Almost three weeks ago, farmer Luca Gasperi woke suddenly from a Sunday afternoon nap, blasted by “a wall of smoke.” After he verified his family was safe, they all ran outside to face flames in various locations around the Art Farm on the South Shore of St. Croix.
“More than three fires started at the same time,” Gasperi said.
Someone had called the V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Services and as Gasperi searched through the vegetation on the property, he said he spotted an empty fire truck. Then he found the fire chief walking the grounds, deciding where to dispatch firefighters.
“The fire chief was there first. The fire department was great,” Gasperi said. Cotton Valley, Frederiksted and Richmond all sent fire equipment. Gasperi said they saved buildings and pasture.
Christina Gasperi soon issued a plea on Facebook for “anyone who is able-bodied and doesn’t have respiratory problems” to bring a shovel, buckets and any firefighting gear they may have.
For hours, water was lugged in trash cans by 20 or 30 people carrying buckets to the burning spots, mostly trying to save the wood posts holding up the fences.
The firefighters finally made their way to the turkey enclosure, and Luca Gasperi released the birds. Unfortunately, only two or the four survived.
After around five hours, the fire was contained. One shed was lost along with pasture, fencing supplies, irrigation equipment — more than what was lost in a fire several years ago.
“We lost a shed. It mainly burned pasture but got close to the cultivated land,” he said.
According to Gasperi, the fires burned about 34 of the 40-acre farm as well as land east toward the Boy Scout Camp and south toward the sea, land owned by the University of the Virgin Islands. Fencing, wooden posts and a water buffalo were also destroyed.
Some watermelon, cucumbers and pomegranates survived. Most of the tomato plants were destroyed by fire and along with mango trees and other crops. Gasperi said he will watch and see which, if any, moringa and mangos recover.
In the last few weeks, land, fence lines and charred debris have been cleared with the help of small groups of volunteers. Some irrigation equipment has been replaced, but there is much more to install.
Piles of ash have been raked into piles around the farm that will be made into biochar. To increase the volume of the soil, biochar will be mixed into vegetable beds along with compost if it is available.
Along with volunteers, Gasperi said the Good Food Coalition has been very helpful. The Coalition is helping the farm locate clean mulch and lumber.
Volunteers continue to be welcome. Those interested can call Luca Gasperi at 340-277-4343.
