Grow what you Eat, Eat what you Grow! And this is what 285 ‘aspiring gardeners’ throughout Trinidad and Tobago set out to do when they accepted the challenge to grow their own kitchen garden. Led by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts (MCDCA) through the Best Village Unit, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), the challenge was meant to help support food security, encourage families to get active while encouraging persons to adopt home gardening; and of course an incentive of over $250,000 in cash prizes to be won.

Participants were judged on a minimum of four (4) out of (12) twelve short or long term crops including chive, pak choi, celery, lettuce, carrot greens, kale, shadon beni, mustard greens tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumbers. The GIY challenge Judging was across small, medium and large gardens, hydroponics, most sustainable and innovative kitchen gardens as well as a special prize for the people’s choice.

From June 15th to July 30th challengers where required to upload their videos at different dates as stipulated in the competition to show the progress of their crops. During home visits by MCDCA and MALF, participants were given advice on ways in which they can improve their gardens to keep away pests, rodents as well as what can be used as natural repellents and natural food to safeguard their crops.

At the end, only 60 challengers made it to the final round of the competition. The results for the overall winners are as follow:

Small

1st Zaria Greene

2nd Cheryl Ann De Gannes

3rd Avalon Alexander

Medium

1st Ariana Persad

2nd Leah Sorias

3rd Alpha De Bourgh

Large

1st Israielle Ali

2nd Michael Nedd

3rd Jackie John

Special Categories Winners

People’s Choice

Avie Alexander

Hydroponic

1st Brandon Murphy

2nd Donna Toussaint

2nd Varma Rambaran

Most Innovative

1st Israiell Ali

1st Michael Nedd

Most Sustainable

1st Israiell Ali

Special thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries for their support and guidance in this initiative.

Congratulations to all the winners!

The full list of winners can be found on www.cdca.gov.tt.