Arona's First Garden

The primary purpose of Arona's First Garden is to depict the importance of children getting involved in Agriculture from a young age and ensuring that the future generation is sustained in a healthy manner.

The primary purpose of Arona's First Garden is to depict the importance of children getting involved in Agriculture from a young age and ensuring that the future generation is sustained in a healthy manner. Many children are not aware of where the foods they eat come from; they really think it comes from the supermarkets. Eating fresh food from your backyard is more nutritious and it tastes much better while eating it than those bought from the supermarket. Gardening brings about greater discipline, consistency and exercise. It acts as a stress releaser and a character builder in our children from at a young age. Over the school breaks children can earn some income. This income can be used to aid in obtaining their school supplies. Additionally, the income can be used simply for saving and developing an entrepreneurial spirit that they can used later on in life.

Arona Forbes pursued academic studies after leaving the British Virgin Islands (BVI) High School in 1983. Her academic achievements led to a Bachelor- of Science Degree in Agronomy, Farm Business Management and Agricultural Economics; a Master of Science in Horticulture; Masters of Arts in Project Management and in Business Administration – Human Resources. Her corporate profession has caused her to travel to more than thirty-three (33) nations. In her thirty-six (36) years of experience in the BVI Civil Service, she moved up the ladder from an Agricultural Trainee to the position of Ag. Chief Agricultural Officer. She is responsible for the initiation of the Annual Pesticide Week and Mango Array and Tropical Fruit Festival. These activities attracted many local and tourists, where they learnt valuable information on the Tropical Fruits in the BVI and the safe way to use, manage and store pesticides within our households and on farms. Mrs. Forbes also coordinated the celebration of the Recognition of one hundred years (100) of Agricultural Activities in the BVI. This event celebrated the contribution made by several officers within the Agricultural Sector. They were given their flowers while they were alive. Over the years her husband Jeffrey Forbes and her established "Forbes Trucking & Agricultural Services" and later on "Arona's Market Place". These two businesses provide services in the Agricultural Sector.