generate some revenue for other projects,” he said, adding: “Also, one of the pleasant surprises I have encountered with this project is the eagerness of the children to participate after school or during their recreation time. It is quite pleasing to observe their exuberance to indulge in any aspect of the gardening process. Whether it is forming a bucket brigade to fill the substrate in the boxes, or applying the nutrient solution to the plants, it is always a task they undertake with joy.  I’ve also observed that it allows them to express their own little ideas, and most of all, the inherent lesson of reward after hard work is demonstrated in the harvest of the fruits.”