Where rural roots meet island dreams

Welcome to Pastures to Palm Trees — a quiet traveler’s view of the Caribbean.

I’m glad you found your way here. My name is Jen Farnsworth, and I’m a kindergarten teacher, Pilates instructor, alpaca farmer, and nature-loving introvert living in rural Maine. I may come from a world of snowy winters, muddy boots, and home-grown herbal remedies, but my heart has always drifted toward warm blue water and island breezes.

I wasn’t always a traveler. In fact, I grew up staying close to home. My first trip to the Caribbean happened after the most painful chapter of my life — the loss of my first husband and high school sweetheart. At 24, slowly learning to breathe again, I took the honeymoon we never had and flew to St. Lucia. That trip became more than an escape. It was the beginning of choosing gratitude, joy, and life again.

Years later, my world looks very different:
A problem-solving, nature loving son.
A husband who thrives on adventure and has an entrepreneur spirit.
An alpaca farm I once thought was impossible.
A classroom full of bright little faces.
A body strengthened through movement.
A heart softened by gratitude.

And somehow, woven into all of this, is travel.

Over the years, we’ve explored Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Martin, Grenada, the BVI, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, St. Croix, and more. I’ve snorkeled with sea turtles and sharks, sailed on a catamaran for a week, taken tiny planes to tiny islands, and wandered through botanical gardens soaking up every plant, flower, and piece of folklore I could learn.

But here’s the truth:
I’m not a luxury traveler.
I’m not an adrenaline junkie.
And I’m definitely not the selfie-taking, always-on influencer type.

I’m a quiet traveler who notices the small things: the color of the sea at sunrise, the herbs growing by a roadside café, the way a local tells a story, or the shy fish hiding inside the coral. I take pictures of creatures and plants more often than I take pictures of myself. And I love sharing those underwater discoveries with my kindergarteners back home — their wide-eyed wonder always reminds me why I travel in the first place.

This blog is for you if:
• you’re an introvert who loves to explore at your own pace
• you enjoy nature, culture, and gentle adventure
• you prefer guides that feel human, honest, and calm
• you like resorts for convenience but still crave local experiences
• you’re curious about island life, snorkeling, flora, fauna, and history
• you want real stories, not loud influencers or trendy checklists

Through Pastures to Palm Trees, I hope to bring you travel that feels accessible, grounded, and soul-nourishing. This is a space for soft adventures, slow travel, quiet moments, and the kind of beauty you only notice when you’re willing to look a little closer.

Thank you for being here.
I can’t wait to show you the islands — through my eyes.

All Images are taken with my own camera: authentic, unfiltered and representing the world as I see it.