The Division of Personnel presents the workshop, “Planting Seeds of Health: An Introduction to Gardening,” in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and the University of the Virgin Islands’ (UVI) Extension Services. The six-week workshop will guide participants through the process of growing healthy fruits and vegetables at home as part of a greater wellness effort. The workshops will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. beginning Wednesday, March 28, at the UVI Cooperative Extension Services St. Thomas campus, according to a press release from the V.I. Division of Personnel.
The workshops are exclusively for employees of the Government of the USVI (GVI) and are in line with the mission of the Division of Personnel’s Wellness Program to “help employees achieve long term health.”
Speaking about the program, Director Hermon said, “Farming is one of the few professions of hope. It is with this understanding that we seek to educate our employees about the benefits of growing fresh produce in home gardens, in the hope that they can make changes to their diets and improve their overall health.”
The administration has several health and wellness initiatives to remind residents of the benefits of proper nutrition, exercise and good mental health, and is proactive in engaging stakeholders to help promote healthy living, from birth through adulthood. First Lady Cecile de Jongh also leads School Gardens and Composting initiatives, supporting youth education and wellness efforts, territory-wide.
If you are a GVI employee in the St. Thomas-St. John district and are interested in participating, contact your respective agency’s human resources (HR)/personnel office. St. Croix workshop dates will be announced at the conclusion of this initial series.
Additional workshop details are available at www.dopusvi.org and through the GVI agencies’ HR/personnel offices. For more information, contact Jervon Ottley at 774-8588 ext. 5114.
