Some dreams stay with you long before you ever realize how they’ll come true.
For me, that dream was Portland, Jamaica.
Back in my college days, when I first started traveling to Jamaica on my own, I would imagine what life could look like here — simple, connected, and close to nature. I would flip through magazines, clip out pictures of Port Antonio, and dream about the kind of home I might build one day. Back then, cruise ships used to port in Port Antonio, and I would look at what they offered, imagining the sights, the beaches, the rivers, and the life I might one day have here. I didn’t know how or when it would happen, but something about Portland always called to me.
Fast forward more than thirty years later — life had moved, love had grown, and that dream found its way back to me. When my husband and I married, we spent a few days of our wedding week exploring St. Margaret’s Bay and Long Bay, not far from Port Antonio. That’s when we had our first true experience of Portland together — and it was unforgettable.
We went river rafting along the Rio Grande, the legendary river that winds gracefully through the parish. The water was so clean and clear you could see straight to the bottom — cool, crisp, and calm. The river wasn’t crowded; it was just us, floating, laughing, and diving right in.
As we drifted along, we saw these little creatures called bussu clinging to the river rocks — small freshwater snails that locals harvest to make rich, flavorful bussu soup, a Portland specialty. It was such a simple, beautiful reminder of how alive and abundant this place is — how every part of it provides something good.
Everything in Portland carries that same natural beauty — pure and unspoiled. From the calm, glassy flow of the Rio Grande to the powerful surfing waves of Long Bay, Portland holds both peace and strength. And of course, there’s the flavor of Boston Jerk, the parish’s most famous gift to Jamaica and the world. People come from all over just to taste it — smoky, spicy, and full of story — but once you’re here, you realize Portland offers so much more.
When we left, we said we’d be back — we just didn’t know when.
And now, it feels so good to be back.
Today, that long-ago dream is no longer a dream. My family and I now have land in Norwich, right outside Port Antonio, where EcoStead has taken root — a sustainable community that honors the same natural beauty that first drew me here. It’s close enough to walk to Port Antonio, yet nestled just enough into nature to feel like a quiet escape.
EcoStead is a place where we can reconnect with the land, breathe clean air, taste fresh food, and experience the real Jamaica — vibrant, grounded, and alive. One of the things I love most about it is that it’s such a chill spot — laid-back, low-key, and peaceful. It’s a place where I can spend time with my family, enjoy nature, and unwind away from the hustle and bustle, while still being just 45 minutes from Kingston when we want a little city life.
So here I am — back where the dream began, living in the beauty of a place that reflects both the heart of Jamaica and the hope of what’s possible when you follow where your spirit leads.
This is Portland.
This is EcoStead.
And for me, this is home.
Jennis Jackson