The document outlines community development initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago, focusing on farming practices, project management, and agricultural techniques used in collaboration with local clients like Desmond. Key highlights include establishing tank irrigation systems, building storage sheds, and cultivating various crops, emphasizing the importance of client ownership and self-sufficiency in farming. Additionally, it underscores lessons learned in resource improvization, direct marketing strategies, and the need for consistent support and resources for successful agricultural development.

1. Community Development
Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana
10 Years Volunteering
Family Farm Development
Some Lessons Learned
Allan and Lydia Sorflaten
Nov. 27, 2010

6. Using bamboo for shade
house structure

10. Some direct seeding was done into these beds.

11. Dasheen grows in moist areas.
Excellent for soup.

13. Recommended Trays for Seedlings
Popsicle Sticks: Record Kind and Date of Planting

14. Improvise where feasible, using what is available.

15. Letting the client lead the project.

16. Improvise where necessary. Here planning irrigation.

17. The Client does the work here building a storage shed.

18. First Storage Shed Nearing Completion

19. Capital Investment Like This Not Advisable.

20. Banana Trees planted on
terraced hillside.

24. So, at the end of the TTHTI
assignment.....
• TTHTI lands prepared for planting
• Nursery growing seedlings, ready for
transplant
• Dean’s place terraced, fruit trees planted and
with some short crops interplanted
• Small storage shed built to store tools and
supplies
• Desmond looking for state lands to farm

25. Desmond Identifies Property Suitable for Farm

27. Desmond Uses Cutlass to Clear Land

28. Letter to State lands,
Tobago House of
Assembly (THA)
requesting
permission to farm
the land.

29. Desmond gets tacit OK (never told not to
do it!) from THA to farm a three acre
area….no road in..

30. New Access Road Completed

31. Desmond’s Storage Shed Nearing Completion

32. A Traditional Building Very Suited to Tropical Conditions.

33. Termite proof
plywood,
Resists Rot and
Mildew
Corner posts
and center
supports are
poured
concrete
Designed and
built by
Desmond

36. Latrine Build
by Desmond

37. Ducks.

38. Certainly a learning experience!

40. Feed for the
ducks was too
expensive.
Not a
recommended
enterprise.

41. Land Improvement: Stone removal, etc.

45. AFTER LAND CLEARING

46. Land Preparation: Plowing

47. Land Banked and Ready to
Prepare Beds for Planting

48. Simple, Low Cost
Seedling Nursery/Shadehouse

53. Recommended Raised Growing Beds

54. Layout for Raised Beds

55. Direct Seed
Corn into the
Ground.

56. Cement Block Base for Irrigation Tanks

60. Short Crops Under Irrigation

61. Directions for Seedlings!

64. Tomatoes Transplanted into
Individual Rows

65. Staked Tomatoes

66. Spraying Tomatoes and Peppers is
Costly but Necessary

67. Produce can be excellent!

68. Desmond’s Tomatoes Ready for Market

69. Letter to Police to Monitor Property
to Counter Petty Larceny

70. So the Police arrive with their bags to
collect produce!

71. Pumpkin, a
Carribean
favorite in
soup or as a
vegetable.

72. Okra Ready for Market

73. Weeds Grow Fast!

74. Peppers Grow Well

76. Hand Weeding Desmond’s Lettuce

77. Bok Choy (Chinese Cabbage)

79. Seedlings Recently Transplanted

80. Lettuce in Raised Beds Ready for
Market

81. Lettuce for Sale, Lady Entrepreneur in Tobago:
Note lettuce at different stages in readiness for market.

83. D 5 D Donkey Cart

84. Home Made Signs

85. Direct Marketing Tomatoes

86. Desmond: Reason to be so Proud!

87. Desmond’s Short Crop Farm. Developed by Hard Work
and Resourcefulness by One Individual.

88. Papaya Trees Along the Edge

89. Walking with Desmond into the farm,
2009

90. Fruit Trees (Banana, Papaya still
producing.)

91. Cassava

93. Ingredients for Hot Sauce
(Shato Benny, Garlic, Hot Peppers)

94. How Can We Best Help?
The Clients are:
• Thinking, capable, hard working
• Intelligent and knowledgeable about their own culture
• Wanting to better their lives
The Clients need:
• Resources to work with
• To own their project
• A sense of direction
• To believe in their ability to help themselves
Our primary role we feel should be:
• To help the client to improve their sense of self worth and
belief in themselves and their abilities to do the project.

95. Based on our experience.....
• Simple shade house for starting nursery plants
• Raised beds on the ground
• Layout garden to allow for individual family
plots
• Sanitation: Use of Clorex to sanitize seedling
trays
• Use watering cans for irrigation
• Consider a proper latrine for the workers

96. Vegetables
• Okra-
• Sweet Potato (Yam)
• Pumpkin, Melon
• Onions, Chives
• Bygone, Egg Plant
• Lettuce.
• Cucumbers
• Corn
• Celery.
• Christophene
• Spinach

97. Herbs
• Basil grew in Tobago from seeds we took from
Veseys in PEI. It grew 4 to 5 feet high and is a
good seller or trading commodity
• Parsley
• Thyme
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Shato beny

98. Trees
• Papaya. The ones grown from seeds 8 years
ago are still producing beautifully
• Avocado
• Cherries
• Lemon, Lime, Rough Lemon
• Mandarins,Grapefruit.
• Mango
• Banana

99. Some Supplies for the Nursery......
• Seed trays.
• Soil.
• Clean water source.
• Watering cans
• Seeds
• Fertilizer.
• Some chemical Small sprayer.
• Transplanting sleeves.
• Shade cover wide netting
• Hoe (Heavy), Cutless they will have.

100. • Provide assurance of long term commitment
for the project.
• Use seeds purchased in the country. Our
seeds do not work in their climate.
• Watering cans allow for detailed fertilizer
application
• Excellent resource available in Spanish
• ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/012/a0218e/a0218e.pdf

101. Consider Involving the School

102. Marketing Down the Road
(Owen’s Market in Linden, Guyana)

103. Direct Marketing
(Owen’s Market in Linden, Guyana)
Fresh Herb Basket, Spinach, Melon, Mango,
Dried Beans, Sweet Banana

104. Root Crops: Dashine,
Cassava, Yams
Roma Tomatoes Weigh Scale, Bananas, Imported
Onions, Potatoes
Green Pepper,
Fresh Herbs
Cassava Root
Chives, Fresh Herbs
Owen and Allan