Main Categories

	CATEGORY	GARDEN SPACE (SQUARE FEET)
a)	Small Kitchen Garden	8 – 20 sq. ft.
b)	Medium Kitchen Garden	21 – 35 sq. ft.
c)	Large Kitchen Garden	36 – 100 sq. ft.
d)	Best Junior Kitchen Garden	8 - 36 sq. ft
e)	Best Hydroponic Kitchen Garden	Please choose one of the options below
f)	Best Aquaponic Kitchen Garden	Please choose one of the options below

 

Consideration will be given for the exclusion of drain beds or access footpath between crops.

Horizontal Pipes – Approx. 40-50 sqft

• 10ft long
• Pipes 2ft apart
• Holes at least 1” apart – 9 grow holes per pipe

 

Vertical Pipes – 15-20 sqft

• 4-5ft height not including the water collection container
• Pipes 3ft apart depending on crop
• Growing space with holes at least 1’ apart – 18 holes per pipe

 

Stacked Pots – 15 - 20 sqft

• 4-5ft height not including water collection container
• Pipes 3ft apart depending on crop
• Grow space – 4 plants per pot
• No soil Grow media

 

Media grow bed – 16-32sq feet

• Grow media – no soil
• Type of Crops used would determine grow space ie. long term crops would occupy more space than seasonings and leafy greens
• Eg. 4x4 space can accommodate – 1 row of 6 chive; 1 row of 5 shadon beni; 1 row of 3 patchoi and 1 row of 3 lettuce

A-frame is a vertical and horizontal pipe hybrid combo ~ 30sq ft

Holes at least 1ft apart

 

 

 

 

4. Individuals registering for the aquaponics category must indicate on the registration form whether they are using an existing or newly established system.
5. Participants below the age of eighteen (18) years entering the competition individually (not taking part in the family category) will be required to enter the Best Junior Kitchen Garden

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The Special Categories include:

1. Most Innovative Kitchen Garden
2. Most Sustainable Kitchen Garden
3. Best Influencer Kitchen Garden
4. People’s Choice
5. Most Decorative Kitchen Garden
6. Best Family Kitchen Garden

 

6. To qualify for the Best Influencer Kitchen Garden, the influencer must have over 3,000 followers on either IG, FB, or Tic Toc. The influencer must choose from the six (6) main categories. Influencers must share each of their videos on their personal social media pages using the hashtage #giy #growityourself #bestvillage #mscd and tag MSCD. All three (3) videos must also be uploaded to the microsite. The influencer’s garden will be adjudicated as the other main categories. The influencers will also be judged via votes on the microsite throughout the competition for this special category. The final tally of votes for all three (3) videos will be completed at the end of the competition. The judges’ scores will carry a weight of 60% whilst, the votes attained will account for 40% of the influencer’s score. The weighted scores will be used to determine the Best Influencer Kitchen Garden.

 

7. To be considered for the Best Family Garden, competitors must indicate that they are participating as a family on the registration form. To qualify for this category, two (2) or more persons from the same household must participate. This category will be adjudicated as the other categories. However, family members must be listed or identified, and their video submissions should demonstrate their participation through their roles in the preparation and maintenance of the garden.

 

8. Crops can be planted in any object available (e.g. ground, grow box, pot etc.) and may be of any shape but must:
   • Be grown at the home of the competitor or be within close proximity of the competitor’s property; and
   • Adhere as much as possible to the recommended square footage for the various categories.

