From Father to Daughter: Naomi “Henny” Jeffers’ Journey of Farming, Resilience and Legacy in Newton Ground
In the heart of Fahies Estate, three acres of land tell a story of family, resilience, hard work, and a deep-rooted love for agriculture.
For Naomi Jeffers, affectionately known as “Henny,” farming is more than an occupation. It is a way of life—one that began alongside her father, Amon, and eventually became her own.
Naomi is part of Amon and Naomi’s Farm, a family-owned agricultural operation established by her father. Growing up and working alongside him, she developed a genuine appreciation for the soil and the rewards that come from cultivating the land.
Following the closure of the sugar factory, Naomi eventually took greater responsibility for the farm, carrying forward the work she had learned from her father.
Today, she continues that legacy while carving out her own path as a full-time farmer.
Growing a Farm, Growing a Legacy
The farm produces a diverse range of crops, including pineapples, bananas, sweet potatoes, eddoes, nuts, and other agricultural produce.
Since becoming a full-time farmer, Naomi has expanded her production to include a variety of vegetables, including carrots, seasoning peppers, sweet peppers, corn, broccoli, and more.
When asked to describe her farm in three words, Naomi chose:
Productive. Beneficial. Special.
And it is easy to understand why.
For Naomi, the farm provides much more than an income. It provides for her household and gives her family access to fresh produce without having to depend entirely on purchasing from the market.
As she explained, when the farm produces more than her family needs, she takes the surplus to market to sell—turning the land into both a source of nourishment and a livelihood.
Protecting What She Grows
Farming, however, is not without its challenges.
One of Naomi’s biggest challenges has been protecting her crops from monkeys. To address this, she installed electrical wiring around the farm as a deterrent.
The results have been significant.
Since installing the system, Naomi says she has been able to reap considerably more produce compared with previous years when the farm was more vulnerable to crop losses.
It is just one example of the ingenuity and determination required to keep a farm productive.
“It’s Not Easy Being a Farmer”
Behind the abundance of a thriving farm is the reality of hard work.
Naomi openly acknowledges the challenges of managing approximately three acres of land on her own.
“It’s not easy being a farmer alone with 3 acres of land. It’s hard work.”
Her journey also challenges a long-standing perception that agriculture is primarily a man’s field.
Naomi has experienced firsthand the reactions of people passing the farm who are surprised to discover that the operation belongs to a woman.
For her, however, being a woman in agriculture is nothing unusual.
Women are capable of doing the work, facing the challenges, and achieving success in the agricultural sector.
As Naomi puts it:
“Today women are doing everything men are doing, and even better than them.”
Her words reflect not only confidence in her own abilities, but also the growing contribution of women to agriculture and community development.
A Love for the Soil
Despite the challenges, Naomi continues to farm for one simple reason: she loves it.
She loves the soil. She loves the process. And she values what the farm provides for her and her family.
There is a sense of independence that comes with being able to grow what you need. Instead of always going to the shop or market, Naomi can walk onto her farm and harvest food for her household.
That connection to the land is what keeps her going.
It is also what makes her story so powerful.
Her farm is not simply a piece of land. It represents years of knowledge passed from father to daughter, a livelihood created through determination, and a continuing relationship with agriculture that has survived significant changes in the community.
The Future Is in the Soil
Perhaps Naomi’s most powerful message is her perspective on the future of agriculture.
“The future is in the soil.”
For her, this is not simply a saying. It is a warning and a call to action.
With a changing world and growing concerns about food security, Naomi believes that producing food locally is becoming increasingly important.
Her message is straightforward:
If we do not plant, we will not eat.
Her experience reminds us that food security begins with people who are willing to work the land today so that families and communities can have food tomorrow.
Whitegate: Growing Opportunities in Agriculture
Naomi’s story is one of many that demonstrate the importance of agricultural land to the communities within the Whitegate Development Area.
The Whitegate Development Corporation has earmarked more than 1,000 acres of land for agricultural use and has provided access that has benefited farmers in the area.
Through these opportunities, farmers are able to cultivate land, develop livelihoods, contribute to local food production, and play their part in building more resilient communities.
Naomi’s journey brings that impact to life.
From working beside her father to becoming a full-time farmer herself, she represents the determination, innovation, and resilience that agriculture demands—and the possibilities that can emerge when people have access to land and the opportunity to make it productive.
At Whitegate Development Corporation, we believe development is about more than infrastructure. It is about people, opportunity, community, and creating a foundation for future generations.
Naomi is growing crops, but she is also growing something much bigger: a legacy.
And as she reminds us, the future really may be in the soil.
Follow Whitegate Development Corporation for more stories highlighting the farmers, communities, and people helping to shape the future of the Whitegate area.
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