The Best Laid Plans of Mice & Men!
It all started in 2020 when I thought I would have a bunch to accomplish, but then the plague hit and it became surreal to say the least….
Change in plans, what to do now? I know how to make soaps and stuff, I’m learning more each day about natural medicines, I now can press my own nut oils and steam distill essential oils and hydrosols – so now that I got those covered, what do I Essentially need?
When walking through the stores that were “OPEN” in those days and with only 1 barge a week coming to the Big Island, the store shelves looked bare! Plus, Hawaii was just advised that our inter-island cargo carrier is raising their fees up 46% for all products they carry. Now let me think of that, we live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and most products are brought in by barge – Hawaii is one of the most expensive places to live and now a 46% increase….. hmmmmm….. Then the cost of living kept going up, up, up – inflation is skyrocketing most of 2021 under Biden. Now the world in 2022 is dealing with war, with Russia invading Ukraine and it seems most people don’t understand how it may effect them in so many ways. Many people have never seen a war, heard of a war or have been in a war in America, unless you were in the arm forces.
I have been telling my family and friends, get a skill, know how to barter, plant a garden, have extra clothes and especially have a relationship with Jesus! Now that may offend many of you, but you may want to really think about this as things seem to be heading south…. As my subtitle is ~ The best laid plans of mice and men! ~ I would say it would be good to know who He is: The Way, the Truth and the Life!
Well, since I have a heart of a farmer who loves to work in the soil and see things grow, who doesn’t mind hard work, my first thought was now is the time for a full on garden, chicken coop and some dwarf goats? A cow is definitely too big. This is where I realized that we were heading towards a homestead lifestyle, with my husband getting an anvil and he has made his own forge – why not forge ahead?
So the garden and chicken coop seemed a good idea, the goats well I am going to put that on hold for awhile, since my husband tells me absolutely not, even though I love making goat milk soap that is wonderfully creamy. He is definitely afraid that the milking will fall to him! Possibly rabbits?
I am sure by now you may think me crazy, but aren’t we all a little these days, I just have been this way for a greater span of time than most,,,, well maybe?
So my husband knows a wonderful man who lives on our street with a small excavator and had him clear our property of the waiawi (tiny yellow/strawberry guava) that was so dense you couldn’t walk through it and left standing the ohia trees and some big piles of wood.
After that we began to cut logs to use as the walls of raised garden beds. We started with kale, broccoli, beets and radishes first, then went onto plant corn, jalapeno, squash, beets, and spinach.
During this time I was replanting my herbs that were all over in various parts of our property to “My Hill”, at least that is what I call it. My grandson and I argue over whose hill it is and what purpose it is for as he runs up and down it, as I tell him “Don’t Step On My Herbs,” —- he smiles and laughs and if he had wings he would try to fly! Love that boy!
On My Hill I have rosemary, Egyptian mint, spearmint, chocolate mint, peppermint, thyme, oregano, chamomile, lemon drop basil, holy basil, African blue basil, comfrey, cilantro, aloe vera, calendula, white wild mint, daisies, nasturtiums, lemon balm (Melissa), white ginger, hapu’u, anthuriums, orchids, ferns and small flora. I am sure I am forgetting something, but that is okay.
In other planters we have a variety of lettuces, more beets, radishes and spinach, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, Thai watermelons, cantaloupes, artichokes, asparagus, zucchini, honey dew, golden seal, cucumbers, leeks, garlic, potatoes, celery, mushrooms, carrots (regular and colored), bell peppers (small colorful ones), shallots, green onions, asparagus, squash.
As all these plants were maturing, my wonderful husband built me a 2 barrel for composting and they are the bomb! In addition to that, he built me a 9 bucket metal holder with netting above it for our tomatoes, peas, beans and zucchini to grow right up it. This is so the chickens don’t peck my delicious vegetables and fruits away.
 Picture from 2020 |  Picture from 2020 |
Here are some homesteading pictures, as you can see quite basic and down to earth, nothing fancy, but wait until it all comes together!
Our next project will be putting up a greenhouse to keep the plants from rotting from too much rain and the animals out of those wonderful foods they just love pecking at. Then on to the chicken coop for eggs and meat. (Greenhouse and Chicken Coop are up now!)
On the side of our property I have planted ginger, turmeric, black turmeric, galangal, green tea and mamaki (a Hawaiian tea plant). One of the best things I hear these days that they say is great is fermented turmeric and ginger for your gut health, reduces body inflammation and bolster your immune system. See: https://countrylivinghawaii.com/gut-health-our-immune-system-fermenting-black-turmeric-turmeric-ginger.
My oldest son Kawika brought me a mandarin and cinnamon tree, which we will be planting once the property is landscaped and we figured out the layout of where everything is goes. So as of now, we have lemon, lime, guava, tangerine and mandarin citrus trees. We have black berries and blue berries. We have 6 green tea plants and 9 young eucalyptus tree, 5 baby manuka tea tree bushes that will need a home too, somewhere on the property.
Kawika has been such a blessing with planting and working around the property I cannot thank him enough. He is a fabulous son, a great uncle for our grandson who lives on our property with us!
Well this is only part 1 of HomeSteading Hawaii – part 2 will show the property in 2022 with our greenhouse and chicken coop hotel. We currently have 15 hatchling eggs that we hope are fertile with two variety of chickens.
I hope you stay tuned and know that even in these times that we are live in, there is hope. Mahalo