Projects | Edna's Garden: Farming In Danver's Pen

So after doing some research on Aloe Vera. I started a project in Danver's Pen, St. Thomas - my father's birth place. Bought 2,000 Aloe Vera suckers and for the past 6 months they have been managing the harsh weather. Got good word from my father a week ago, that the plants are doing well.

These plants are desert plants that have a number of uses. I'm excited about this project. I know that with this investment I cannot lose. There are too many ideas that can spring off the farming of Aloe Vera: soaps, lotion, shampoo, medicine and, even, drinks. This is one of the many crops that is king in the Nutraceutical industry. I, eventually, want to manufacture my own set of Nutraceutical products beginning with Aloe Vera. Now, I want to make Aloe Vera drinks including a fermented beverage (like Tequila) and create a line of Aloe Vera salads to put on the market. The Aloe Vera salad off-course, will be mixed with fruits and packaged with enticing names like 'Allure', 'Ascension', etc. (credit to the ALO drink company for these ideas).

The land that I am farming on is 75,000 sq. ft. I calculated that the land can comfortably host 10,000 Aloe Vera plants with the necessary passages and irrigation lines within the field. I have a little discomfort with being limited to 10,000 plants and so, I am considering Vertical Farming (innovative way to farm going up rather than just relying on just the flat.

Apart, from Aloe Vera I am also considering farming Moringa Olifera. The leaves of this plant is used to make teas that have healing benefits. I haven't made any concrete plans for this but it's just a serious concept that I have in mind.

There is also a plot of land that is almost like a jungle in Danver's Pen that is 1/3 of an acre that can be used as a fruit nursery (greenhouse project). Ideas, ideas, ideas. How will they all come into being?

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