Vicky Durand’s Adventure Blog #61

May 4, 2024

Welcome to BLOG #61

It has been a quiet week here, one with a lot of clouds and rain to fill the water tanks and water the newly planted coconuts and taro. They all seem quite happy and it is such a joy to look out at the hill and see the plants all doing so well. Most of the taro stocks now have two leaves.

I just watched the University of Hawaii West Oahu graduation where Kehau who came here two weeks ago to help plant the coconuts gave the student graduation speech. It was heart warming as she was a drug baby preemie born two pounds with little chance of survival and raised by two foster mothers. It was impressive to see so many local kids getting four year degrees.

Kehau giving her speech

It was a lovely graduation and made me think and wonder when the Chancellor gave the introduction saying we are our ancestors wildest dreams. This made me think of my Salt Lake City pioneer ancestors and how daring and creative they were to make the journey from England via ship and wagon train to make a new life. I wonder what they would actually think of our Niu Now and Koali coconut gene bank.
I am excited about this venture to be sure!!!

We had one of our last controlled burn for this first phase of clearing and putting weed barrier cloth this week. In another month more coconuts will be planted on the hill and as we can secure more grant money we will continue moving up the hill toward the pool and water fall.

This week I have been adding different color plumeria plants so to have them in the back yard garden. The first group of beets has been harvested to cook and lettuce is abundant along with arugula and cilantro.

This week I finalized a Green grant application for a Polaris to haul things around the property here. Will be interesting to see what happens.

The mongooses have gotten to be a big problem in the cat house. They come in for the food and are vicious critters. Everyday I have been trapping and relocating at least three. I bought three more traps so will continue this in a bigger way. This might be an ongoing activity as there are so many here. Many cats have left that space for cozier surroundings-my bed.

Looking forward to the green metal roofing for my new tool shed and patio off cat house that will arrive this next week. The lighting materials arrived and the Electrician says he will show up this next week. And, the plumber said soon for hot water.

A friend, Karen, just came up and was wooed by the progress. Things are really taking shape now and this is a big joy for me. She brought her friend and neighbor Mabel who showed me how to cook chiaotie squash. They sat down for a sample of chocolate sapote which I can’t say I love.