The public now has more options to join the growing popularity of community gardening, thanks to the Ministry of Home Affairs, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health’s Grow Eat Save initiative launching in mid‑February.
As noted during the last sitting of the House of Assembly, the next Grow. Eat. Save. cohort, will begin on February 19.
This latest cohort will be dedicated to Devonshire residents.
The initiative, offered in partnership with the Ministry of Health’s Grow. Eat. Save. programme, directly advances the Affordable Bermuda Agenda by addressing food affordability through community empowerment and local production capacity. It’s not a competition like other gardening programmes, instead it’s a community-focused learning opportunity.
The Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, notes that Bermuda’s heavy reliance on food imports leaves families vulnerable to international price volatility and supply chain disruptions beyond our control. And this initiative provides residents with practical alternatives by teaching them to produce fresh vegetables and herbs at home, creating measurable household savings while building community resilience.
Programme participants will gain practical skills to grow their own produce, strengthen community connections through shared learning experiences, discover real ways to reduce grocery bills, and develop greater ownership over their household food security.
The Ministry has prepared a dedicated community garden plot in Devonshire where participants can apply their new skills in a shared gardening space, creating opportunities for continued learning and mutual support beyond the formal workshop sessions.
The nine-session Community Gardening Workshop runs from February 19 - April 22, with weekly classes meeting from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Gardening instruction will be provided by Chaplain Dr. Kevin Santucci, who brings extensive experience in sustainable agriculture and community education.
Registration is free and covers all nine sessions, though full attendance is required to ensure participants build comprehensive skills from soil preparation through harvest. Garden practical sessions may require a minimal fee for materials. Spaces are limited, and interested individuals are encouraged to register by February 16, 2026.
Minister Lightbourne encourages residents to embrace this opportunity to build practical skills that deliver real household savings while contributing to a more sustainable and affordable Bermuda.
The Minister said, said, “When families spend less on groceries through home production, they gain breathing room in their budgets for other essential needs. This is empowerment at its most tangible: soil under your hands, fresh food on your table, and resilience built plot by plot.
“This pilot represents our commitment to building a modern affordability ecosystem that goes beyond duty reductions to create structural change. We’re giving families practical tools to take control of at least one element of their household expenses while strengthening the community connections that make Bermuda resilient.”
Devonshire residents who wish to participate in this pilot programme can register at http://www.costofliving.gov.bm/.