My name is Strong
The farming community of New Forest in Manchester where Charlene Strong grew up claims an affinity for nearby St Elizabeth, which is known as the “fruit basket parish”.
In such an environment, in 2019, this young woman set aside a fierce love for early childhood teaching for another passion and entered the world of producing food. Strong operates an escallion and thyme farm of two acres in New Forest. She told the Jamaica Observer that farming was not a very difficult decision for her, because she had been living in the farming community for almost all her life.
The former educator is from a family of farmers. Growing up, she had witnessed how farming had transformed the lives “of my own family, the people around me and by extension my community”.
Strong recalls, “I leaped into farming as, somewhere buried deep in my subconscious, I was already a farmer. I have over the years watched my brothers in their devotion and commitment to the soil, participated in their times of reaping and provided a shoulder during times of crop failures.”
These practical experiences, she said, gave her everything that she needed to succeed in the field. Strong told Sunday Finance, “I was even more intrigued about farming as my partner is a seasoned and experienced farmer.” This partner and her brothers were to become her support system.
Strong is part of an extended community in Manchester and St Elizabeth which supplies Jamaica and, in many instances, other parts of the world with escallion, thyme, tomatoes and melons, among other food crops.
She chose to specialise in growing escallion and thyme as she said these are easier to take to maturity and less costly to maintain when compared to other crops.
However, the venture has not been free of challenges, as all crops experience periods of drought, excessive rain, various plant diseases, insects and other climate change issues.
There were also family issues. Strong is the mother of “two beautiful girls: a toddler Travi-Anna and a pre-teen Alyssa”. She shared, “Balancing family and giving the level of devotion and attentiveness required to be a successful farmer can be overwhelming at times. Had it not been for my mother Charnley, who provides me with unwavering support, this would not have been possible.”
The farmer asserts that produce from her two-acre farm is grade one, “because they are always green and luscious” and “because I am made to give my crops what they need to get to maturity”.
Despite fluctuations in the price paid for her crop, she said, “Most times I can see myself making a profit of 50 per cent or more. However, when preparing a new plot the cost will be higher than using a plot that was already in work. Most times a ¼-acre plot can cost $100,000 more to take to maturity.”
Overall, escallion and thyme are more affordable and easier to take to maturity.
On a daily basis, she normally has one worker, but when the workload becomes heavy, especially during reaping, there will be two. Produce is sold to market vendors who come to New Forest to buy. Strong said, ” The service I offer is highly appreciated by my consumers as I always try to settle prices the day before reaping.” She also packages produce for easy pick-up.
Strong asserted, “Being a strategic person, my aim is always to have a crop reaping and of high quality.”
The farmer said, “Compared to other farmers, the location of my farm allows me to have more access to water supply, making my crops more luscious.” She offers special thanks to the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) for its continuous supply of water to farmers in the parish. Strong commented, “Words cannot express our gratitude.”
Strong told Jampreneur, “Farming has taught me something valuable that I will endeavor to pass on to my girls. Being a woman farmer does not come with privileges. Just like my male colleagues in farming, you must pay to get everything done. This can be difficult in times when supply overwhelms demand and economies of scale are very hard to achieve. It is during these times loyalty and commitment are needed from those who are around you. My workers are my backbone in the field. Without them, there would be no garden or crops to harvest. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate their support and dedication.”
She is content with her choice of leaving the classroom for farming. Strong said, “From I was at a young age, I always wanted to be an independent individual and a person who always saved towards achieving my goals. So I saw this medium as a way I could earn adequately to do so.”
Strong commented, “It’s disheartening to hear people saying they cannot find a job, there is nothing out there to do. Why not create your own job and employ others? Find something you are enthusiastic about and love, but earn from. Find something that gets you out of bed in the mornings – find farming and farming will reward you
“I have had days when I felt like not getting out of bed to go into my garden, but God’s voice is always there: “My child, remember your name is ‘Strong’. One of the mantras that I live by is “do what you love with passion, and anything is possible.”
The former teacher said, “Most people continue to see farming as a male-dominated field; my advice to women is not to buy into that narrative. To be successful at farming takes discipline, patience, knowledge and understanding, [things] we have innately.
“There is no magic trick to farming other than simply understanding the crops you are growing, the soil, the environment, and the right season. Bring your passion to your garden, sow and you will reap in abundance. “One may say it’s luck, but I say it is about being strategic. I never plant all my crops at once. I plant in stages, this strategy allows me to reap in stages.”
Strong stated, “What motivates me the most is the constant affirmation I receive daily from my father Curlie, who often says, ‘Mi pickney, you are doing well’ and ‘I am so proud of you’. He also balances his words of motivation with care by saying ‘Hurry up and come out of the sun’.”