An eco-friendly adventure at Lime Tree Farm
Published:Sunday | July 21, 2019 | 12:00 AMLatara Boodie - Gleaner Writer
The Blue Mountains of Jamaica are known for their tranquil vistas which span the parishes of Portland, St Thomas, St Mary, and St Andrew. Home to one of Jamaica’s most diverse montane forests, the Blue Mountains contains a number of hidden gems, with Lime Tree Farm being among them.
With ecotourism destinations on the rise, Lime Tree Farm provides a thrilling adventure from the journey to the farm to the early-morning hikes along the winding trails across its 10-acre property. This environmentally friendly coffee farm provides a wonderful opportunity to see the real beauty of Jamaica while relaxing inside their luxurious ‘eco-cottages’.
Lime Tree Farm is run by husband and wife Rodger and Tifony Bolton.
Rodger is a professional British mariner who fell in love with the beauty of the mountains more than 20 years ago.
“I came here for holiday and it turned into an extended vacation with my dear friend Charlie,” explained Rodger. Both Rodger and Charlie transformed the coffee farm into a luxurious getaway with their bare hands.
“We did everything. From the making of furniture to the building of the cottages themselves. It took a lot of time and money, but we were able to turn the location into a real beauty,” he continued.
Tifony, whose family have always lived in the mountains, is the farm manager.
“I focus more on the farm part of the property. Everything on this farm is planted by myself, with the help of our team,” explained Tifony. The duo is very hands-on when it comes to the development of their property, and aim to become the best value hotel within the Blue Mountains.
The spacious cottages at Lime Tree Farm offer a stunning, unspoiled panoramic view of the Blue Mountains, and across the Yallahs and Cedar valleys, towards the eastern tip of Jamaica. This view has not changed in over 1,000 years. There are four cottages on the property, which include Water, Wind, Wood and Lookout, and one self-contained apartment for those travelling on a budget.
For those looking for activities in the Blue Mountains, and to enjoy the fresh air and hiking, there are wonderful local mountain trails to be followed, enjoying Jamaica’s most prized natural treasures. For the dauntless among us, a guided day hike to the summit of Blue Mountain Peak allows you to gaze across to Cuba just 90 miles away.
“We also offer tours of Lime Tree coffee farm, where persons are able to watch the cherry-red coffee beans being picked (or join in) and follow the process through to coffee roasting. Everything is done by hand – picking, pulping, drying, selecting and roasting. Then the best part, we get to drink the freshly roasted coffee,” said Rodger.
For more information about Lime Tree Farm, visit their website limetreefarm.com, email hello@limetreefarm.com, or call 876-446-0230.