Farm Name: La Finca de Hamberto
City: Vieques, Puerto Rico
Edgar Oscar Ruiz has served as the Executive Director of Community Through Colors since 2016. He has extensive experience in resilient community development and agricultural projects in Vieques. Living in Vieques, Mr. Ruiz has developed a strong relationship with multiple community organizations that will help achieve project goals. Mr. Ruiz has overseen 3 projects at CTC: the La Finca de Hamberto Project; the Community Through Colors Art Collective; and the Sail Relief Team Project. His farming knowledge dates to his early childhood when he was be assistant caretaker for Monte de Sion Farm in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He has been running the La Finca de Hamberto Project since June 2018 which produces food and coordinates local farm production to serve the needs of those with limited financial means in Vieques. Edgar’s funds will go towards a project to combine two components: the installation of a new caterpillar tunnel and field training for agricultural interns. He plans to oversee the completion of the project in collaboration with Beth Straight, the operations and data manager, and a team of local Puerto Rico University interns. The first step of the project will be clearing a currently unused grazing field of debris and fencing to prevent damage or injury during the project. Once the field is prepared, a caterpillar tunnel and irrigation system will be installed by the interns as part of their build project during a six-week agriculture internship at La Finca de Hamberto.
