Marla’s Minute: A Container of Patience

Marla’s Minute: A Container of Patience

Almost one year ago to the month, ACE was investing funds to see the next microbusiness come to fruition through GLF – Green Life Fresh. This microbusiness features a greenhouse with 132 9-foot aeroponic growing towers in order to produce real, fresh food.

We endured many delays, such as a freak hurricane (Beryl) that only impacted certain areas of Jamaica. The hurricane completely collapsed our greenhouse structure. Then, we encountered an issue with renting the container for shipping on the rails from Memphis, TN — the location where the towers are manufactured — to the ship, and ultimately to the dock in Kingston. Praying for patience was a never-ending exercise for all of us.

When we received word from our broker in Kingston that the container was ready to be delivered to our farm last Friday, we thought we had all of our bases covered. A forklift truck was to come with the containers to offload everything so that the rental could turn around and head back to Kingston. We were even using a reliable company that we have used in the past to transport everything to us in St. Mary.

When the big Mack Truck drove in, we were all smiles. The task at hand was to offload the entire 40-foot container and place it in our own 40-foot container to hold until it was time to set up the towers. After a few hours with customs sitting in the shade waiting with us as well, our smiles started drooping as we learned that the forklift truck wasn’t coming. We cannot open the container until customs cuts the seal, so Allen and I looked at each other and said, “Well, it looks like we have to unload this ourselves.”

With Allen on the John Deere, and our three strong men (Redman, Bulla, and Sheldon), we all started pushing and sliding the pallets to Allen. Of course, I supervised, and at critical moments, I helped push a pallet to the mouth of the container that otherwise the men couldn’t have handled on their own.

As 4 PM approached and the customs officials were coming off work for the weekend, we made it. One hundred percent of all towers were safely moved into our own container. Customs smiled and left for a glorious weekend at home, while the five of us sat and took a breather. Patience drove off the farm lot heading back to Kingston. 

Was it worth it? We think so. But stay tuned for the next chapter as the experts will be arriving from Spain soon to show us how to install them and start our growing season for the winter (right in the middle of Jamaica’s hurricane season). 

Maybe we should start praying again…

Blessings,
Marla

Marla’s Minute: Growing Towers & Growing Patience

Marla’s Minute: Growing Towers & Growing Patience

For many months, ACE has been excited to share our new endeavor, Green Life Fresh, aimed at creating jobs and providing healthy food through 130 nine-foot aeroponic towers.

Thanks to your support, we have reached our goals of purchasing these towers and covering the shipping costs to bring them to Jamaica. However, we are currently facing delays with Jamaica Customs regarding the waiver of duty on the full cost of the container filled with our towers. It’s frustrating, and just when we think everything is on track, another unexpected hold-up arises.

I am confident that these towers and the entire Green Life Fresh project were designed in heaven just for me. I love healthy food and sharing it with others. What I struggle with is the waiting, waiting, and more waiting. For those of you who have generously supported this business, I hope you’ve felt God’s reassurance saying, “It’s all good, Marla. Just relax; I’ve got this.”

We expect to have more news for you next month regarding the shipping status of the towers or their arrival. And hopefully, I will have learned the art of patience through this experience. If you have any extra patience to spare, feel free to send it to our PO Box in Port Maria—I’m sure customs won’t charge me duty for it!

Blessings, 
Marla 

Marla’s Minute: All I Want For Christmas

Marla’s Minute: All I Want For Christmas

The economy has been skyrocketing to the moon these days. A single head of cabbage is approximately $20 US at the grocery store. While our farm staff plants as much as possible in the rich soil, ACE and its micro-businesses consume every vegetable grown. We even make natural drinks with our fruits. What is not used is given to our families in need with homemade soups and drinks. Needless to say, food is in high demand.

People ask us all the time what they can do to help. Lately, it’s all about providing and growing pure, clean food. ACE is preparing to grow food from 9 ft. aeroponic towers inside our greenhouse, which has been restored since Hurricane Beryl blew by in June. Each tower can grow food from planting to reaping within 52 days. We’ve done our homework and believe this will be a game-changer for all of us. Lettuce, carrots, peppers, micro-greens — you name it, we will grow it for the hotel, the food court, the neighbors, and the supermarkets. It will be a defining moment for all of us in 2025.

What do I want for Christmas this year? You guessed it, more aeroponic towers! They ship from Memphis, TN. Each tower costs approximately $850 US, including shipping. Our goal is to purchase 100 towers, and we currently have enough funds for 52 towers. Would you consider purchasing a growing tower for Green Life Fresh as an end-of-year tax-deductible donation?

If you want to learn more about the aeroponic towers, you can check out this PowerPoint here or watch this video here

Thank you for helping us focus on making healthy and real food for our community, so we can in turn build healthy and real relationships with the people we serve. Merry Christmas!