February 17, 2024
Welcome to blog #51
It has been a week for a lot of little things getting done. Mikey finished the generator shed so it will stay dry. Finally today I feel like this project has come a long long way from last year at this time. Was just scrolling through some pictures from a year ago and glad to be enjoying the progress. This picture is exactly one year ago.
Although we have had some beautiful days we are still in the rainy season and it has been very cold by Hawaii standards. It was so cold this morning I was even able to wear one of my surviving quilted rice bag jackets that I made and sold many moons ago.
I am working on getting the back yard cleaned and thinking about planting the first raised beds. There are now three beds almost ready for filling and planting.
Kira and I made the trek into Kahalui on Tuesday to pick up supplies which included purchasing a lot of ground preparation gardening tools. We picked up rakes and pitch forks for spreading the chips along with picks and shovels for digging planting holes. All this equipment was funded by our grant and will be used for the coconut planting. The next step is working by hand to clear the small branches left from the chipping that will be raked and put in small piles and do controlled burns. Then the dirt and chips will also have to be taken off the rock walls so they are re-exposed. This will be lots of fun work for me and hopefully Kira. Having extra help from Kira has been a real blessing.
A lot of little organizing got done with hanging pictures, curtains placed in windows where the sun was creating problems and general decluttering. It seems there are always a million projects waiting to be done. Besides other things I am now focused on planting. I have had plants in pots for months that are soon going in the ground along with new planting. Every little job is an improvement so the whole process is very satisfying and rewarding.
Chris, the builder, showed this week to let me know he will be here in three weeks with a new small work crew so things will move fast. And, am I looking forward to that bit of news. Actually it is all perfect as that is when the next phase of supplies will arrive.
A little late getting this out today as I took a pruning class this morning at Entabeni Gardens with Michael Kristiansen. The Kristensen’s amazing garden is located about forty minutes away in upper Nahiku, a spot that gets three hundred inches of rain a year. This class was not only exceptionally helpful for my gardening but also an analogy for life. Besides providing information we got to see some of their gorgeous plants. Two themes were modification, adaptability and that all living organisms are connected. A thought that gives to a lot of interest because it is not just plants…..
Since the afternoon is getting on I am going to bring this to a close. Thanks for tuning in and I love comments and/or questions. The two next pictures are from the entrance here-The Pride of Burma billed the world’s most beautiful tree. Bob and I brought this tree over on Hawaiian Air when you could get on a plane with a tree. It was about four feet when we planted it over twenty years ago.
Wishing you a great week!
Aloha Nui,
Vicky
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