Your Hosts
Both of us, your hosts Ron and Jean, are originally from Erie, PA. We spent 37 years there, where we raised two beautiful daughters, Tiana and Juliana, with the help and support of our families. After finishing a master’s degree in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education with a focus on Montessori Education, Ron and I moved to Maine and then to Charleston, South Carolina.
Ron is a professional Chef trained through the Culinary Institute of America with 20 years of experience with fine dining restaurants specializing in International cuisine. Then came the opportunity to teach at a school on the ‘Nature Isle’ of Dominica. What we discovered when we arrived was the unique pristine almost untouched land of enchantment. The people were welcoming and friendly. We fell in love with the natural beauty and splendour of Dominica. When the teaching contract came to a close, we knew we had to find a way of staying on the Island. We lived in a small village called Galion, where we learned about herb teas, Cimenkontwa, Basilica, Citronelle and many more. The villagers taught Ron the art of roasting coffee, (good strong coffee his passion), as well as, the process of making cocoa from harvesting the pods to sun drying, roasting and grinding the final product. He learned how to make charcoal from the local wood. We both had quite a bit to learn about the tropical fruits and the local vegetables or provisions dasheen and tania. We were surprised to learn how much the villagers relied on the phases of the moon to know when the best time was to plant and harvest. It is one of the reasons we choose to name our place Crescent Moon.
After searching the island, we came across an old resort that had been the island’s most remote hotel and very popular back in the 60’s. It has all the right ingredients for us. It is situated at 1,800 feet high in the rainforest with temperatures that are cool in the evenings all year round. It has a view of the sea and Riviere La Croix running along side. It is located in the Sylvania Forest and reminds us of the Allegany Mountains that we had camped and hiked so much in Pennsylvania and New York.
Caretakers and Tour Guides
David and Tiana are the caretakers and tour operators for Crescent Moon Cabins. David is an on site Certified Tour Guide and driver with decades of experience exploring the trails and hidden corners of the Nature Isle. His knowledge of local flora and fauna adds an intimate insight to Dominica’s treasures. Together they share a passion for flowers, exploring the Waitikubuli National Trail, and distilling essential oils. They have two boys who are home schooled by Jean and keep the whole family playing in the forest and in the sea.
The Heart of Dominica
Crescent Moon Cabins is one of the founding members of our local community tourism organization, the Heart of Dominica. We are a cooperative group of service providers in the foothills of the Morne Trois Pitons Nation Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We seek to be stewards of this precious natural, historical, and cultural resource area by providing tours and services to nationals and visitors while sharing the abundant beauty and productivity of the natural and eco-sensitive attractions consciously and safely. We are proud to include the Watikubuli National Trail Headquarters with segments 4 and 5, the Sylvania trail head to Middleham Falls, Spanny’s Twin Falls, Jacko Falls, Sultoun Nine Diamond Waterfalls, the second tallest mountain Morne Trois Pitons trail, the Emerald Pool, and Jack Steps. There are also many local business offering organic farm tours, taxi and tour guide services, villa, cabin, and camping accommodations, arts and craft producers, local food and snacks as well as small grocery shops.
