Farming with the Forest: The Art of Agroforestry in Tobago

In Tobago, farming is more than planting crops and harvesting them. It’s a relationship with the land.

A quiet understanding passed down through generations that says: if you care for the earth, the earth will care for you in return.

Long before we began using words like sustainability or regenerative agriculture, Tobagonian farmers were already practicing it, naturally.

They planted cocoa under the shade of tall immortelle trees, grew breadfruit beside cassava, and allowed bananas to thrive alongside forest giants.

This is the essence of agroforestry, a beautiful blend of farming and forestry that works in harmony with nature, not against it.

Agroforestry is the practice of growing food within forest systems, which isn’t new here. It’s a quiet tradition rooted in respect.

From hillside cocoa estates shaded by towering immortelles to breadfruit trees sheltering cassava and banana plants, Tobago’s farmers have long practiced the art of growing with nature, not against it.

It helps keep our island’s ecosystems alive. Trees protect the soil, hold water in the land, and create shelter for birds, bees, and other pollinators that keep our food systems healthy. It’s farming that gives back, enriching the earth, restoring balance, and nurturing biodiversity.

In many ways, Tobago’s farmers have always understood what modern sustainability advocates are now rediscovering: that the forest is not an obstacle to farming, it’s a partner.

When we “farm with the forest,” we’re also farming with history, culture, and wisdom. We’re preserving traditional knowledge that connects food to place, the way our grandparents once did, and the way we must continue if we want future generations to taste the same richness of the land.

Today, as the world looks toward regenerative solutions to climate change and food insecurity, Tobago offers a model of quiet wisdom. Farmers who “farm with the forest” remind us that the future of food lies in balance — where every harvest gives back to the earth as much as it takes.

Plus, Tobago’s quiet, green way of life offers inspiration, a reminder that the path forward may actually be found in our past.

So, the next time you enjoy a cup of locally grown cocoa tea or a meal seasoned with fresh island herbs, remember you’re tasting the story of a land that knows how to live — and grow — in harmony with its forest.