Part of Tama’s involvement with the NFYFC is the sponsorship of their Travel programme. Tama donated to Sarah Kidd’s journey to Jamaica and you can read all about her adventures, in her own words, below:
NFYFC go to Jamaica
Eleven Young Farmers From all over England set off on a Voluntary Farming Project to Jamaica on the 6th – 21st of August 2016. A lot took place over the two weeks which was certainly an eye openers and an example of the fantastic opportunity’s the National Federation of Young Farmers can offer its members. London Heathrow to New York
An overnight stay in Newark, New Jersey could not be enough without a flying visit to New York City. So a few hours after leaving London Heathrow and in a jet lagged state we arrived in the Centre of New York City for a brisk and humid tour around the city and the sites until 3 am. Our New York Trip entailed flying visits to Times Square, Hard Rock Café and a towering trip up to the Empire State building with some spectacular views over the city. The Journey back to the hotel involved taking advantage of a trip cheaper than the taxi their, which just happened to be in a Limousine. If only there was a sky roof in this particular one!
Our Jamaican Host Family
 The two weeks was spent in Mandeville in Manchester Parish with our host families. Mrs Nelson cooked plates & plates of food. The main dish; Curry goat! Not forgetting Chicken & rice, oh and some more Chicken and rice!
Mustard Seed Community
The Mustard Seed Community is a charitable community in Jamaica which provides a safe home for physically and mentally disabled children. The community has limited funds to sustain itself from and our role was to create a small subsistence farm to grow food to eat, which they could also sell if surplus produce was grown.
Hands on work….
The Results
 Two acres of sweet potatoes, pumpkins, courgettes and peas, and a new found appreciation of any form of Machinery!  We purchased a hose after noticing the sweet potatoes were wilting and the organisation couldn’t afford to buy one. So no more bucket watering two acres at mustard seed!
Appleton Rum Estate
 A visit to a plantation of 11’000 acres of sugar cane in a beautiful Jamaican valley. The tour took us right around the distillery and quite rightly included ad lib Rum shots at the end – young farmers took full advantages of this, no surprises there! If you ever get the chance to get your hands on Rum Cream you will not regret it we promise! Jack Sprat Beach
 Nothing like a Jamaican beach; sun, sea and a Pina Colada! Shropshires very own Tom Sellers was responsible for the Tom’s Special which was made up of Rum Cream, evaporated milk, a single banana and a splash of syrup. Little Ochi
 At Little Ochi we stuffed ourselves with Jerk Fish netted from the Caribbean Sea we looked out over and grilled before our very eyes. Certainly a dish to remember!
Ocho Rios Beach, Montego Bay
A visit during the week Usain Bolt was running in the Rio Olympics mesnt the locals were having their very own races along this beautiful beach. We also took the opportunity to take a glass bottom boat trip and try out some snorkelling in the Caribbean Sea.  All followed by a meal in a local restaurant and trip into the market stalls in Montego Bay. We found some stall sellers had a less aggressive sales technique than others to put it mildly!
YS Falls
A visit to some tropical waterfalls and immaculate pools. YS Falls is part of an estate that successfully breeds racehorses which contributes to an active horse racing industry in Jamaica. The Estate was also home to an established herd of Red Poll Cattle.
Final Day Farm Tours
A visit to Sam Motta Goat and Sheep demonstration and training Centre. The centre looked at strengthening of Jamaica’s food security through for example the increased production of vegetables and herbs through the use of protected agriculture. We also visited other agricultural holdings in and around Manchester Parish.
Commercial goat Farm
We met Jamaica’s Champion Boer Goat by Mackey, who was kind enough to take time show us his farm.  Commercial Pig Farm We went to see a pig unit of 96 pigs whilst on our travels, and this was considered large scale in Jamaica. We also met a Jamaican Land agent who resolved land disputes for the cooperative his farm was owned by. He was also kind enough to climb a tree and harvest us some avocados.  Commercial Strawberry Farm
Strawberries are grown in Jamaica. We were surprised at the subsistence scale of Agriculture in Jamaica compared to the UK, and found it is still very much developing. Home Via Houston, Texas
We departed Jamaica with a ten hour Journey back to the UK and memories to last a lifetime! |
Young Farmers head to Jamaica!
We spent a substantial part of our time in Jamaica working with the Mustard Seed Community.
A government subsidised tractor ploughed the two acre plot & we did the rest with hand tools…
