Just wondering how the fix up is going Best piece of property in TB

Sorry for the delay in a response, but I wanted to check with the owner to be sure of what was done.

Walls were repaired and repainted both inside and out. Jalousies were repaired and repainted. Beds were improved, including a few new matresses and they upgraded the electrical system.

We have had guests staying at Folichon, so I have not been able to get in there to take new photos, but soon come!

Thanks for your inquiry.

WHAT ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE? IT WAS SO HORRIBLE LOOKING THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE IN TB. REALLY NEEDS CLEANING-UP AND BY DOING THAT THE OCEAN BREEZE WOULD BE ABLE TO REACH THE HOMES AND HELP TO COOL THE PLACE DOWN.
AS A KID I REMEMBER MY MOM WORKING THERE AND WE WERE ALLOWED TO PLAY AND WASH OFF AFTER A SEA BATH.
THAT BUILDING MUST BE IN VERY BAD SHAPE ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE HURRICANES.
WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PRESENT OWNER TO SEE IF THEY ARE THINKING OF EVER SELLING.

The landscape has been cleaned up and lots of the beach is back!

The building actually survived both hurricanes with minimal damage. I guess they built them to last in the 1930's.

If you provide us with your email address we can pass it on to the owner, however, I do not believe there are any plans for selling.

TB Native means that he/she considers the casha trees and underbrush beside Folichon as 'needing cleaning up'. However, the owners have no interest in cutting down those trees as it is the home for numerous birds and wildlife etc. Secondly, no they are not interested in selling. One of the owners is a friend of mine and they will not be selling in the near future. Mainly, they are worried about people 'cleaning up' and developing that piece of land.

What's wrong with cleaning up the landscape?

It help to make the community more attractive, more inviting for tourisim seeing that's what is needed as income for the area.In saying that it is also nice for the neighbours living very near because that helps to NOT depreciate their property.

It's all a matter of perspective. Most visitors like to see the casha trees and 'macka'. Most tourists think that piece of property is one of the most beautiful in Treasure Beach and should be left as it is. We Jamaican's love to cut down everything in sight, put up a monstrous concrete building and think it's beautiful. I hope they keep it the way it is and never cut one blade of grass or macka in there. Most people would agree. I don't think a lot of us Jamaican's have a true perspective on what our foreign visitors really like to see. Believe you me, chopping it out actually devalues the property.

And yes, it is a matter of perspective.

Which perspective is sustainable?

Economically and ecologically?

We used to feast on cactus fruit in a magical mixed cactus patch in.....

The property sold and the patch was cleaned up because "it black di view!", no more visitors, birds, lizards etc.

I half joked before about Ja ladies fraid of teif and lizard in trees, thus the cleaning and burning.

Is it an instinct to seek being civilized or modern. Pathetic token trees and grass being constantly worried by machettes?

Could we leave this sort of development for those already doing their pack em in, stuff em, soak em and keep the place spotless. Don't check the effluents and burning piles/chimneys.

Are we reading the signs of the times?

Global climate change and polution aside, do we realise how many outside of the Rock want to experience its true flavors? More than we could manage.

Moonlight not Times Square, blossoming lignum vitae not plastic plants, clean seawater not diluted sewage.

tb native, I intend to reforest my property with lignum vitae, ebony, sanadalwood, satinwood, cedar, mahogany, ironwood, fruitwalks etc.

I'll meet you in 7 years, life spare, and we'll see what this has done to the value of the property. Any bets?

You see, I've done it already, elsewhere. In 7 years the hawks came in, there were so many birds.

People passing were inspired, even reporting some boys that were threatening with slingshots.

I had fruits, shaded groves, morning dew and cool breeze. Before it had been cleaned for 30 years, dry and dusty. A great football or cricket pitch.

Enough damage has been done by following what some think visitors want as Ista1 said. Cleaning is one aspect.

Turey, in 7 years if you invite me to see this land, I promise I will bring the picnic lunch. Then we can both sit in the middle of your property, enjoy the music of the breeze and the birds, while being shaded by some magnificent representations of Jamaican history.

Deal?

