What Hurricane Melissa Taught Us About Farming and Food Security

One Year After Hurricane Melissa — Part 4 of 4 | Di Trimaicans Holistic Farm, Westmoreland, Jamaica

One of the main reasons we began building Di Trimaicans Holistic Farm was to create a lasting legacy for our family while contributing to food security in Jamaica.

We wanted to grow food, live more sustainably, and build something that could benefit future generations.

Hurricane Melissa reinforced just how important that vision is.

When a hurricane destroys crops, damages infrastructure, interrupts transportation, and leaves communities without electricity or water, the consequences go far beyond the immediate destruction.

Farmers lose productive trees that may take years to replace. Small businesses lose income while their operating costs increase. Families must choose between repairing their homes, restoring essential services, and investing in their livelihoods.

We have experienced those decisions ourselves.

Before Melissa, we were already learning the challenges of building and operating a farm. The hurricane introduced a level of vulnerability that we had not expected to confront so soon.

Hurricane season comes every year. We knew that. But knowing the risk exists and experiencing what it means for your family, your business, and your community are two very different things.

It has changed how we think about preparedness, infrastructure, and the long-term sustainability of our farm.

Food security is not only about growing food. It is also about protecting the ability to keep growing, recover after setbacks, and ensure that communities have the resources they need when normal systems fail.

One Year Later, We Are Still Building

As we approach October 28, 2026, the first anniversary of Hurricane Melissa, I think about everything our family and community have endured.

I think about the silence after the hurricane, the days spent searching for information, and the relief of finally reconnecting with loved ones.

I think about my husband travelling back and forth to Jamaica, carrying supplies and helping restore the farm.

I think about my uncle, our neighbors, and the many people who stepped up when their communities needed them.

And I think about the farmers, families, and small business owners who are still rebuilding.

The fruit trees and vegetables we lost have not yet been replanted. There is still work to do on our farm. Some of the things we once took for granted have not returned.

But we continue to build.

Di Trimaicans Holistic Farm has always been about more than a piece of land. It is about family, sustainability, food, education, and creating something meaningful for future generations.

Hurricane Melissa changed our journey, but it did not change why we started.

We remain grateful for the people who supported our family and community during the emergency and throughout the recovery.

We also recognize that rebuilding will require continued support, collaboration, and investment, particularly for the farmers and rural communities whose livelihoods depend on the land.

One year later, our family is safe, our animals are safe, and our farm is still here.

We have not recovered everything we lost.

But we have not stopped building.

And we won’t.

We welcome opportunities to connect with individuals and organizations working in agriculture, food security, sustainable development, and community resilience in Jamaica. We also remain grateful for those who wish to support our family’s ongoing rebuilding efforts.

https://youtu.be/PtAjiT99hfU