ENJOYING a quiet life in a natural setting is all that Kim Karim Rahaman wants and he is basking in retirement as a farmer and a resident of Long Creek, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, an ideal place for a quiet, simple way of life.

Rahaman comes from a ‘well-to-do’ family but abandoned his city life in 2012 after hanging up his gloves as a professional landscaper and relocating to Long Creek.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that when he first visited Long Creek, where his farm and home are, it was heavily forested and himself and wife cleared the land and built their little cottage and made the place what it is today.

Today, the farm has 500 fruit trees and of the 11 acres, only five are under full cultivation. Farming was Rahaman’s pastime hobby after he returned from Ottawa, Canada, having completed his studies in agriculture and he now does it daily.

Giving a background of how he got to Long Creek, Rahaman related that he used to frequent the community because he liked nature, and he fell in love with the community.

Sometimes he was there to hunt and he did a bit of exploring and, one day, he met an elderly Amerindian man, who befriended him and the duo got close as friends.

“One day, he asked me why I does be here so often and I told him and he replied ‘ok, I will fix that.’ He told me he had 10 acres of farmland in the village and never looked at it. He accompanied me to Lands and Survey, I applied for the land, and I paid for it and that’s how I am here,” he said.

Rahaman reported that the elder told him “never to give up the land it will give you all that you need”. A few months later, the man passed away.

The resident of Long Creek added that it took some time to clear and burn the land and prepare it to the state it is in now, and he credits his success to his wife, who is always by his side.

He does most of the farming and they do not buy teas or cocoa since they process their own and they have an abundance of fruits, vegetables and ground provisions, most of which is sold and the surplus given to locals.

“I would give back to the community because I don’t sell everything I grow and we have good relations and we look out for each other around here,” he said.

Rahaman reported that at Long Creek, he has a comfortable life where he would spend time on his farm and do all the things he didn’t when he was younger.

He likes the fresh air, the space, fresh organic foods and the ambience of quietness, and, on his property, he has a creek and two natural springs and will develop the creek area into a mini resort in the near future.

Rahaman said that at one time, he had some sheep but he gave up on that. Today, he has a pet bird but added that the wild animals would sometimes invade his farm and eat up most of the provisions and sweet potatoes.

“I had a few wild hogs, who were better gardeners than me, and I had to give them away and a jaguar to the zoo, but he passed away not long after,” he said.

Rahaman explained that his produce are organic due to the rich soil composition of black sand and pagasse which takes longer to grow but it is wholesome and it would last a while, without being refrigerated.

The residents preserve their meats and there isn’t any use for fridges there. They use solar energy for electricity and would cool off in the creek daily, which is just a five-minute walk from his home.

“I have a fertile land that grows organic foods and a lot of space plus a creek. What else can I ask for?” Rahaman said.

His farm and home are located down a long windy sand trail. It is a beautiful place ideal for quiet family life.

Rahaman will utilise one of the booths at the Long Creek ballfield where he will sell his homemade black potato wine, tocuma worms, and tuma pot of labba, Morocut fish and his specially made cassava bread.