Ins & Outs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines - 2023

100 UNION ISLAND Sparrow’s Aquaponic Farm Renowned in the Southern Grenadines as a top fisherman, Bertrand Sailly catches most of the fish served each day at his Sparrows Beach Club and Restaurant. So, when the pandemic struck, he came up with a plan to make his restaurant self-sufficient in other produce he needs in large quantities – fresh herbs and salads. Modelled on the self-sustainable system of aquaponics, Bertrand’s farm has a pond where tilapia fish are fed with the peelings and scraps from the restaurant. The water from the pond is then fed through the roots of the plants he grows, which act as a filter and send clean water back into the fish-pond. Since the plants thrive on the nutrient rich water from the fish, there is no need for any chemical fertilisers or pesticides, thereby providing 100% organic, perfectly healthy food for his guests and his family - including various kinds of lettuce, several varieties of basil, plus other herbs like dill and mint. This project has been an absolute joy and labour of love for Bertrand. First and foremost, it is a family affair, with his son Sabastian working alongside him. Secondly, the farm is idyllically located high up in the hills of Union Island, with an amazing view of the entire Grenadines. It is a very quiet and peaceful place, disturbed only by the buzzing of the wild bees happily pollinating his tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, aubergines, sweet peppers and even strawberries. Not only has Bertrand found a reliable source of organic produce, he has also discovered a new hobby that he loves.