Deal!

tb native, I meant no disrespect to you by my perspective on development and maintainance and my critisism of our favored method of grounds preparation.

I'm sure some of the cleaning was hurricane debris.

I drive a car so am a hypocrite as far as carbon emmissions from my exhaust are compared to that from burning piles.

I contribute plastics etc to the local garbage/recycling system and currently do not compost.

Encouragement is my thing and thinking twice about things has become second nature. I do not accept 'bun dem tings' or 'dash dem tings whe'.

Treasure Beach for many reasons has the potential of being on the cutting edge of true sustainable development, ecologically and economically. That fact inspires many of my posts.

BTW, I hope we get a chance to host Mrs and President Barak ! Send the invitations soon folks.

Uncle Colin would surely clear him to stay with us ruffians.

Hi Turey nice to see you back on this Web site the saying is flower is the poetry of reproduction.It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life .

Turey is there a market for aloe plants your feedback greatly appreciated.

Hi Canada 2, aloe vera was grown commecially outside of Falmouth in the 80's. I don't think they have continued.

Aloe Vera grown for export would need a minimum acreage to be feasible. Extracting, pasteurising and stabilising the gel is probably best for shipment and net returns.

My thinking is for a small mixed garden supplying whole organic aloe leaves locally.

After I purchased land in TB, I found a large old clump of aloe from which I planted along the old pathways. They grow and multiply as I type.

I have not seen goats relish aloe or imagine that they would be a target for the praedialists, where would they sell in quantity?

Check thr National Aloe Science Council in the US, they were established to set standards for marketed aloe.

The popularity of the inner gel in cosmetics is clear. It's action on us humans has been explained as the synergistic (working together) action of several compounds in the gel. Some 2%? of people cannot tolerate aloe vera.

The yellow gel directly under the leaves contain bitter substances. This portion was prepared and sold in pill form for its intestinal action etc. Sun dried in copper cauldrons, I think a small NY herbal importer was the last market.

I have no doubt that Jamaican washed organic aloe leaves would be a winner if appropriately cultivated and supplied in predictable quantities for the chosen market/s.

Picking the mature leaves without breaking the skin is important for the presentation of the leaf for sale. It does smell too if it bled and dried.

The Rio Grande Valley was/is? a big growing area, an aloe killing frost there 20'ish years ago focussed my attention to aloe grown for export from Ja.

Why should i really give a hoot about this land.I do not live near by.I live about a half a mile away.I do not have to look at it day in and day out.I just feel sorry for the ones that have to do that.As of today I will say no more.That is a promise.

Most people like looking at it...for some reason you don't want to believe it.

Turey thank for the info.

I look forward to when the cooling breezes carry perfumes of many blossoms.

When big breeze comes my shelter will be protected by deep rooting trees.

I do not give a hoot either, I groan inwardly, my reaction on seeing hacked trees and plastic flavored smoke loading my childrens' sky with poisons.

That is what I have experienced in Jamaica when 'cleaning' is performed.

I am looking forward to the day man has been endowed with reason. With the power to create, so that he can add to what he's been given. But up to now he has'nt been a creator . only a destroyer.Forests keep disappearing.Rivers dry up,wild life's become extinct.The climate's ruined and the land grows poorer and uglier every day.

We are the children of the landscape:it dictates behavior and even thought in the measure to which we are responsive to it.

Okay, now if my words could help form an image in your mind about the condition of Folichon, let me start...arriving at the end of the day we were met by the lovely and helpful Charmaine, she gave us a tour of the two houses, I was immediately comfortable with the location and the setting...the landscaping is beautifully maintained by Master Vivienne. The houses are not intended to be sterile and impersonal, it felt like we were visiting someone's home and they gave us the best bedrooms to rest in. As days went on I began to enjoy the beach, the ocean, the seashells, and the veranda...I love the day bed..it is magical. Big up to Charmaine and Master Vivienne...we will be back.

Beyond the slopes of Mount John Crow
Across the valleys and over the hills
Were sands of silver and seas of indigo
Perfumed with the fragrance of daffodils.

Leave the land as nature intended Turey.