Solidarity R.O.O.T.S. Jamaica

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TUITION

When is the full tuition due?

Next steps with installment plan for US/INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS:

1. Secure your registration with a $500 deposit no later than November 1, 2023. No refunds. COMPLETED OFFICIAL REGISTRATION APPLICATION REQUIRED IN ORDER TO TAKE THIS COURSE.

2. You may pay in installments:

1. Deposit 2: due Dec 15, 2023

2. Deposit 3: due Dec 30, 2023 (there will be no deposits after this date)

3. Full tuition of $2,500 non-work traders is due December 30, 2023 (no exceptions)

Why is the tuition $2500?

A large portion of students will be local jamaica residents who are being sponsored to come as fellows to receive this knowledge.  International students pay full tuition to pay it forward for locals who are less resourced to attend this kind of certification course. The $2500 covers 100+ hrs of food, lodging, tuition, excursions, ceremonies, and more. We encourage participants who really desire this experience to fundraise and bring forward the knowledge to spread exponentially throughout your communities.

Is there a difference in tuition for Jamaicans who reside in Jamaica?

Yes.  The current day rate for typical farmers/laborers in Jamaica is US$20/day ($3,000JMD).  With this in mind, we are prioritizing this PDC to ensure that Jamaicans have access to this course in our Climate Mitigation endeavor.  The fees for locals have been subsidized for Jamaican residents to pay between USD$1,000 ($150,000) on a sliding scale depending upon financial status. 

1. Secure your registration as a Jamaican resident with $30,000 JMD ($200 USD) by November 1, 2023. No refunds.

2. You may pay in installments:

1. Deposit 2:  due December 15, 2023

2. Deposit 3: due December 30, 2023

How do I pay the tuition?

Please make sure that your name on the account is the name on your application. 

Our accepted forms of payment:

PLEASE WRITE IN DETAILS IN NOTES YOUR NAME ON APPLICATION! OTHERWISE WE WILL NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE PAYING FOR.

• Venmo: @soulflowerfarm

• Zelle: Afiawalkingtree@gmail.com

• Check: and mail to: Soul Flower Farm, 4093 Lambert Rd, El Sobrante CA. 94803, USA

• Credit card through Square

• Cash in hand 

What happens after I send in my application and deposit?

Once you make your deposit we send you an extensive welcome packet with information on our course, the site, what to expect, what to bring, as well as forms to sign and return.  

What is our refund policy?

Deposits are non-refundable unless the course is canceled. If the course is canceled all paid fees will be fully refunded. Canceling your enrollment –Cancellations made before December 1, you may claim a full refund, minus deposit.

Cancellations made after December 1, you may claim 50% refund, minus deposit. If we have to cancel the course due to unforeseen circumstances all fees paid will be fully refunded.  

Special Covid-19 refund exception: if you have registered but are unable to attend the course due untimely changes in Covid restrictions or border closures you can choose to transfer your registration to another course or have your paid fees refunded. I understand and agree to the refund policies. Feel free to email us with any questions.

WORK TRADE/SWEAT EQUITY

What does the 20 hour work trade entail?

Helping with set up; clean up; daily chores; food preparation; outhouse cleaning; kitchen cleaning before and after meals; building and landscaping; tent set up and break down; land clearing; and other stuff. partial or full scholarship also does 20 hours work trade.

Are work traders responsible for any conflict or emotional crisis that arises? 

No.  Our instructors and guides will be facilitating conflict resolution as it arises.

Can I miss a class and still get certification?

We permit no more than two missed days of class. That still means participants have to play catch up when they return to class. We advise that you pair up with someone and get notes so that when you return to class you are all caught up. We will have one full day off class. That day is to be determined.

Is there WIFI/Internet on site?

Yes, we have WIFI on site. However, we are asking folks to be mindful of being more off-line during classes and also may have service interruption at times due to our location.

What is it like living on the land at Solidarity Yaad Farm?

Fan tastic = Bush rustic!

●  We recommend guests bring their own tents, or camp in our open-air spaces that are simple sheltered structures with capacity for multiple people.

●  We have a basic rainwater system for dishes, bathing, and laundry; we hand-wash our clothes and hang them to dry and bathe using 3 gallon buckets. We drink water fresh from the spring on our land. Sometimes we also bring in filtered spring water if needed.

●  We have composting toilets or porter potties. We process our humanure via a hot composting system so our poop decomposes with fungi and worm bacteria. This system is evolving.

BUGS

• Mosquitoes, heat, ants, tiny ticks (not same as the ones in US), humidity, and rain are a regular and consistent part of BushLife, please be prepared with natural repellent and rain gear. Please indicate on your form if this is something you need.

