In the last Letter from the Bahamas, we introduced you to Bobby Little, and to Rum Cay – a small out-island in the remote southern Bahamas. In 2011 it had a population of around 69, and over the years that has decreased.

 

Bobby Little owned and ran the Sumner Point marina on Rum, and in our last Letter we told you about Bobby’s intriguing and talented background.  And then we told you that the marina is no more.

 

A number of years ago, another American who had a place on Rum, asserted his ownership to the Sumner Point marina, which had been owned by Bobby’s parents. The dispute was prolonged. Then, one night, when Bobby was “off island”, unknown persons bulldozed to the ground all of the marina’s buildings, including the clubhouse and several rental cottages.

 

The dispute as to ownership continued in the Bahamian courts for years, and Bobby reports that it has now been finally determined that he is the rightful owner of the marina… which of course doesn’t exist, other than for a few remaining docks in poor condition.

 

Bobby has determined that he will not be reopening the marina, and he will be putting the land up for sale. So what is this multi-talented person doing now?  Well, he is a farmer on Eleuthera, another Bahamian island.

 

 

 

Bobby Little today, on his farm.  At 62 years of age, he has begun the next of his life’s stories. He is married to a wonderful woman named Gro, who is Scandinavian. Another long time friend is now a partner with Bobby in this unusual undertaking.

 

 

He grows watermelons, hot and sweet peppers, herbs, onions,  broccoli, and tomatoes.

 

 

 

 

A laden mango tree.

 

 

He also raises bananas and he explained that this particular variety were firmer and better tasting than most.  We took some home and they were the very best we have ever had.  Sorry Chiquita.

 

 

At the front gate to Spring Land Farm, you meet this artistic carving which can only have been done by Bobby.  It gives you an idea of what else Bobby raises…

 

 

Goats.  500 of them.

 

 

Within five minutes of arriving, Bobby enlisted Barbara to help round up a few of the critters who had escaped the main holding pen.

 

 

In his past life, Bobby had been an excellent fish cleaner, so there was no reason to expect that he wasn’t equally capable of cleaning a goat.  Here he is starting to remove the skin, which is valuable.

 

 

Some of these skins are destined to be used to make Junkanoo drums.  Junkanoos are yearly festivals with dance and music held throughout the Bahamas.

The French Leave Resort at Governor’s Harbour on Eleuthera.

 

 

Tarpum Bay. The settlement was originally meant to refer to the Tarpon fish which were plentiful, but the name evolved.

 

 

 

Cracked conch.  My favorite Bahamian meal.

 

 

Yellowfin tuna.

 

 

A grouper, created by a local artist, from beach glass.

 

 

The bounty of Eleuthera. Watermelon and bananas from Bobby’s farm, and a pair of Eleutherian pineapples.  Years ago we learned about these exceptional pineapples, and when we finally had one we could see that they were significantly better than pineapples from anywhere else:  they are more tender, so much so that you can eat the core, the texture is softer and the flavor – just extraordinary – sweeter and fresher. The distinguishing difference in appearance is that the leaves have serrated edges, where other pineapples have smooth edged leaves. They start ripening in mid May.

 

From a previous trip to the Bahamas, Barbara has learned how to propagate them.  After you cut the tops off and leave about 1” of the pineapple, you peel off a couple of rows of the lower leaves, then just plant the top in the ground.  It takes 18 months for a full sized pineapple to be produced.