Tibbar Energy ????

Wow. I so agree here. Tibbar was a blatantly rotten deal.

Next we need to use our agricultural land to... er.... Grow food?

Yes, let's grow food.

But if there isn't enough water for grass, where is the water for food going to come from?

There'll be more of it without watering hundreds of acres of invasive species of grass.

Yes, let's grow food.

But if there isn't enough water for grass, where is the water for food going to come from?

LOTS of agriculture incentives out there.... where are the farmers to grow the food?

The land will go unused again...Maybe the "double your money for local food" on food stamp programs (AKA gov. subsidy) will spark an agricultural upswing?

LOTS of agriculture incentives out there.... where are the farmers to grow the food?

Remember the great Farmers Market Co-op at Beaston Hill?
Over a hundred thousand spent on machinery, fences, building.
Now it is completely abandoned. Too many in the VI want everything NOW,
so they focus on vegetables instead of fruit.

I know of someone that has planted a few acres of coconuts in Sion Hill/Sion Farm.
In 3 or 4 years he can control the market locally. Maybe someone can take that as an example of thinking long term and growing acres of fruit trees.

But as a person from a family of farmers, I still say farming is not the answer to our economic problems here.

LOTS of agriculture incentives out there.... where are the farmers to grow the food?

But as a person from a family of farmers, I still say farming is not the answer to our economic problems here.

Unless you're growing the wacky weed:) Oops, that's a different thread.

Agriculture is a part of the answer to economic diversification while filling a critical need. We spend $400 million per year on agricultural products. $100 million of it could be produced here, including livestock, fisheries, vegetables and fruits. Do you know what that means?

Besides, Alana is right. We should not bring invasive species of grass here.
Moreover, we want renewable energy, not carbon based energy.

MissJustice, have you ever grown fruits and veggies here even on a small scale? The topography of STX is better suited to it but even the early settlers had a rough time of it as our land simply isn't good enough for consistent mass production.

And how can we compete with countries in our region with waaay more acreage and rain? Innovation and creativity are the keys to furthering economic opportunities for all regions, not just VI. Let's have some 21st century thinking, please.

Someone trying to do good for our STX island, I'm sad to see them getting the smack down.

Stx used to be a bread basket for Europe where sugar cane was concerned. You guys don't remember when Stx was covered with sugar cane before Sunny Islae was built. STT is ideal for fisheries.
21st century farming equipment could yield food. Much of agriculture of the sixties was sabotaged by the food stamp program and welfare which took away work incentive and provided junk food without the opportunity to buy fresh stuff. The foodstamp program now allows for purchase of local produce.

Someone trying to do good for our STX island, I'm sad to see them getting the smack down.

Who are you referring to???

Think she's referring to TIBBAR with their invasive species of grass, shady principles, big groundwater usage and low amount of energy that would have been produced for island. Glad the legislature did not grant the lease and thought so, too.

Stx used to be a bread basket for Europe where sugar cane was concerned.

St Croix was one of the many sugar-cane producing Caribbean islands but not the largest or a "bread basket for Europe" by any stretch.

Stx used to be a bread basket for Europe where sugar cane was concerned. You guys don't remember when Stx was covered with sugar cane before Sunny Islae was built. STT is ideal for fisheries.
21st century farming equipment could yield food. Much of agriculture of the sixties was sabotaged by the food stamp program and welfare which took away work incentive and provided junk food without the opportunity to buy fresh stuff. The foodstamp program now allows for purchase of local produce.

Yes, I remember when STX was covered in sugar cane. My grandfather worked at Bethlehem.

Are there any other Caribbean islands that grow more than 25% of their own food?

Stx used to be a bread basket for Europe where sugar cane was concerned. You guys don't remember when Stx was covered with sugar cane before Sunny Islae was built. STT is ideal for fisheries.
21st century farming equipment could yield food. Much of agriculture of the sixties was sabotaged by the food stamp program and welfare which took away work incentive and provided junk food without the opportunity to buy fresh stuff. The foodstamp program now allows for purchase of local produce.

Yes, I remember when STX was covered in sugar cane. My grandfather worked at Bethlehem.

Are there any other Caribbean islands that grow more than 25% of their own food?

For starters,.......Cuba.

Dominica

Cuba is a HUGE island 42,000 sq. mi. / compared to any Virgin Island and Dominica is 291 sq. mi and has mountains over 4700 ft high - a very different topography and rain patterns - neither are a fair comparison.

MissJustice, have you ever grown fruits and veggies here even on a small scale? The topography of STX is better suited to it but even the early settlers had a rough time of it as our land simply isn't good enough for consistent mass production.

Israel exports food. They have salty rocky deserts.
Stx is perfect for farming.

Israel exports food. They have salty rocky deserts.
Stx is perfect for farming.

A classic non sequitur - love it! 😀

Are they still thinking of running the submarine power cable from Puerto Rico to STX?

Are they still thinking of running the submarine power cable from Puerto Rico to STX?

They were never seriously considering it. It is just too much money to do so, and the GVI is broke. They even turn down power options that make them money.

"Stx is perfect for farming."

Unfortunately, many residents believe this, and criticize the government for not devoting more resources for farming. Most are very outspoken with their criticism, but have few facts to support how the VI can compete commercially with other agricultural destinations. They are passionate, but uninformed and stubborn, IMO.

"Stx is perfect for farming."

Unfortunately, many residents believe this, and criticize the government for not devoting more resources for farming. Most are very outspoken with their criticism, but have few facts to support how the VI can compete commercially with other agricultural destinations. They are passionate, but uninformed and stubborn, IMO.

Absolutely correct. Over the years, how many millions have been spent by DoA and nothing has changed at all, except more talk.

Agriculture is a part of the answer to economic diversification while filling a critical need. We spend $400 million per year on agricultural products. $100 million of it could be produced here, including livestock, fisheries, vegetables and fruits. Do you know what that means?

Besides, Alana is right. We should not bring invasive species of grass here.
Moreover, we want renewable energy, not carbon based energy.

I would need to see some proof of $100 million production in agricultural fields in USVI. I'm all for farming when feasible. I even have a degree in crop science but there is NO way STT or STJ could produce that scale commercial farming. I have never been to STX but I'm dubious there as well based solely on land mass.