  CROPS

  Our farm food forest is diverse and dynamic with many microclimates. Main crops to date: coconuts, bananas, sorrel, turmeric, ginger, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, cabbage, broccoli, pineapple, oranges, grapefruit, and many island favorites like ackee, breadfruit, mangos, sugar cane, cassava fever grass, basil, june plum, many herbs, hardwood (Sweetwood, Mahoe and others), and bamboo. We fertilize with a hot composting system along with our own soil bacteria both as fertilizer, natural insect and fungal repellant in our farming practices.

SCHEDULE/ CURRICULUM

What does the curriculum cover?
Covers the 72 hr standardized international PDC curriculum, and 20 plus hours of in depth onsite study. All curriculum is taught from the perspective of indigenous sustainability methodology. A curriculum outline will be sent to all registered students by December 1, 2023.

What would a typical course day look like?
Rising yoga/meditation (7-8am); breakfast (730-830); course check-in & AM Session (9-1230pm); lunch (1230-2pm); PM session (2-330); break (330-4); PM Session (4-530); dinner (6-730); evening activities (8-930pm) (drumming, dance, ceremonies, stargazing, fireside talks)
Two excursions we will take are already paid for in your all-inclusive fees. Excursions beyond the two scheduled will incur a fee that will be shared upon your arrival.

TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION

Getting around White Hall/ Blackstonedge District

The nearest village shop is a seven-minute walk from the Farm. The closest shopping center is in Guys Hill or Gayle 15/20 minutes via taxi ride shares that are available for a small cost from 6 am to 5 pm. This is a very small district of about 300-400 people, surrounded by farms that are the breadbasket of Jamaica. Everyone knows everyone. Our sanctuary is a special safe refuge for LGBTQI+ and gender expansive folks in an area that is mostly seventh day adventist and we are aware that our presence in the community may be felt differently. Homophobia hostility is real in Jamaica, and for many who do not reside here, can be off putting. We do our best to be nondescript and discreet in our engagements with the outer community. After a year and a half, we are building alliances with the locals and take this very seriously. As such, we prefer our guests to maintain much of our correspondence to our farm and protect the privacy of our residents.

WHAT TO BRING TO JAMAICA

Participants are responsible for bringing all camping gear. We are building a tent village together for our weeks together.

Essentially anything you need for your spiritual journey that will help to balance and ground you. We will have lots of teas, juices, fruits, and three vegan meals daily. Visitors must bring their own solar DC chargers for phones and laptops; there is no AC electricity available. We are currently in collaboration with Living Energy Lights and el departmento de la comida and will be installing our very own offgrid DC microgrid systems to power up our farm in the coming years in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint and participate in energy justice.

MUST BRING Passport Airline tickets Credit Cards - when you apply you will be asked to share your ticket information so that we can have ppl team up and travel from the airport.

Day pack

Money bag

Cash

CHANGING MONEY
Rates at the airport are very low. You can get cash from a bank ATM here in JMD for you USD. Bring up $500 to pay for extra tips, trips, gifts, snacks, beyond the all-inclusive course.

MEDICATIONS
Please bring all medications/herbals you take on a daily basis and the ones you think you may need whether they are prescription or herbal. You will not have the same access to things that you do in the United States so please take care of yourself / be responsible for yourself and make a list of what you think you may need and add to that list. Please bring all of your medical cards and any additional information you may need just in case. If you have current health concerns, please put it on our emergency health form and let your medical provider know that you are leaving the country and what is the best protocol should you need to go to the hospital. You will receive a ROOTS PDC Welcome packet that will ask for you to complete health, emergency, liability, media forms upon payment of your deposit.

PERSONAL (Less is More!!!) GEAR

Tent
Air mattress/sleeping pad
Sleeping mattress

Sleeping bag (light) Tarps (can purchase in JA)
Pillow (optional)
Light layered clothing Swim suit (lighter colored clothing attracts less mosquitos and bugs.)
Sarong
Toiletries
Loose clothing for yoga - preferably white/light colored, light Sandals
Flip flops
Hat/visor

Water boots or waterproof hiking boots (best for our terrain)

Sunglasses
Water bottle/mason jar Vitamins/Medicines/Herbs

Earplugs

Flashlight-headlamp

Solar lights
Sunscreen
Mosquito net
Mosquito repellant ((tea tree oil, lavender, eucalyptus, etc) Beach towel

Folding umbrella Snacks (BYOFS)

Folding stool/chair (very light can fit in carryon)

For more questions, please feel free to send us an email at rootspdcofficial@gmail.com