Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations
Chapter 33 – Field Tour
September 7th, 2010 – Tuesday – (Day 4)
Our Friends last full day and he wants a field tour.
He has mentioned it every day so I know he is serious.
Despite this being my 8th trip to Jamaica I have never gone on a “field” tour per se.
Set up friend of friend.
Don’t really know what to expect.
Road side stand 10 minutes from Negril
Guy walks up
Introductions
Start walking on a trail uphill.
We follow
No telling how far.
I don’t know if we are walking for 1 more minute or 30 more minutes.
It was a trail and steady uphill but certainly easily accessible. About 10 minute uphill walk. Place opens in forest and light comes through.
Tires everywhere. Plants growing out of tires. Had to lug each one up here. Hundreds. Dirt is dug out between rocks and put into tire. Baby plants are started from seeds. Then baby plants after big enough are moved to tires.
Did not realize they had varieties. I guess I am dumb I thought if u grew tobacco in say Maui it would be just Maui tobacco. Which would make all tobacco Jamaican or whatever Jamaican.
Turns out all kinds of varieties. Can’t remember all but some did catch my attention. Blueberry. Blueberry makes u happy. Cool. White Widow. Strongest. Ok. Everything else I forgot. Take photos. Learn stuff I did not know. 8 weeks from start to finish. Did not realize that fast. Seeds from Amsterdam. No sh*t.
Has his own watering system piped up. I would say small operation. But still pretty impressive. Lots of work lugging all this stuff up mountain. Full time job looks like to me lots of work. He said rain messes him up. He can control water. Too much water a problem. Drying hut.
Take some photos and head back downhill. We decide to support local merchants. Everything is cheaper and fresher when you are buying from the farmer.
So we are hanging out back at very small shop and we are kind of curiosity how much of his own crop the farmer smokes? He said he does not smoke. Un huh. He does make a tea every morning which what he showed me was about an ounce (unbelievable huge amount for 1 pot of tea) of tobacco. I asked how much of the tea he drinks. He said just a cup of tea in the morning and it lasts all day. No sh*t.
He just drinks tea
He offers us the “special cake” I have extremely high tolerance based on over 30 years of giving thanks and praise. But follow his advice and opt for very small sliver. We are back on the road driving. I got this strange floating feeling. Not a good thing for me. Little dizzy no more cake for me. Not now. Not ever. My guess is this cake is nothing compared to that tea.
Review of the Field
Seemed like a ton of work for 1 person. His customers appeared to be middle aged and older working local people. Small amounts for personal smoking. Based on what I saw I don’t think he was part of some giant Agro Farmers Group or Gang. You know marketing their product to young people etc. Appeared to be hardworking young guy lucky to have some family land to eke out a living as a farmer and small stand owner.
