What is VISFI & Ridge to Reef Farm?
At it’s heart, the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute (VISFI), in the island of St. Croix, is a place to simply relax and get closer to food. VISFI is more of an experience than a place or a concept. We work hard to provide certified organic food to the small island of St. Croix, and exist to inspire others to do the same in their home communities through our educational programs. Most of the land is devoted to the regeneration of nature after hundreds of years on intensive agriculture from the sugar cane era. Our small gardens and outdoor demonstration classrooms are arranged to provide a full cycle of holistic living, from sustainable building, to solar power, organic cropping, animal husbandry, slow food cooking, nature connection, and community mentoring. We have native restoration areas, vegetable gardens, bamboo groves, hundreds of planted fruit trees, chickens, sheep, goats, a donkey, and ample room to explore.
VISFI Program Director Nate Olive is now leading VISFI through the new farm enterprise Ridge to Reef Farm. Along with program coordinator Shelli Brin, a 3rd generation VI native, new production manager Patrick Boulger, Chef Angletta Pascal, Chris Fletcher, and other key staff, their Ridge to Reef Farm is now the only USDA Certified Organic farm in the US Virgin Islands and is VISFI’s management entity. Together they redefine educational and volunteer agri-tourism as unique body learning experiences in local food systems. Visitors and students take part in a working farm in the peaceful Caledonia valley. The project was ranked as a top twelve global innovation for sustainable development by the National Geographic Society. Read more about the current Ridge to Reef project in the National Geographic Society’s sponsored Changemaker’s profile.
Ridge to Reef Farm (R2R) was founded in 2010 to serve as a hands-on educational garden complex and food production site.
- We currently specialize in (purchase
- )
- Salad Greens
- Mixed Herbs
- Root Crops
- Tropical Fruits
- Chicken Eggs
Programs include Ridge to Reef Beneficial Farmer Training program, permaculture certificate training, volunteer/service programs, farm tours, the NAtural Mentors Summer Camp, the web based VI Locally Grown market, Farm Village programs, and Natural Mentors Adventures.
Who is Involved?
With nine months of on-farm educational programs per year, current VISFI educational programs range from one-day interpretive school field trips to multi-month farmer training courses that can count for college credit. Per year, we host over 1000 local school students (K-12) from every school on St. Croix, 60 college students who are fulfilling degree requirements and obtaining specific technical skills, 25-30 interns and apprentices, and over 3000 day visitors from as close as St. Thomas and as far as China. Every person walking on our 200-acre Green Globe Certified campus experiences a showcase of sustainable lifestyle techniques and technologies, ranging from organic food growing techniques to solar and bio energy production. Islands Magazine recently rated VISFI as a top “25 New Favorite” in the Caribbean. Finally, VISFI is recognized as an educational affiliate member in the book Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature: For Kids of all Ages and their Mentors (p. 391).
Purpose & Mission
VISFI promotes the development of agroecology: an innovative field of agriculture that enjoins productivity with resource conservation, using ecological and indiginous management models to create sustainable life systems. We believe local, organic agriculture and a practical educational experience are the first steps toward building vital communities and achieving long term sustainability within a healthy environment. These beliefs led to the establishment of our Four Pillars: Education, Sustainability, Community, and Environment. We use these focal points to guide decisions that will promote our farm’s vision.
