Tristan da Cunha is situated midway between South Africa and South America and is looking for farmers.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and answer the questions below.
1 How many people live in Tristan da Cunha?
2 What happened five decades ago?
3 How far is the nearest mainland?
4 What animals are raised on the grassland?
5 What vegetable do they grow?
6 How far is South Africa from Tristan da Cunha?
7 How many people would return to England, according to Basil Lavarello?
8 What do people do after work?
It's only got 265 residents and as much coastline as you could possibly want. There happens to be a volcano too, but the last major eruption was five decades ago. And it certainly helps if you enjoy your own company, as Tristan da Cunha is situated midway between South Africa and South America. So, if you know something about tending livestock and crop rotation, the islanders are hoping this could be the place for you. They are seeking a farmer who can help them increase their food production and to make them less reliant on imports. It’s 7 days on a fishing boat to the nearest mainland. However, the work could be challenging, says one agricultural adviser who did the job a few years ago.
There's about 1500 acres of grassland on which they run cattle and sheep. And they also have a small area where they grow potatoes. But that's the sum total of the agriculture.
This is the loneliest human colony on earth.
Tristan da Cunha, a British overseas territory, hit the headlines in the early 60s when a volcano forced its inhabitants to be evacuated, first to south Africa 1,500 miles away and then onto England. When they returned, not all of them seemed happy to be back on the most remote inhabited island on earth. Islander Basil Lavarello shared his feelings in 1965.
If there were a boat now for people to return to England, I'd say three quarters of the community would return back there again.
Would you be one of them?
I would be one of them.
Basil's first cousin, once removed, is still on the island, and he maintains it's the dream place to live and work.
It's very pristine, I should say and, you know, of course there's no crime and I think anyone who comes here for a short term contract, they just enjoy it so much that they always say they would like to come back.
So now, a rare chance to find out for yourself - the salary is undisclosed, but there is a pub for after work, and of course all the view you could ever need.
Key:
1 265
2 the last eruption of the volcano
3 7 days away
4 cattle (cows and bulls) and sheep
5 potatoes
6 1,500 miles away
7 3/4 of the community
8 they go to the pub
