Mavis Bank community
History and location of the experience
The community is known as the home of the Blue Mountain Jamaican coffee brand. Although coffee production and the Blue Mountain brand are the main pillars of the community's economy, there is significant diversification in terms of agricultural production. For example, in the Blue Mountain area it is possible to see grapevines, lettuce, carrots, spinach, blueberries and other vegetables and fruits.
The number of direct community participants is approximately 250, most of whom are farmers, and includes around 80 women. The tourism activities are considered by the community as a tool to strengthen other economic areas, in addition to agriculture, which has allowed the diversification of incomes.
What does it offer?
What does it offer?
The community offers adventure tourism, culture and gastronomy, including lodging services, Airbnb, restaurants, coffee agrotourism, tasting of herbal soups with local ingredients, visits to nearby national parks, guided tours, and bicycle tours.
The community has access to the Internet via satellite and, due to the significant number of young people, many members use mobile phones. Even so, the community does not use social networks for the promotion or sale of its products, nor for internal communication, which is mostly carried out through SMS. Due to this context, young people are interested in receiving training to use digital tools that can allow effective use of social networks, as well as to improve the conditions for promoting tourism activities.
Hayfield community
History and location of the experience
The Hayfield community is recognized as the gateway to the Blue and John Crow Mountains. Within the area, the historic Cunha Cunha pass stands out, which was used by the Jamaican maroons to avoid capture by the British. In addition, the area's rich biodiversity includes the yellow swallowtail butterfly and the earwig hummingbird.
The community has around 200 members, of whom an estimated 60 are women and 70 local youth. Although the main source of income for the community is agriculture, Hayfield offers great natural wealth with related opportunities for income diversification.
What does it offer?
What does it offer?
The main services offered by the community are agro-tourism in the Blue Mountains, where it is possible to visit the coffee plantations, learn about the production process and taste coffee. Visitors can also go to the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, and the Chinchona Botanical Garden. In addition to these attractions, the community offers food and lodging services.
Regarding the use of technology, only a small part of the community has smartphones or email, and Internet access is possible through the purchase of mobile data. Even in this context, there is the Facebook profile facebook.com/hayfieldhiking, which provides complete information and photos of the tourist attractions in the Hayfield community, as well as interviews with members of the community.
