Rising from the ashes: Sandy Bay_October 2021

So excited about the innovative UP-cycled Organic Compost Workshop for Sandy Bay farmers....

#community #engineering #architecture #research #compost #organicfarming #reconstruction #livelihoods #knowhow #circulareconomy #upcycling #smart #innovation #resilientcommunities #regenerativeeconomy #humanitarian #thinkglobalactlocal #ecology #economy #teamwork #volcano #volcanicash #sargassum #seaweed #risingfromtheashes #biodiversity #SIDS #climatecrisis #naturaldisaster #holistic

GER3 continues to support recovery efforts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in response to the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano last spring. After two months of on-the-ground work, the impacts of GER3’s recovery programs are visible throughout the Sandy Bay area.

Over 45 homes have been cleared of ash and debris, allowing residents to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. In the process, over 70 people from the Sandy Bay community have received temporary income for their work on cash-for-work teams, providing livelihood support to a local economy that was decimated by the eruption.

In addition, GER3’s home rehabilitation program is progressing though the final selection phase and will soon begin work on a number of homes.

GER3 has also launched programs targeting local farmers, whose livelihoods were severely disrupted. Though six months have passed since the eruptions subsided, farmers remain unable to sow their mountain-side plots due to unsafe access and inhospitable soil conditions, precluding even subsistence-level activities.

In response, GER3 – in partnership with Luke Punnet of Richmond Vale Academy in St. Vincent – launched an organic compositing program that will draw upon local knowledge as well as the latest scientific research to teach and to learn about organic composting methods using locally available resources like volcanic ash and sargassum. This program thus converts local resources of no or negative economic value (ash and sargassum) into fertile soil without the use of chemicals or fertilizers, while providing livelihood support to local farmers.

Luke Punnet of Richmond Vale Academy discussing organic composting techniques with farmers.

Notwithstanding the great progress of GER3 and its partners, much work remains and GER3 will continue to help Sandy Bay and St. Vincent build back better.

Donations at www.ger3.org