Combine “hurricane-, earthquake challenged and fire-resistant construction” with the dogmas Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Repurpose. You will get The Keys Market – currently 1^st and only Eco market concept to be developed on St. Maarten DWI – Promo vid: https://youtu.be/sE_3mpnI5fU

Project Overview

The Keys Markets (TKM) location turns into an outdoor bazaar built out of recycled materials, which will sustain itself by reusing, re-purposing and recycling waste while becoming self-sufficient*. It’s a location where the occasional and or frequent vendor can set up their mobile shop.

There is room for 40+ flexible market stalls and up to 14+ Food stalls for the Food Court section at this outdoor bazaar. At TKM workshop activities in eco awareness will be made available to the public. Jobs and business opportunities in waste processing and upcycling will be created.

*TKM will have its own  food source (aquaponics system and permaculture gardens) and own renewable energy sources providing own electricity, cooking gas, harvested rainwater. The market will also be supplied with island grown fruit, veggies, fish, meat cultivated from different districts and zones e.g. Sucker Garden, St. Peters, Betty’s Estate and more.

Construction & Services

The local market location built out of recycled materials will offer workshop activities, jobs and business opportunities in reducing and  upcycling waste. A plus is that it will provide its own electricity, biogas and have its own waste-(water)-management system.

The special food court section built out of modified shipping containers. Each food stall must follow the sustainable dogmas “Reduce and Reuse“ by implementing the use of compostable food service, reduce food waste, use organic, free-range and local ingredients wherever possible. Food vendors also must sort their waste so it can be reused as far as possible.

Construction is managed by AntilleanDeals and executed by HoomStreet and Carib Housing  – experts in alternative construction and renewable energy sources – together with volunteers and 3^rd party local suppliers.

Currently we are looking for donations or investors for small investment amounts that will help us:

• Provide all building materials and needed labour equipment.
• Select and/or purchase used shipping containers for modification.
• Create a local workforce who will be taught to carry out the shipping container modification.

Reliable & Experienced

Designs are made by HoomStreet (www.hoomstreet.com) which has expertise in alternative construction and knowledge of renewable energy sources systems. Designs are also displayed on Carib Housing (www.caribhousing.com). Carib Housing is an expert in conventional and alternative construction methods, project management and tenant management. AntilleanDeals (www.antilleandeals.com) is responsible for The Keys Market management and marketing activities.

Support & Incentives

Want to donate?

Donation $6 – Supportive beads bracelet 
Support our project and receive our campaign bracelet that shows your support for this good cause.

Donation $20 – Supportive ring – “beer opener”
Support our project and receive this ring that shows your support for this good cause.

Donation $50 – Supportive T-shirt
Support our project and receive our campaign T-shirt that shows your support for this good cause.

Donations $100 and more – Stays at Vicky’s Keys Eco Hostel
In return for supporting this plan your are invited to stay at our St. Maarten partner – the only Eco Hostel called Vicky’s Keys – whom is a great supporter of this mission. In addition you get to witness the project progress of modifying shipping containers into market stalls and or “Work & Live Units” at the local market. If you like you can help sell locally made stuff at the market, or help make furniture out of pallets and or help sell great smoothies made out of fresh fruits and herbs from out the perma-cultured gardens.

Risks and challenges

By implementing our 4xR motto = Reduce- Reuse- Recycle and Re-purpose, we minimize investment risks. The challenges and risks to complete this project are mostly climate and area related. St. Maarten lies in a hurricane zone. Hurricane periods are from 1 June throughout 30 November peaking in August, September, and October with higher temperatures, drought and occurring tropical storms which are common making it a gamble if a hurricane would hit St. Maarten.

It is crucial to start construction activities in December until May. Although hurricane and earthquake challenged construction is carried out we cannot forecast the destructiveness of a hurricane or nature related phenomenon. It’s possible building materials could get damaged or lost in such cases. But nevertheless we put damaged building materials back to good use!