Kendal Farm: where our Barbadian roots grow

At Maison Ferrand, working the land is second nature. A skill we’ve honed through winemaking that now guides every project we take on. So planting coconut trees on our own Barbadian farm for Planteray Cut & Dry felt like the natural next step. That farm is Kendal, a place we tend with the same high standards and respect for nature that guide our vineyards.

But Kendal is much more than just a place to grow coconut palms. You will also find ginger, yams, sugarcane and other crops. We’ve even added an aging warehouse on-site to support our tropical maturation program in Barbados.

Our goal at Kendal is simple: produce outstanding coconuts by overseeing every step - from planting to harvest - while strengthening the ties we’ve built with local farmers. The project deepens our commitment to both the land and the island.

Growing coconuts

The method is straightforward yet particularly precise. It starts with soaking the coconuts in water for a few days, then placing them in grow bags beneath a cloth to shade and  protect them from direct sunlight. After germination, the young coconut trees are planted at a density that encourages growth and makes harvesting easier. We grow a single variety, the Green Dwarf, selected for its disease resistance, high yield, and short height that makes harvesting easier (and a lot less dangerous than coconuts falling from up high!).

After a few years, each tree can yield as many as 100 coconuts annually. The coconuts are harvested by hand and prepped for the distinctive Planteray Cut & Dry recipe, made with rum from Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery.

The importance of polyculture

At Kendal, crop diversification is crucial. There’s no monoculture here. Alongside coconut palms, we grow several other crops, including yam. The tuber, still little-known in Europe, resembles a sweet potato. It’s tender and sweet, slightly starchy with a chestnut note, and a staple of Caribbean cooking.

Such crop diversity enriches the soil, curbs disease, and makes the farm more resilient. Our yams even appear on local restaurant menus, keeping the supply chain short and the benefits within the Barbadian economy.

Kendal Farm keeps evolving, growing and transforming every day. In the coming months we will share more content about the farms' life, new plantings, harvests and daily tasks. Still, nothing rivals seeing it all firsthand.

We warmly welcome curious travelers, rum enthusiasts, and nature lovers to visit us in Barbados, see our commitment up close, and experience Planteray Rum at the Stade’s distillery!