 

9. Competitors are required to maintain a crop journal which should contain information such as:
   • The date of planting;
   • The crop variety;
   • Cultural practices (integrated pest management, fertilisation, watering, sanitation, moulding etc.); and
   • Yield

 

10. Competitors will be required to submit three (3) videos.

• The videos must not be longer than two (2) minutes (120 seconds) each showcasing their garden.
• Videos must not be a series of images/photo collage. It should be a recording of their garden, crops, and the information contained in the crop record as well as, measures taken to adhere to health and safety practices.
• When recording competitors are to describe their garden (size, category, name of crops). The description can be included in writing in the video or audio.
• Please ensure that proper lighting is used when recording the videos. The contents of the video must be clearly visible for judging.
• Participants are to ensure that the audio in the video is clear (judges must be able to clearly hear the participant/s in the video).
• Participants are advised to utilise the entire frame when creating videos. Please avoid pillar boxing bars / letter boxing as this makes it harder for the judges to see your garden and the contents of the video.

Please avoid this →

Phases	Activity	Timelines
Phase 1	Registration Workshop Plants in the ground 1st Video Submission (upload)	April 5th – April 18th April 25th April 19th – April 28th April 25th – May 5th
Phase 2	2nd Video Submission (upload)	May 25th  – May 29th
Phase 3	3rd Video Submission (upload) People’s Choice	June 9th – June 12th June 9th – June 14th

 

The top three (3) winners will be announced for each of the Eleven (11) Administrative Districts throughout Trinidad and Tobago, namely:

• St George East;
• St George West;
• Victoria East;
• Victoria West;
• Caroni South;
• Caroni North;
• St Patrick East;
• St Patrick West;
• Nariva/Mayaro;
• St Andrew/St David; and
• Tobago

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ADJUDICATION

District and Overall categories will be adjudicated by a panel of experts selected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and the Ministry of Sports and Community Development (MSCD). Participants must attain an average score of sixty-five (65) and above to be considered for a district and / or overall prize. The small, medium and large kitchen gardens will be judged at both the district and overall level. Whilst, the hydroponic, aquaponic and Best Junior Kitchen garden will be judged at the overall level. The top three (3) participants with an average score of 65 and above will comprise the district winners within each main category (small, medium and large) in each of the eleven (11) Administrative Districts. 1st place winners will move forward for consideration for the overall prize in their category. Overall winners will be chosen from the top three (3) gardens in each main category (small, medium and large). Similarly, the top three (3) participants with an average score of 65 and over within the hydroponic, aquaponic and best junior garden categories will comprise the overall winners. One (1) average point will be deducted for every 20 seconds over the stipulated time of two (2) minutes (120 seconds).   Winners of the following special categories will be selected from all thirty-three (33) 1st place District winners as well as the winner of the Best Junior Kitchen Garden:

• Most Innovative Kitchen Garden;
• Most Sustainable Kitchen Garden; and
• Most Decorative Kitchen Garden.

The Most Innovative Kitchen Garden prize will be given to the competitor with the highest Overall Innovation score. The Most Sustainable Kitchen Garden prize will be given to the competitor with the highest Overall Sustainability score.   The Most Decorative Kitchen Garden prize will be given to the competitor with the highest Overall Decorative score.   The Best Family Garden prize will be given to the top competitor in the family category with the highest overall average score of sixty-five (65) and above. The People’s Choice Award will be issued based on the competitor whose videos achieved the most amount of votes on the MSCD’s website. The Best Influencer Choice Award will be issued based on the competitors’ scores and number of votes achieved on the MSCD’s website.

BEST KITCHEN GARDEN
CATEGORY	DESCRIPTION	POINTS
Plant /Crop Health & Maturity	Overall health of the plants and / or crop (e.g. number of yellow or discoloured leaves, signs of pests, level of development for its age etc.).	20 pts.
Yield / Quantity of Crop	Yield achieved based on the average expectation for the crop (e.g. the number of or size of the crops is larger or smaller than the norm).	20 pts.
Overall Innovation	New or underutilised solutions to concerns or drawbacks, in gardening (e.g. plant rotation, watering or fertilising mechanisms, etc.).	15 pts.
Sustainability	“Green” garden practices such as upcycled and recycled materials, water conservation, composting, etc.	15 pts.
Decorative	Aesthetic choices e.g. Use of coloured fertiliser, or pebbles, inclusion of flowers, garden layout and design, etc.	10 pts.
Health & Safety	General sanitation, the use of personal protective equipment, handling and storage of pesticides, fertilizers, tools and equipment.	10 pts
Record Keeping	Record of the date of planting, crop variety, yield, cultural practices (e.g. integrated pest management, fertilisation, watering, sanitation, moulding, etc.).	10 pts
	TOTAL	100 pts.

