The Virgin Islands Sustainable Farms Institute (VISFI) was founded six years ago by Georgia native Ben Jones. It’s a place dedicated to building community and creating networks of sustainable agricultural projects, with a focus on nature awareness, permaculture and primitive skills. For those in search of some learning and adventure, VISFI offers internships on their 100-acre farm. You can contact them to find out more about this at visfi.org.

VISFI is nestled in a valley of St-Croix Island, the largest of the Virgin Islands, with about 60,000 inhabitants. The below photo shows the fields of the farm and some of the community centre in the distance. Between 12 and 15 people live and work full-time at VISFI, though this fluctuates based on course and workshops.

Some of Visfi’s current courses include the Ridge to Reef Beneficial Farming program and the Bush Skills Carribean Rendez-vous, as well as ongoing apprenticeships on the farm.

This winter VISFI will also be holding its first Gaia University Orientation as it is becoming the Caribbean Regional centre for Gaia U. Gaia University is an Action-Learning based program that offers accredited bachelors, masters and post-graduate diplomas. Their programs range from integrative eco-social design to open topic, with two-week intensives being held at various permaculture sites and communities across the globe. For more information about Gaia U and their programs you can visit gaiauniversity.org.