Resource is located at an altitude of an average of 3,800 feet (1,200 meters) in the Blue Mountains. The farm is just below the 100 year old Cinchona Botanical Gardens, in the Yallahs Valley. The 1.5 hour drive from Kingston follows the main road through Mavis Bank, crossing the Yallahs river and up to Resource.

Resource Coffee Farm has been owned by Cecil Langford for over 40 years. The coffee growing sections have expanded from 10 acres (4 Hectares), when he bought the farm, to a full 30 acres (12 Hectares) today. However, in the past the property was much bigger and even supported its own processing facility. The ruins of the pulping sections and barbecues remain, although now the coffee is transported to the Sherwood Factory for processing.

The coffee trees are mostly located on the northwestern slopes of the mountain. Irrigation is provided by the perennial stream running along the northern border. A permanent staff of 4 is complemented by up to 60 local people during reaping times (November to early May).

Currently, the farm is managed by Gordon Langford (son of Cecil Langford) who, after 20 years marketing Blue Mountain Coffee in Europe, returned to Jamaica in 1996.

With an area of over one thousand acres ranging from an elevation of 2,500 feet to over 5,600 feet, Sherwood Forest is one of the largest intact original Blue Mountain coffee plantations. Consisting of the conjoined original "Patent" Plantations of Sherwood Forest & Eccleston Plantations, Upper New Battle and Lower New Battle, coffee has been grown here almost continuously since the late 1700's.

Most of Sherwood's coffee plantings are scattered in the tree shaded valleys through which run seasonal springs and cool night breezes. Each individual planting has been chosen for the richest soil, the proper sunlight, and the best growing conditions.

Sherwood's jewel is her planting at what we call "Big Level". This magnificent sloping area at the 4,400 foot level is about one hundred acres in size. It is the largest gentle slope at this elevation in the Blue Mountains. With its deep, rich, reddish volcanic soil, caressed by the cool mists drifting off Blue Mountain peak 3,000 feet above, Big Level produces our highest quality coffee.

Sherwood Works once processed the coffee from many of the other Blue Mountain estates, including Arntully, Radnor, Brook Lodge, Minto, Epping Farm and Abbey Green. Now it exclusively produces the finest coffee for RSW Estates.

Whitfield Hall coffee farm and Hostel is situated at an elevation of 4,000 ft. in the heart of the Blue Mountains, and is the final overnight resting place directly on the main hiking trail leading to Portland Gap and the Blue Mountain Peak.

The original property was a patent issued to William Whitfield in 1776 for coffee production. It had its own factory which was destroyed in the massive flood rains of 1909. Coffee was produced on all of the 300 acre property until 1939. It was subdivided after the second World War. Whitfield Hall's coffee is now produced on the most desirable forty acres surrounding the original Great House with it's cathedral ceilings, cheery fireplace, time darkened hand hewn beams and gently hissing antique "Tilley" kerosene lamps (no electricity). It is now owned by the Allgrove family, whose family history and roots in the immediate district date back over 60 years.

Production from the current forty acres approaches what the original 300 acres produced before the second World War. This is a result of intensive management practices and attention to detail. As with the other Estates, Whitfield Hall produces what we think is the best Blue Mountain Coffee available.

The Great House is operated as a hostel, primarily for climbers to the "Peak", and has a detached private cottage which is available. One may wish to stay longer, tour the RSW farms, or the Sherwood Factory, and enjoy this laid-back, friendly and beautiful part of Jamaica. Reservations call (876) 927-0986; visit the website: www.whitfieldhall.com or you may contact: John Allgrove, 8 Armon Jones Crescent, Kingston 6, Jamaica, W.I.

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