Miguel finds joy producing world famous Blue Mountain Coffee

When the news team was told ‘A just up the hill’ to find Akeilo ‘Miguel’ Ogilvie’s farm in the Blue Mountains, it never came to mind that the hike would be close to an hour long on slippery terrain.

To make matters worse, there was a heavy downpour half-way along the journey. Within seconds, everyone was soaked. Drenched and almost out of breath, THE STAR team was greeted by Ogilvie who offered joints of sugar cane to replenish our system. Ogilvie, who is a native of Epping Farm, St Thomas, has been making the journey since he was a child, accompanying his grandparents to reap coffee. But he joked that there is no getting used to the walk.

“Honestly, mi couldn’t do it without God as there are several days when the workload is burdensome especially when a reaping time and yuh have this barrage a coffee a come out. There are no driving roads suh a just we back we have to use. Mi get assistance from other workers and I have one of my good friends helping me out,” Ogilvie said.

While he does not know the distance, he advised those making the trek not to focus on the journey ahead.

“You will be tired before yuh even start. Just take one one step until yuh reach where you going. Sometimes I make like eight trips for the day,” he added.

Straddling a small bucket around him and wiping the rainwater from his face, Ogilvie plucked the ripe coffee beans from the trees while explaining how he got into the field. Most of his life was spent in Seaview Gardens, Kingston 11 and while most youths would opt towards a corporate job, he decided to venture into the family business.

“Coffee is mostly what people use to survive in these parts including my grandparents,” he said.

“I went to a chef school and when I graduated mi realized say mi never really and truly interested inna di kitchen because mi couldn’t manage the heat. One day I sat questioning myself about what I wanted to do and I told myself I wanted to start my own business, so I ask myself what business I wanted to venture into. Then I remembered that my family did coffee so what better business to do,” he said. Ogilvie said he began to roast coffee and export overseas but the result was not what he had expected.

“It kinda lapse because I didn’t have enough self believe and I didn’t get the support I wanted. However, I started replanting about five years now. It is still not where I want it to be as yet but I see the potential,” he said.

Ogilvie also cultivates other produce including banana, plantain and scallion. He often visits Seaview Gardens and admitted he sometimes misses the city life. But being alone in the Blue Mountains gives him time to meditate.

“I know what I want and what I can achieve from it. Planting coffee and other produce gives me a lot of time to myself because there is hardly anyone around. So I have enough time to think and do some self-assessment to stay focused. This also gives me a chance to get away from the city life and vibes,” he said.

There is hardly any time for relaxation and recreation as the young farmer is usually in his field and braving the cold temperature by 5:30 a.m. He added that while he feels fulfilled when it is reaping time, the Blue Mountain forests are not always the friendliest.

“I am very fortunate to never have an accident with any of these trees, but being out here can be dangerous. There are times when the limbs get dry and fall. Also these forest trees attract lightning because they are pine trees. So being in here when the rain is falling and lightning is flashing put you at a risk of getting hit. But thank God, this has never been the case. I walk with God every day,” he said.