tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61593154780531921942024-03-04T21:56:15.433-08:00EAT WHAT I GROWPersonal journey to only eat what I grow using Korean Natural Farming methods.
This means using only natural inputs found right on our land.
I focus on living soil and (IMO) indigenous micro-organisms.Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-71659337482313740222014-06-12T00:03:00.003-07:002014-06-12T00:03:31.864-07:00Father and Son Develop Strategy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drake and Eric at work developing campaign strategy</td></tr>
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State Representative District #1.</div>
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Website: FarmersForEric.com</div>
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Now that the papers are filed, "Farmers for Eric" is registered with the DCCA and the Campaign Spending Commission, a TIN (taxpayer identification number) is recorded with the IRS, a bank account is opened, we are ready to get to work.</div>
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Our theme is "Growing Community Together". We want the campaign and the web site to be the example of our vision for District One. <span class="Apple-style-span">Drake is my Campaign Manager and Web Master. It is great for father and son to be working together, discussing what elements to include in the web site to best accomplish our goal. We agree that a map of District #1 is important. We want a place where leaders and those involved in building and growing our community can share their vision for our District. We want an interactive site, one where folks come to be connected. To that end, we want to have a place where farmers can post what they grow, how they farm, and how they sell their farm products. We will have an events calendar. We plan to host campaign events that plant gardens and share locally grown food.</span></div>
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Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-39582768877427688202014-06-02T19:54:00.002-07:002014-06-02T19:54:25.410-07:00Growing Community Together<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><i>Eric harvesting Taro grown using IMOs</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Today I filled papers to run for District One State House Representative because I hope to make a positive transformation!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Look in your yard or your neighbors yard and the fruit tree you see was most likely grafted and produced by "Plant It Hawaii". Back in the late 70's my sister and myself started that business with a vision to provide healthy fruit trees for all the people of Hawaii Island. During the past thirty-five years over a quarter million fruit trees have been planted! We searched the globe to bring the widest variety of the best tasting fruit to our island. From Avocado to Zapote, the people of Hawaii Island now enjoy the delicious fruits from the best cultivars on the planet.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My life long passion for agriculture lead me to Korean Natural Farming. In 2007 my son, Drake, and myself traveled to South Korea to spend a week with Dr. Park and Master Cho. We toured farm after farm practicing KNF methods, using indigenous micro organisms (IMOs) to grow vegetables, fruits and raise animals. Natural and healthy inputs are used to produce plants and animals that taste delicious and are super healthy. Upon our return I set out to adapt the Korean farming systems to Hawaii Island. We continued to learn and both earned certified status from Master Cho. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px;"><i>1st Class of Cho Certified Korean Natural Farmers in Hawaii</i></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We are blessed to live in District One, the bread basket of Hawaii Island, with arguably the best growing conditions on the planet. Our family is working together to develop a model Korean Natural Farm on our property in Onomea. In August 2011 my wife, Jennifer, and myself, ate only what we grew ourselves from our own land for the whole month. That was the inspiration for this blog. Our meals and thoughts for each of those days is still posted by going to the older posts.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #545454;"><b> </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Leaving the convenience of the corner grocery store and depending on Nature and the land for our daily food taught me valuable lessons. The spiritual connection to the Aina is profound and I remain grateful.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #232323; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><i>Eric and Jennifer with Eric’s co-workers in Keaau</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I look forward to campaigning this Summer and Fall. Why? Because I’ll be doing what I love; teaching friends and neighbors how to grow healthy food naturally. Why? Because I’ll be meeting new people in our District, listening to their ideas, seeking to understand their concerns. Why? Because we’ll be working with each other to <b>Grow our Community Together</b>.</span></div>
Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-20324553248066308602014-05-12T13:27:00.000-07:002014-05-12T13:27:50.217-07:00Spring 2014This Spring has just blown by. Jennifer and I spent January in New Zealand, a wonderful trip to a magical place. We cruised 4,000 kilometers in our camper van, taking in the Southern Alps at Mt. Cook, hiking almost daily on long empty beaches or mountain trails, touring wine regions, just having a bucket list blast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric & Jennifer picking up our camper-van in New Zealand</td></tr>
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Still working my day job Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, which allows me 4 day weekends to pursue my gardening hobby. Keeping up with our greenhouses, mostly for our greens and morning green drinks. Have reconditioned the bottom gardens, where I have replanted sugar cane, kept the pineapples weeded, planted taro and sweet potato and green beans.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ariel View of Farm with Hilo in upper left corner</td></tr>
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I have recommitted to making all the Korean Natural Farming ingredients and have been spraying weekly. This means Fermented Fruit Juice, Fermented Plant Juice, Fish Amino Acid, Lactic Acid Bacteria, Oriental Herbal Nutrient, Calcium from egg shells in korean rice wine vinegar. This weekly spraying has made a significant difference on plant growth and health.<br />
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I have made IMO again. Started with IMO one (bamboo leaf mold in rice), and threw it away three times until I nailed it. Then IMO two mixing that rice mold with brown sugar. Then mixed with the inputs mentioned above into mill run to make IMO three. Added wood chips at this stage to get more fungus in the mix. And finally mixed this with soil and more of the inputs to get IMO four, the finished product.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IMO #3 pile (my best ever)</td></tr>
