BVI's Fresh Microgreens
Childhood friends Christopher Driver and Oliver have transformed a thorn-filled quarter-acre in West End into West Haven Farms, supplying chemical-free microgreens, herbs, edible flowers and bespoke produce to charter chefs, restaurants and residents. Using regenerative soil, hand-built beds and a simple text-order system, they prioritise freshness, variety and local food resilience for the BVI.
Christopher Driver and his childhood friend Oliver have quietly built a quarter-acre farm in West End that is already changing the way chefs, charters and neighbours source fresh produce across Tortola. What began in October last year as a overgrown plot of thorn bushes has been hand-cleared, bed-by-bed, into a chemical-free micro-farm that grows microgreens, several varieties of herbs, edible flowers, vegetables and local fruit.
The pair sell customised bags at a fixed price rather than by weight, and take orders the old-fashioned way: a quick text asking, "what are you harvesting today?". Their customers include charter chefs, resorts, restaurants and private households. For the island’s busy charter season, the farm’s appeal lies in variety and immediacy: produce is harvested just hours before delivery, preserving flavour and nutrients that are often lost in imported goods that spend days in transit and storage.
Christopher says reactions from guests when fresh-caught local fish and just-picked herbs arrive onboard are ‘‘unreal’’—it can change the whole dining experience. West Haven Farms also acts as an agent for locally caught fish in partnership with Jordan Romney of Reel Easy Fishing, offering seasonal Snapper and deep-sea catches such as Yellowfin Tuna and Wahoo alongside their vegetarian products.
Though not certified organic, the farm avoids chemical pesticides and fertilisers, opting instead for regenerative practices: compost made from microgreen waste and kitchen scraps, manure, biochar and natural pest sprays brewed from locally grown Neem leaves. A thriving beehive, rehoused from a nearby property, helps pollination and illustrates the environmental benefits of small-scale local agriculture.
Neither founder is a formally trained farmer. Christopher came from the charter industry and fishing, while Oliver returned from studies in Canada and experience in sustainable fisheries. They describe their first year as a crash course—clearing land, building beds by hand and testing multiple solutions for pests, irrigation and crop selection.
Their work speaks to a wider need in the BVI, which imports most fresh produce despite ideal growing conditions. West Haven Farms is part of a new generation proving small-scale, chemical-free farming can support tourism, boost local food security and keep fresh, island-grown produce on BVI tables.
To check today’s harvest or place an order, call or text Christopher Driver at +1 284 544 0645. This story was reported in VIRGIN ISLANDS Magazine.
Primary source: VI Property&Yacht