 

MOST SUSTAINABLE GARDEN
CATEGORY	DESCRIPTION	POINTS
Water conservation	Watering methods which helps conserve water (e.g. drip irrigation systems, use of rain water/recycled household water to water plants as well as the use of mulch to maintain moisture).	4 pts.
Integrated pest management	The use of organic pesticides / various herbs / flowers to help get rid of pests as well as the use of disease resistant varieties of plants.	4 pts.
Use of recycled and upcycled materials	The use of materials such as tyres, pvc pipes and plastic bottles as a substitute for plant containers as well as the use of table scraps, grass cuttings and animal waste in compost.	4 pts.
Garden design	Placement of plants to help shade other plants.	3 pts.
	TOTAL	15 pts.

 

MOST INNOVATIVE GARDEN
CATEGORY	DESCRIPTION	POINTS
Garden Design	The use of vertical gardening techniques to utilise limited space, intercropping, etc.	4 pts.
Use of unconventional plant containers and plant stands	The use of items such as bottles, tins and tyres as plant containers.	4 pts.
Self-watering systems	Creative design and use of self-watering systems.	4 pts.
New or underutilized methods for pest control	The use of new or underutilised methods to deter and control pests / plant diseases (e.g. home-made mixtures of various herbs, etc.).	3 pts.
	TOTAL	15 pts.

 

MOST DECORATIVE GARDEN
CATEGORY	DESCRIPTION	POINTS
Use of decorative plants	The use of decorative plants and herbs which both deter pests and beautify garden.	3 pts.
Use of decorative containers	Design and use of decorative plant containers.	2 pts.
Aesthetic layout of garden	Overall layout of garden.	3 pts.
Use of decorative materials	Use of coloured mulch, ornamental stones and signs to help enhance the beauty of the garden.	2 pts.
	TOTAL	10 pts.

 

PRIZES BREAKDOWN:

Estimated Expenditure:
COMMUNITY KITCHEN GARDEN COMPETITION PRIZES
CATEGORY		# AMT.	PLACING	PRIZE $
SMALL	DISTRICT	11	1st	$3,000.00
			2nd	$2,000.00
			3rd	$1,500.00
	OVERALL	1	1st	$5,000.00
			2nd	$3,000.00
			3rd	$2,000.00
MEDIUM	DISTRICT	11	1st	$3,500.00
			2nd	$2,500.00
			3rd	$2,000.00
	OVERALL	1	1st	$6,000.00
			2nd	$4,000.00
			3rd	$3,000.00
LARGE	DISTRICT	11	1st	$4,500.00
			2nd	$3,000.00
			3rd	$2,500.00
	OVERALL	1	1st	$8,000.00
			2nd	$6,000.00
			3rd	$4,500.00
CATEGORY		# AMT.	PLACING	PRIZE $
HYDROPONIC	OVERALL	1	1st	$8,500.00
			2nd	$6,500.00
			3rd	$5,000.00
AQUAPONIC	OVERALL	2	1st	$8,500.00
			2nd	$6,500.00
			3rd	$5,000.00
Best Influencer Kitchen Garden	OVERALL	1	1st	$5,000.00
Best Junior Kitchen Garden	OVERALL	1	1st	$5,000.00
			2nd	$3,000.00
			3rd	$2,000.00
SPECIAL PRIZES (5 Categories)				$4,000.00	$20,000.00

Click here to download our Declaration

Click here to download the Crop Record Sheet

Click here to download the GIY Permission Form for Property Use