Wooden Wonders: The Unsung Heroes of Vanilla Paradise Nevis
Have you ever wondered what it takes to grow premium vanilla? While many focus on the exotic orchid vine itself, today we're sharing a crucial behind-the-scenes story about something seemingly simple yet fundamental to our success: the unsung heroes, the wooden poles. Yes, you read that right – wooden poles!
Nature's Climbing Frame
In the wild, vanilla orchids are natural climbers, embracing tree trunks as they reach skyward. Vanilla orchids are epiphytes, meaning they grow on trees but don’t take nutrients from them, so the wooden posts from the Nevisian forest serve as the perfect support system for our precious vines. We create the ideal shade conditions, about 60% shade, and then let our vanilla orchids climb happily up our carefully selected wooden poles.
Vanilla growing in the wild, supported by trees
Local Craftsmanship Meets Sustainable Practices
As we prepare to double our vanilla production (exciting times ahead!), we've once again partnered with our talented local craftsman, Isiah Parry. If you've visited our farm, you might have seen Isiah's handiwork without even knowing it. Armed with nothing but a machete and generations of woodland wisdom, Isiah harvests poles in a way that ensures the trees will regenerate – a perfect example of sustainable forestry in action.
Read about how Isiah Parry finds the wood for the posts on Nevis Peak
The Art of Preservation
Now, here's where things get interesting. Those poles are around 9 feet (2.5 meters) high and need protection before they can support our vanilla vines. To ensure their longevity, we turn to an age-old technique: charring the wood.
Charring the base of each pole using a controlled fire creates a protective carbon layer that naturally resists moisture, pests (termites!), and fungi. The key is to carefully char the wood without burning it completely, preserving its strength while enhancing its durability.
Learning from the Past
We all know that "sometimes the old ways are the best ways." The technique of burning wood to improve its resistance to decay dates back hundreds of years, commonly used in fence posts, vineyard stakes, and even traditional Japanese architecture. Together with Isiah, we carefully select naturally rot-resistant hardwood poles. By applying these methods, we avoid synthetic preservatives while ensuring our wooden supports stand the test of time.
Stanley chars the poles: 1 down, so many more to go!
Another Labour-Intensive Process
Once charred, the poles are cooled, cleaned, and set in 2-foot-deep holes filled with gravel instead of soil. This improves drainage and prevents rot. We also attach T-bar tops to guide vine growth.
With 1,500 poles to treat, it’s precise, hands-on work—but ensures a strong foundation for our vanilla.
Where Innovation Meets Tradition
At Vanilla Paradise Nevis, we believe that creating premium vanilla is about finding the perfect balance between time-tested methods and innovative solutions. Sometimes that means going back to basics and learning from traditional practices. Other times, it means discovering new, sustainable approaches.
Our journey with wooden poles might seem like a small detail in the grand scheme of vanilla cultivation, but it perfectly illustrates our commitment to sustainable farming. Every decision we make, from the type of wood, the height of our poles and the charring, brings us one step closer to producing the finest vanilla while preserving our island's natural beauty.
Next time you visit, take a moment to appreciate those sturdy poles—they’re not just supporting our vines, they’re supporting our vision for sustainable agriculture in Nevis!
Want to learn more about our sustainable practices or book a tour? Visit our website or follow us on Facebook for regular updates about life on our vanilla farm.
The desired result - eventually!
