About Us

Back in 2016, I was trying to expand my own backyard garden by putting in a few more beds. I needed more compost, so I went looking at local garden stores. It’s then that I discovered something surprising: you couldn’t buy compost in Antigua.

A friend who owns one of those garden stores explained why… He told me about how he had imported some compost previously, but ran into an issue with the Plant Protection Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture. It seems, they require that all imported compost be quarantined and tested, at the importer’s expense.

Of course, if you think about it, it makes sense – you don’t want foreign pests or pathogens sneaking in. And my friend told me, once the compost hit the shelves, it sold off quick. But unfortunately, the whole quarantine and testing process also made importing compost more difficult and expensive than it’s worth.

That’s when the idea hit me: if we can’t import the stuff, why can’t we just make it here?

My first approach was to jump straight into a commercial operation. So, I spent a couple years researching, creating a business plan, and sharing it with people who I thought might consider investing. But no one was willing to take the leap. The consensus was, going from personal backyard composting to a full-scale commercial facility was just too much risk to take.

So the idea stalled, and sat on the shelf for a while. Then one day, a fellow gardening friend gave me the nudge I needed: “Why not just start a small compost business in your own backyard?” Sometimes it takes an outside voice to point out the obvious 🙂

That’s how Grow Antigua Compost Factory was born. Since then, I’ve produced over 80 batches of compost: 53 at my old house and another 27 (and counting) at our Betty’s Hope site. And nearly every batch sells out before it’s even finished, proof that the demand is real and growing.

We’re here to:

• Turn waste into a resource and reduce the amount of organic material going into Cooks landfill
• Improve soil health naturally, while reducing our reliance on foreign-made chemicals
• Support local growers, from backyard gardeners to farms and schools
• Strengthen Antigua & Barbuda’s food security and climate resilience

As of now, Grow Antigua is still a one-man show. Every batch is constructed, turned, monitored, screened and bagged by hand. But the vision is bigger: a commercial-scale composting facility that can meet island-wide demand, create jobs, and serve as a model for the Caribbean.

We’re proud of what’s been built so far, and excited for what’s ahead. Whether you’re buying compost, cheering us on, or exploring how to be part of the next chapter, you’re helping make Antigua greener, healthier, and more resilient.