Organic farmer Lindel Forrester prunes his Areeka palm trees on his farm in Cave Valley, Hanover.
- Claudia Gardner photo
Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer
LUCEA, Hanover:
LINDEL FORRESTER, 46, of Cave Valley in Hanover, is the only man cultivating organic vegetables, fruits and exotic plants in the parish.
Inspired by his grandfather to engage in sustainable agricultural practices, Mr. Forrester began farming ten years ago.
His grandfather, a successful farmer himself, usually practised contour farming in the hills surrounding Cave Valley without the use of artificial fertilisers or pesticides.
Mr. Forrester said his career in farming began with the production of peppers, and later coconut trees for sale, but today he cultivates more than just that.
He plants hundreds of six different species of exotic palms, coconuts, ferns, citrus and exotic flowers, and makes fertiliser from a compost.
EXPANDING ACTIVITIES
Mr. Forrester intends to access more farmlands to expand his farming activities and to promote organic farming across Hanover.
"Farming can be very profitable, you just have to know what to plant," he said. "I would advise persons who want to engage in farming to cultivate organic crops because there is a massive demand and it fetches an excellent price."
