Adams Gardens and Farms uses 23 greenhouses and open fields to grow vegetables which is an innovative and sustainable way to meet the increasing demand for fresh produce year-round. They produce locally sourced and organic vegetables and offer the unique advantage of controlled environment agriculture. This allows for the cultivation of crops outside their traditional growing seasons, ensuring a steady supply to markets regardless of external weather conditions.
It started in 2016 by using her father’s land which had not been in use by then. They grew vegetables in 6 miles and leafy greens at Godrich (8-town lot). These two lands combined, have a total of 12 acres. The vegetables are cultivated in the 23 greenhouses as the land was not good for field farming. They have 22 vegetable crops in total ranging from bell pepper, habanero, cucumber, eggplant, tomatoes, and carrots to leafy greens like kale, spinach, and lettuce among others.
Adams Gardens and Farms ensures the use of sustainable practices, such as the use of organic farming, heating the soil before transferring it to the greenhouses to control pests, and the implementation of water-saving irrigation systems like drip irrigation, which significantly reduce their operational costs and increase the optimum harvest of their produce to environmentally conscious consumers. She uses their outlet in Freetown where they sell the produce as well as an online platform that manages orders and delivery.
Adams Gardens and Farms is among the 18 Women-led MSMEs and Cooperatives that were selected for the Growth Accelerator Programme in Sierra Leone implemented by UNDP in partnership with Aurora Foundation. After going through some Goal-setting exercises and business planning sessions with Aurora Foundation, she was able to identify quick wins for her business and develop a growth plan for the next two years. With the support of this programme, she has added 4 greenhouses to the 23 she already had, making it 27 in total. This gives her the opportunity to supply her target customers continuously and constantly with the rotation of vegetable crops in the greenhouses. She has managed to grow cucumbers and tomatoes which are in demand in this season. By the beginning of March, the cucumbers will start to be harvested and be on the market. Sales are predicted to increase while increasing revenue and her customer base.
A greenhouse vegetable business can be a profitable and fulfilling venture that contributes positively to the community’s nutritional needs and environmental sustainability.
