Women in East Santo will soon have the opportunity to receive valuable training on backyard gardening, thanks to an initiative led by Santo’s Blue Hole Hangout and Tours. The training aims to equip local mamas with essential skills to establish and maintain their own gardens, promoting food security and sustainable agriculture.

Over the past weekend, Santo’s Blue Hole Hangout and Tours hosted a soft opening for its backyard gardening project. The initiative, spearheaded by owner Marie Louise Melteck, is part of a broader vision to integrate agriculture with tourism, offering new opportunities for both locals and visitors.

“We organized this opening because mamas from Hog Harbour and surrounding areas, such as Natawa, requested training in backyard gardening,” Melteck explained. “Since we are now in the planting season for vegetables in March, this was the perfect time to launch the program.”

Melteck further highlighted that the initiative not only supports sustainable tourism at the Blue Hole attraction but also aligns with agricultural development. “Our goal is to create another unique attraction in Santo. Visitors already enjoy Champagne Beach, Blue Hole, and waterfalls, but we want to introduce an interactive experience where tourists can see how we plant vegetables, harvest them, and, in the future, enjoy fresh meals from our own restaurant.”

The project has received significant backing from the Department of Agriculture and its partners. Deputy Director of Agriculture, Mike Vurobaravu, emphasized that the initiative aligns with government policies on food security and disaster resilience.

“This initiative is well-connected to national policies, especially in ensuring food security during times of disaster,” Vurobaravu stated. “Families in the area will have a stable food source, and visitors can also engage in the process, from harvesting to cooking, creating a ‘farm-to-plate’ experience.”

The soft opening was attended by various partners and families who have contributed to making the project a reality. With the training set to begin soon, local women in East Santo will have the chance to enhance their livelihoods while contributing to both agricultural and tourism growth in the region.