Grow Box Gardening

  Purpose of This Document This document clarifies the use of the term “grow box” as it applies to Trinidad and Tobago, and particularly in the CVQ Level 1 Crop Production curriculum. It also compares regional terminology and curriculum packaging across the Caribbean. What Is a “Grow Box” in Trinidad and Tobago? If you’ve ever built a raised bed for vegetables, you might be surprised to learn that in  Trinidad and Tobago , it’s called a  grow box —especially in schools and vocational training programs. But is that just a local nickname? Not quite. In Trinidad and Tobago, a “grow box” refers to a fixed, framed, soil-filled structure used for vegetable production.  It is: Constructed from concrete blocks or wood Typically 30 ft × 5 ft × 8 in in size Filled with a pre-mixed soil blend Used in school gardens, backyard farming, and CVQ training This definition is formalized in the Ministry of Agriculture’s   Grow Box System for Vegetable Production   manual ...

So you have selected your site , decided what size of raised bed  you will be constructing, and gathered your tools, equipment, and materials . You are now ready to construct your raised bed. -------------------- 🔅-------------------- STEP 1 - Leveling the surface If the base of your raised bed is a concrete or asphalt surface, chances are it is already level. If however, you are using a dirt surface then you will have some work to do. Using a garden hoe, a garden rake, and any other garden tools you feel are necessary, level the surface for the base of your raised bed by removing all weeds, rubble, stones, etc. Break up any large clumps of soil. If necessary, you may want to add some sharp sand or plastering sand to the area to help make the base of the raised bed nice and level. When you have completed your task, the surface for the base of your raised bed  should look something like this: -------------------- 🔅-------------------- STE...