CCRAF on the Road – Day Two: Hands-On Training at Jennings Secondary School Farm by Brent Simon

Day Two of the CCRAF on the Road – MSB Project (Antigua & Barbuda Chapter) moved straight into practical field training as the team visited Jennings Secondary School, where agricultural science students from Jennings Secondary, Antigua Grammar School (AGS) and St. Mary’s Secondary participated in a series of hands-on exercises designed to strengthen real-world agricultural skills.

After brief introductions, the instructors got straight into the work.

Using an A-Frame to Find Level Ground

Students were first introduced to the A-frame, a simple but accurate tool for locating level ground — essential for contour planting, managing runoff, and preventing soil loss.

They rotated through the activity, practicing how to set the frame, read the line, and mark out true contour paths.

Soil pH and Nitrogen Testing

Next came a hands-on session involving soil pH and nitrogen diagnostics.

Students learned how to:

Properly collect soil samples,

Prepare them for field testing,

Fold filter paper into functional test cups,

And conduct nitrate vs. Nitrite assessments.

It was practical science — the kind they’ll actually use in real agricultural environments.

Seedling Selection and Donation

The training continued with a session on how to select strong, healthy seedlings for transplanting.

Students examined growth patterns, leaf quality, stem strength, and early indicators of plant vigor.

At the end of the session, Mrs. Sherriann Brazier donated tomato seedlings to the students for planting in their respective school gardens — a direct investment into their practical learning and ongoing agricultural projects.