All over the world there are place where you have to travel off-the-beaten track to reach the most beautiful places. Sometimes you will find such a place by chance. Sometimes it takes hours of walking and holding a a crumpled map in your hand, because you have read a little story about a special moment of someone else. You always hope that it will be as special as how you felt while reading the story. A place where you feel secure. At home. A place where you can let go of your grief, where the blowing wind will take it forever. A place where your dreams, maybe put away a little far, call louder than ever. A place that affects you. Touches you. Stush in the Bush is such a place.
Stush in the Bush is a story of love. It is the mixing of Rastafarian and chic. It is the love of mother nature and the love of good food. It is the first and last ingredient on each bottle, in every meal, in all that they do. They are Lisa and Chris and this is their love story. I fell a little bit in love with them too.
Lisa and Chris Binns are hospitable, pure and real people. Stush is a Jamaican word that means style, pride and love for the good life. Lisa, the stush in this love story, comes from bustling New York and exchanged her heels for a free life with her great love in the bush. Chris is the bush, he is self-sufficient and free and grew up on Free Hill. They married two months after they first met. Their organic farm of 15 hectares is called Zionites and is located in the hills of St. Ann. It is difficult to reach, but worth every bump during the breathtaking ride with views of the mountains, valleys and ocean.
Their house consists of one wooden room and a bit. A kitchen surrounds the room and tables full of homemade delights are everywhere. The bathroom is outside and consists of no more than four walls and a claw-foot bathtub. I picture myself bathing in foam, releasing wishes with every falling star. A hummingbird is staring me in the eyes for a second. I want to live like this, here. What more do we need? Outside there is a wonderful table full of delicacies waiting for us. We enjoy the views, the vegan dishes and the talks about life. I lick my fingers. Long time since I’ve eaten so pure and so tasty. During a walk with Chris around the farm I realize me how easy life actually can be. Here grows everything that you need, just in that beautiful nature right in front of us. The talent to combine all these ingredients to fantastic meals, oils, dressings and more, the breathtaking scenery and the hospitality of these two beautiful people make Stush in the Bush a wonderful concept.
We could have been anywhere, lost among the trees and hills. I smile and realize how lucky I am that we have found this small piece of heaven, somewhere hidden among the lively tourist cities of Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. The cool ocean breeze touches me and takes my worries away. There is a feather-light, but palpable calm about Free Hill. I stare in the distance and see the waves breaking against the rocks.
Together with the waves, I break off a little piece of my heart and leave it here.

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Die locatie, die mensen, dat eten… wow! Ik kan me voorstellen dat het bezoek aan deze plek jullie Jamaica reis nog even wat perfecter en completer heeft gemaakt <3
Jaaaa, absoluut! Het is ook echt wat voor jou <3
Wat een prachtig reisverhaal. Ik was ook eventjes daar <3
Oh jeej, fijn! Thailand doet me goed ?:)
Goed te horen! Even lekker niks moeten en genieten van ‘t paradijs. Oud & nieuw vieren met Evaaa? Fijne dagen!!
Jaaa, en vooral weer tijd om woorden te maken ❤ En jaaaa, Eva komt hierheen! Zo zo zo leuk! Jij ook hele fijne dagen!
Jaaa, en vooral weer tijd om woorden te maken ❤ En jaaaa, Eva komt hierheen! Zo zo zo leuk!
Prachtig! Zowel hun leefstijl als je beschrijving! <3
Doet me goed! :)
Wat een mooie plek zeg! En dat eten, heerlijk <3!
Jaaa, het was zo zo zo lekker!
Wauw mooi!
Dankjewel!
Captured eloquently and beautifully! Give thanks for sharing our love! Ashe!
Thanks Lisa, it was a pleasure meeting you both and being part of this love story for a moment. Hope to see you again one day!
Hoe meer ik in het verhaal kwam, hoe meer ik dacht ‘meer heb je toch niet nodig als mens’. Wat mooi. Liefde.
Wat super fijn dat ik dat gevoel een beetje heb over kunnen brengen <3
Lijkt me echt een hele mooie plek!! <3
Jaaa, was het zeker!
Wauw, je laat me hunkeren naar deze plek
Ah, mooi <3
Wat een droom plek. Ik zou hier ook echt uren wensen kunnen doen onder de met vallende sterren bezaaide sterrenhemel. Het lijkt me geweldig als je gewoon zelfvoorzienend kunt zijn en ook nog eens om je vingers bij af te likken gerechten kunt koken. Dit is zeker een bevestiging van het off the beaten path verhaal!
Jaaa, ik wil ZO graag zo leven!
This is one of the places I’ve been wanting to meet this year to walk and run through the sport of cycling. Love this sport, but unfortunately I have not yet succeeded. I liked the post:)