Chris & Christie Powers

Southgate Corner Farmers Market St Croix: What you will find!

Nov 20, 2024 | Island News

Get an early start on Saturday mornings and head east to stock up on locally grown and harvested goods at Southgate Corner Farmers Market, St Croix.

Take your pick from produce, fresh & preserved fruit, fresh baked goods, local honey, farm fresh eggs and much more. For almost 15 years, the market has opened every Saturday morning rain or shine, welcoming customers from 9am to 12pm to support local farmers and artisans with a variety of goods.

Weekly updates on the market’s Facebook page share details about which farmers and vendors will be there each Saturday and what products they’re bringing. Chris and Christie Powers, local Realtors with Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty, help manage the page, keeping the community informed and excited for market day. “We got involved with the market because we’re neighbors and want people on island to have access to healthy, locally grown fruit, produce and other items produced locally.” As residents of St. Croix for over 20 years, they understand the importance of supporting local agriculture and believe the Farmers market, St Croix embodies the spirit of the island.

Shoppers can expect a lineup of 7 to 12 vendors each week.

Tico’s Garden offers an array of fruits and vegetables like lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, eggplants, dragon fruit, and eggfruit, with specials like their soursop and eggfruit ice creams and fresh juices. STX Local Eggs bring their farm-fresh eggs by the dozen, and Fiddlewood Farm showcases their artisanal goat cheese in flavors such as cranberry, French herb, black pepper, and a seasonal mango favorite. Bramble Bites adds unique finds like avocado salad dressing and breadfruit muffins, along with refreshing juices from local fruits like carambola, guava, and golden apple.

Another sweet find at the market comes from beekeeper and certified arborist, Errol Chichester. Thanks to his 3-acre fruit orchard and apiary, he harvests honey and a variety of native, tropical, and sub-tropical fruits that are available for purchase each week at the market. “I really enjoy coming to the market because we’re like a little family, plus everything found here is locally grown and/or produced,” shared Chichester. Sharing with others is also important to him being that he regularly brings fruits from his farm for marketgoers to experience, often for the first time. “I recently brought some mamey apple to share and many people at the market had never tried it before since it’s not as popular on island as it once was.” Along with his wonderful humor, Chichester always has some unique agricultural surprise on hand each week.

Find Southgate Corner Farmers Market, St Croix at the intersection of East End Road, just west of Cheeseburger in Paradise and near Southgate Baptist Church.

Look for the lively lot full of activity every Saturday. For more information, visit the market’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1173503619716087/ or search “Southgate Corner Farmers’ Market.”

Written by Anquanette Gaspard

Locals Name 20 Best Things to Do in St. Croix

Nov 20, 2024 | Island News

Travel & Leisure recently shared 20 Best Things to Do in St. Croix according to locals! Here are few highlights:

Identify wildlife as you swim along an underwater “trail” off the coast of Buck Island.
Go for a night dive at Frederiksted Pier to see underwater in a new light.
Indulge in St. Croix’s culinary scene — one of the best among the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Visit Protestant Cay for beautiful beaches with an unusual history.
Tour a famous distillery and try regional rums

See the full list and read the article here.

Crucian Gold’s Serenade on Strand Street

Nov 20, 2024 | Island News

On November 23, 2024 from 12 to 4 p.m, enjoy music, dance, and community with Crucian Gold‘s Serenade on Strand Street! There will be live performances by Ten Sleepless Knights, vibrant dance showcases by Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies, the Ten Sleepless Knights Dance Group, and the Caribbean Dance Company, and a bustling holiday market of local vendors on Strand Street, all while supporting scholarships for Virgin Islands youth.

As reported by the VI Consortium, this year’s Serenade on Strand Street will transform the area with a variety of local vendors offering holiday gifts, unique crafts, and an array of food and drink options, including traditional favorites such as Coquito. Family-friendly attractions will also be on hand, with activities like face painting adding to the festive atmosphere. Read the full article here.

What advice do you have for maintaining an outdoor living space in the Caribbean climate?

Nov 8, 2024 | QA

Question: “What advice do you have for maintaining an outdoor living space in the Caribbean climate?”

Our Answer:

St Croix has mostly warm, sunny days, beautiful sunsets and starry night time skies. Some days we have rain and hotter temperatures. Here are some things we do to help maintain our outdoor living space year round:

Outdoor furniture – There are so many options for outdoor furniture! Our favorites are ones which are easy to clean and can be hosed off. In choosing your furniture, think of comfort, esthetics, cleaning and durability.
Cushions and pillows – These should be attractive, comfortable, durable and easy to clean. We recommend fabrics which will withstand the sun, are easy to wash, and feel good.
Outdoor lighting – For solar lights, make sure that the color panels are clear of dirt or leaves so that they capture the sun and illuminate pathways. Strings of lights should be hung in such a way as to be easily removed in case of a storm. Many people have motion detection lights. With all of the salt in the air, check occasionally for rust.
Cleaning patios – At some point, you will want to pressure wash your patio. The furniture should be easy to move, and you will need water and power sources nearby.
Plants – Make sure that there’s a hose bib so that you can either water by hand, or hook up drip irrigation. Remember, plants don’t have a dormant season here, but grow all year. So, plan for those plants to get large! Growing plants suited for your area of the island will decrease the maintenance. There are lovely lush tropical plants which need more water, and succulents which are very low maintenance.
Bird feeders and bird baths – We have several of these all around our house. Refill feeders and baths every day. This brings birds into the garden so you can see them up close, and can help you reconnect with nature.

When designing an outdoor living space for a St. Croix home, what should I consider?

Nov 8, 2024 | QA

Question: “What are some tips for designing an outdoor living space in a home on St. Croix?”

Our Answer:

When planning a comfortable and useful outdoor living space, here are some considerations:

Comfortable seating – One of the first things you should invest in is comfortable seating. This may mean some combination of tables, chairs, couches, lounge chairs, benches or hammocks, depending on the space and your preferences.

Lighting – An attractive set of solar garden lights along your walkways will illuminate the paths between your plants. This is as much to create a mood as for safety. You might also want to think about hanging some string lights, perhaps with a fanciful and distinct design. This offers soft lighting for evening entertaining.

Outdoor storage – You will have outdoor supplies which you will want to keep conveniently available. Cabinets and storage benches will keep things tidy and uncluttered.

Awnings or umbrellas – Yes, the sun is great, but shade is also very important! If you don’t have a covered space, you will need some shade. This can be from large trees, umbrellas, or a retractable patio awning.

Outdoor cooking – One of the most popular items people purchase is a portable lightweight stove or grill. Some people who enjoy cooking outdoors create an outdoor kitchen with a sink, prepping counter and a small refrigerator.

Cushions and pillows – One way to make your patio look and feel cozy and inviting is with cushions and pillows. These should be comfortable and attractive. Some people choose colors similar to the indoor colors to give a smooth transition to their outdoor space.

Decor – There is an endless selection of decorative items you can find. There are lights, sculptures, fountains, birdbaths and beautiful pots for your plants. Some friends of ours sunk a bathtub into their garden to create a small pond. They also found the inside of a baby grand piano and hung it on the fence. Outdoor decor can beautify your space and express your personality!

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