A premium setting and luxurious accomodations ensure a stay at the Rockhouse
will be memorable.
“
When asked about the future and what could be done to improve
the overall operation and performance of the farm project, Bolly
says an exclusive farm to table restaurant is in the works. The hotel
aims to construct a small dining area built to have a panorama
view of the garden beds for guests from the hotel to participate in
seasonal, creatively curated meals in addition to engaging educa-
tional lectures. Bolly and the farm team are always on the hunt
for new genetics and crop varieties to trial for the western part of
Jamaica. Seed acquisition in Jamaica, like fertilizer input selection,
is quite limited. The farm has had to rely a lot on visitors bringing
down seed packets to build up a unique bank of seed diversity.
The Rockhouse Hotel and its microfarm are strong examples
of what can be achieved at the local level when it comes to food
production. In a short time, the team has been able to establish a
model for other organizations to follow to better serve their custom-
ers and member of the local community. By cultivating produce on
site, the Rockhouse has further been able to tap into new modes
of sustainability and stewardship while providing the freshest
organic crops for its patrons.
groundbreakers
135
SINCE THE FARM’S INCEPTION, ONE OF THE PRIMARY GOALS IS
TO UTILIZE THE CROPS IN THE RESTAURANT’S SUPPLY CHAIN
TO MINIMIZE UNNECESSARY TRAVEL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
BUYING CERTAIN CROPS OUT OF TOWN OR OUT OF PARISH.”