Lead CTI farmer, Jade Sands, guides the Preston H. Albury High School students on how to appropriately space and plant the young lettuce plants.
Investing in the Future Through Sustainable Agriculture & Youth
OEF and CTI are supporting the Preston H. Albury (PHA) High School in cultivating a transformative agri-educational experience for high school students through Hydroponic farming and the expansion of the school’s immersive farm. Our recent donation of a Hydroponic Tower Growing System and lettuce seedlings has already proven fruitful, producing multiple heads of lush and robust Crystal and Mixed Asian lettuces that complement the selection of produce already being grown by the students.
Trays of vibrant lettuce seedlings cultivated at the CTI Farm were also donated to the school and planted in the Hydroponic Grow Tower donated by OEF/CTI.
The PHA farm serves as an interactive, outdoor classroom, providing students with direct exposure to sustainable farming practices and food production systems. Through hands-on learning, students gain a deeper understanding of where their food comes from and how agriculture impacts health, the environment, and the economy.
For OEF, this project is part of a broader effort to raise awareness about food security, promote environmental stewardship, and empower youth with the knowledge and confidence to become the next generation of farmers, scientists, environmental advocates, and agri-entrepreneurs.
It offers an opportunity to connect education to real-world challenges. Students actively engage in growing food, while simultaneously learning essential STEM skills such as biology, environmental science, and soil health. Additionally, they are introduced to business and entrepreneurship concepts through real-world farming activities and the opportunity to sell their produce, thereby reinvesting in the supplies and equipment needed to maintain the farming operation.
These invaluable lessons not only teach students about the importance of local food systems and nutrition but also help develop a sense of personal responsibility, leadership, and environmental stewardship. By investing in youth agricultural education, we instill a sense of pride and ownership in our students while providing them with the tools they need to build a more sustainable and resilient future for themselves and our communities.
We are one community with a shared vision to create resilient, thriving, and self-sufficient individuals and food-secure communities on Eleuthera for this generation and the next.
The next phase of this transformative project requires $14,000 to purchase additional equipment and the necessary supplies to maintain the momentum that has started and expand the farm’s operation.
The Hydroponic Tower Growing System donated by OEF as a community grant, is designed to support repeated use, ensuring that the farm’s productivity and educational value are sustained over the long term. This investment will also strengthen the school’s commitment to food security, nutrition, and environmental education while providing students with an opportunity to explore agriculture as a viable career path.
Related Stories
SNAPSHOT HIGHLIGHTS Q1 2026
Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Wraps With 10K Business Pitch CompetitionThe Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) – Eleuthera, a collaborative initiative between One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) and the U.S. Embassy Nassau, culminated in an...
The Next Chapter Begins with You
Fourteen years ago, a committed circle of early supporters and visionaries launched a bold Shared Vision for Eleuthera’s future. They believed that a place-based organization invested deeply in its community could transform lives, teach...
A Campus for Everyone: CTI as a Community Gathering Place
Over the past decade, the CTI campus has expanded into much more than a training facility. It has become a gathering place for Eleutherans to gather, grow and celebrate community events and milestones.Throughout the year, students, faculty,...
The Deep Blue: Exploring Opportunities in the Blue Economy
The ocean has long sustained life and livelihoods across Eleuthera and The Bahamas. Today, it represents one of the country’s greatest resources for sustainable economic growth and management.Through new research initiatives and stakeholder...
Strengthening the Third Sector: Building Out the Social Good Accelerator
Across The Bahamas, nonprofit organizations play a critical role in advancing education, health services, youth development, environmental protection, community resilience, and more. Yet many organizations have very limited access to training,...
A Living Classroom Takes Flight: The Bird’s Eye View Nature Trail
Eleuthera’s natural landscapes are among its greatest treasures and one of its greatest opportunities. The newly launched Bird’s Eye View Birding and Nature Trail is transforming conservation into education, tourism development, and community...
Innovation in Action: Building the CTI Regenerative Food Forest
Across the Caribbean, communities are exploring new agricultural systems capable of restoring soil, increasing biodiversity, and improving climate resilience. CTI’s 1-acre Regenerative Food Forest (RFF) is taking root and placing nature’s blueprint...
Growing Food Security: Why the CTI Training Farm Matters More Than Ever
Food security is one of the biggest and most urgent challenges facing small island nations and family islands like Eleuthera. The Bahamas’ dependence on imported food increases vulnerability to supply chain disruptions, climate change, and rising...
Rooted at Home: Technical Training That Builds the Workforce of Tomorrow
Across small island communities, one of the greatest challenges facing development is the steady migration of young talent seeking opportunity elsewhere. For years, this “brain and talent drain” has limited economic growth and reduced the...
A Message From The President and CEO | April 2026
Dear Friends, Fourteen years ago, One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) began with a simple but powerful idea: that communities thrive when people, environment, culture, and opportunity grow and flourish together. Today, that vision continues to take root...
Protecting Nature, Empowering People: OEF Unveils the Bird’s Eye View Birding & Nature Trail
Eleuthera’s forests are alive with biodiversity, history, and stories waiting to be told. OEF is on the final stretch and proudly preparing to open its newest eco-tourism and conservation initiative. Located within the lush Coppice Forest at the...