Estate Bordeaux

This quiet, residential area of St. Thomas [1] is where the Virgin Islands [2] government has set aside 50 farm plots to encourage local agriculture. Bordeaux farmers, many of whom are Rastafarian, travel to Charlotte Amalie [3] on Saturday mornings to sell at the downtown Market Square [4].

On the last Sunday of each month they invite buyers to come to them at We Grow Food Inc., an open-air food market located in the heart of the Bordeaux community. Once a year, in January, they also host a weekend festival with music, arts, vegetarian food, and lots of locally raised food.

West of Bordeaux, at the farthest tip of St. Thomas [1], is Botany Bay, a lovely natural bay and white-sand beach. Undeveloped until now, Botany Bay has now been pegged as the site of the Jumeirah Botany Bay Resort, a $400–500 million development consisting of 84 hotel rooms, 50 private homes, and 30 timeshares on 397 acres of land. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2009 and be completed by the end of 2011.

Getting to Estate Bordeaux

To find Bordeaux and the We Grow Food market, drive west on Highway 30 past the airport. The journey takes you up and over several large hills and through the least populated parts of St. Thomas [1]. Once in Bordeaux, the road levels off and passes a row of homes; look for a colorful sign marking the turnoff on your right.