Context and Background
This practical short course introduces participants to the fundamentals of sustainable home food production, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to establish and maintain a productive home garden. Through a blend of interactive lectures and hands-on practical activities, participants will learn how to select suitable gardening systems, prepare growing media, choose healthy planting materials, manage irrigation and plant nutrition, control pests and diseases, and plan for continuous crop production. The course empowers individuals to improve household food security, promote healthier lifestyles, and reduce food costs through sustainable gardening practices
Learning Outcomes for the Workshop
By the end of this course, participants will be able to: • Explain the key principles of establishing and maintaining a successful home garden. • Select crops suited to available space, environmental conditions, and household needs. • Compare different home gardening systems and determine the most suitable option for a given setting. • Prepare quality growing media using locally available materials. • Identify healthy seedlings and select appropriate planting materials for various crops. • Construct simple, low-cost irrigation systems and evaluate drainage requirements. • Identify common pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies, and apply appropriate management strategies. • Apply sound fertilizer and plant nutrition practices to promote healthy crop growth. • Design a sustainable home garden layout and develop a crop production schedule using succession planting and crop rotation techniques.
Key Takeaways
By the end of this course, participants will have the practical knowledge and confidence to establish and manage a sustainable home food production system. They will understand how to plan, design, and maintain productive gardens using appropriate gardening systems, efficient irrigation, integrated pest management, and sustainable crop production practices that contribute to healthier living, lower household food costs, and greater food security.
Key Topics
1. Introduction to Home Gardening 2. Home Gardening Systems 3. Planting Media and Crop Selection 4. Irrigation and Drainage Systems 5. Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer Management 6. Pest and Disease Identification and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 7. Crop Planning and Garden Layout Design 8. Succession Planting and Crop Rotation 9. Sustainable Home Food Production Practices 10. Practical Home Garden Establishment and Management
The Facilitator
Hamza Mohammed Ali is a Part-Time Lecturer and Research Assistant in the Faculty of Food and Agriculture at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. He holds an MSc. in Tropical Animal Science and Production and a BSc. in Agricultural Technology from UWI, specializing in livestock and crop production. With over nine years of professional experience, he has extensive experience with the design and implementation of home gardens, as well as managing commercial-scale agricultural projects and stakeholder relationships. Hamza is a skilled educator and content creator who has published a tropical home gardening guide, coordinated agricultural training for regional farmers, and developed short courses across agricultural disciplines.
Certificate Awarded
Participants will receive a Certificate of Achievement with Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Pricing Information
Workshop Fee: TT$2,000 Online payment option (bank charges of 2.5% applies). When and Where: The workshop will be hosted by the Business Development Unit of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies. It will utilize interactive pedagogy strategies to promote an engaging learning experience. You will be able to join this workshop in person at the Faculty of Food and Agriculture to participate in discussions, interactive presentations, group exercises, resource videos, and valuable articles and case examples where applicable. The workshop will follow the schedule below:
- Dates: August 15, 16, 2026
- Times: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (EC/AST)
- In Person Lecture.
Don’t hesitate to contact the CPE Team at sta-cpe@uwi.edu, or visit sta.uwi.edu/cpe for registration details or complete the registration form using the following link: https://uwi.jotform.com/261305603848861