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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchives@ Work: Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands

@ Work: Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands

Yvette and Dale Browne in their patch of cucumbers, which took only 45 days to grow.Dale and Yvette Browne, owners of Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands, say one has to work a lot and take a lot into consideration to run a successful productive farm. But to the couple it doesn’t seem like labor or hard work at all.

“It is a pleasure to see the outcome after the work,” Yvette says. “And I like the peacefulness out in the fields.”

Dale says he gets out and works in the fields and forgets he is really working.

“I actually forget what I have to do for the day,” Dale says. He adds he likes the impact made on the community by producing something good for the community.

“Farming is a lot of work and it takes a lot of time,” Dale explains. “Some people think you just put a seed in the ground and let it go. It’s just like any business you must have scheduled business planning.”

They say for success it takes, educating oneself and becoming knowledgeable about everything from beginning to end, such as deciding what and when to plant, technology, marketing and transportation of the products.

Dale says around 14 years ago they seriously began looking into starting their own business. Dale, who had been a telephone repair man until recently, has a degree in business and accounting from the University of the Virgin Islands. Yvette had been in the V.I. National Guard, studied agriculture at St. Croix Central High School and has studied business at UVI and the University of Phoenix.

They took a close look at and researched developing the business of agriculture, which had been overlooked and unattended to for more than 40 years on St. Croix. They determined agriculture could be a viable business. Socially, they concluded it would provide needed products and support economically a small farmer willing to take on the business.

Dale added that studies he has read show food raised within 40 miles of the St. Croix consumer is much healthier and more nutritious because it isn’t treated with pesticides and chemicals that prevent spoilage.

The couple has a 20 year-plan, leasing 15 acres of land from the Department of Agriculture off Casper Holstein Drive in Estate Castle Burke. They have 11 acres, room for grazing up to 50 sheep and 80 goats, three acres for crop production and one acre planned for poultry production. They call it the farm belt of St. Croix.

Their sheep are St. Croix white, a type that has a high resistance to disease and has been here more than 300 years. They have Boer goats originally from South Africa that like a semi arid climate. The fields are covered with grass for grazing that is cost efficient. They have one donkey to keep dogs away and protect the herd.

The couple has quite a bit to undertake in the next few months and, as always, diversifying to create a steady income.

Yvette says as soon as the fields dry out from the recent rains the Department of Agriculture will come in and help prepare the field for her to plant 600 pineapple plants that she acquired through a DOA grant.

They plan on building a stable pen and enclosed housing for the livestock which will help to deter theft, or “night-time shopping,” as Dale says.

Currently they have 10 sheep and 12 goats. They are culling the herds, making sure they have nice, clean blood lines to breed strong livestock to prevent diseases and defects.

Dale says they have often taken first and second place for their livestock at the St. Croix Agricultural Fair.

They will be setting up a web site and taking regular orders for boxed in-season vegetables.

In 2005 the Brownes founded the Virgin Islands Farmers Cooperative, realizing there is strength in numbers. On a three-acre plot at the cooperative farm in Beeston Hill they raise organic peppers, tomatoes, beets, carrots, watermelons and herbs and sell them at the farmers’ cooperative market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. They also provide education, consultation and training for local farmers.

Those who wish to place special orders or get directions to the farm can call 277-6046. Further information about the farm can be obtained by sending an e-mail to sejahfarm@unitedstates.vi.

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