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I mixed dolomite (calcium and magnesium), bio-char into my new planting beds and topped with a thin layer of IMO four, then put grass clippings on top to protect the IMO four from the sun. The grass clippings also keep the soil moisture in while preventing weeds from sprouting.<br />
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This past week I got 29 Buckeye chicks sent via US Postal Service from a special breeding operation in California specializing in heritage American breeds. They only send straight run, so half will be male and half female. These are dual purpose birds, meaning both meat and eggs. So I'll keep the best roster and all the females, the other boys will consumed by us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckeye Chicks in their new home</td></tr>
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Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-34422474817483272762013-10-20T15:18:00.002-07:002013-10-20T15:21:59.248-07:00Fall 2013 UpdateMid October 2013 and Jennifer and I are planting seeds for one last planting. It might seem strange for you folks living in Seattle, Denver or Madison, but upon opening my eyes waking up from a great nights sleep, I glanced at the digital readout on our weather station and the temperature was 74 degrees F. So we put on our shorts, flip flops and headed out to our gardens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our seed starter bed </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oct 2013 Jennifer showing off her produce</td></tr>
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Tomatoes, lettuce, beets, comfrey, arugula, chard, and kale. Yes, plants still growing very well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from earlier Summer post. Same greenhouse as above just planted</td></tr>
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Orange tree is full of fruits. Fall is harvest time and I love my fresh squeezed OJ. Check out the microbe population growing under the tree.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington Navel Orange tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Microbes huge populations of white hairs helping feed the oranges</td></tr>
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<br />Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-49174028184126919462013-07-27T21:40:00.002-07:002013-07-27T21:40:46.624-07:00to GMO or not to GMO???The papaya ringspot virus (PRV) devastated papaya production on the Big Island of Hawaii in the early 1990's. Commercial papaya production virtually ended as the virus completely wiped out all Solo papaya production. Fortunately, Dr Gonsalves and his team foresaw the impending disaster (the virus was already in Oahu but not the Big Island) and started work in his laboratory at Cornell University a decade in advance of release and commercial production of "Rainbow".<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naturally Farmed GMO "Rainbow" papaya</td></tr>
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<br />At my day job I am General Manager for the largest papaya exporter to the US Mainland. We exclusively produce GMO "Rainbow" papaya. Papaya is always in the top five most nutritious fruits anyone can put in their body. Is our Rainbow papaya safe?</div>
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Well the Japanese government recently approved our Rainbow for sale in Japan after 13 years of reviewing the science. Believe me, if there was even a small shred of evidence to the contrary, it would never have been approved. It is safe!!!!!! It is HEALTHY!!!!!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naturally Farmed non-GMO papaya</td></tr>
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On my weekends I have been a student of Korean Natural Farming. The whole point is sustainability. If you have to import fertilizers, commercial or organic, it is not sustainable. So what about GMO's?</div>
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Well take a look at the evidence presented in photos above. Non GMO get the virus and die. GMO Rainbow thrive and give us all the papaya we can eat. Both are identically naturally farmed. No pesticides or herbicides.</div>
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Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-85861472223983700352013-07-21T15:50:00.000-07:002013-07-21T15:50:36.535-07:00Planting more Sugarloaf Sweet White Pineapple<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOQZkgD7T_ySJKQ3XlDz1G3IwQftusJSR-Syg42PTVrbQmFthdeuAou1sqwp7Xt2jSsYWSctH3lOoy4XrhAnLfvhQqzZCtTtctTcrd_WRb1joW8iKYfL8Hkur8AKukHWfRl2SsthP6Hc/s1600/IMG_2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOQZkgD7T_ySJKQ3XlDz1G3IwQftusJSR-Syg42PTVrbQmFthdeuAou1sqwp7Xt2jSsYWSctH3lOoy4XrhAnLfvhQqzZCtTtctTcrd_WRb1joW8iKYfL8Hkur8AKukHWfRl2SsthP6Hc/s400/IMG_2011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer watering in liquid IMOs</td></tr>
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<br />August is typically the month when the Sweet White Sugarloaf Pineapple is in full harvest mode. With all the tops on the fruit we will have it is time to prep more beds. Because plants often need two years to bear fruit, weed control is very important. Using weed mat has proven a good strategy with pineapples.<br />
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I ran the spader implement on our real tractor over the bed several times to loosen the soil and till in the weeds. Next step was to use my Japanese hand held digging fork to take all weeds and roots from previous crop out. This is time consuming and hard work, but helps keep this old guy in shape.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hands in the Dirt</td></tr>
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<br />After this I spaded in some dolomite lime (calcium and magnesium) and watered in some of Drake's oxygenated liquid IMOs. Then it is back to hand work, shoveling trenches on both side of the garden row and burying the sides of the weed mat.<br />
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Now the fun part, planting. We remove the bottom leaves of each top to expose root nodes. This allows the tops to root quickly. Then I cut a small X in the weed mat with a knife and push the new plant into the soil through the weed mat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peeling back leaves to expose the roots</td></tr>
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<br />The new tops will take two years to fruit. We will plant all the tops from our harvest and all of the kekeis located at the bottom of each pineapple fruit. This could be several hundred new plants. We will leave the suckers on the older plants which are harvested this year. There is two suckers per plant and they will each produce a pineapple fruit next Summer. Voila, a bit of hard work now, and sweet pineapple for years to come!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New babies planted!</td></tr>
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Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-41941012730032299002013-07-14T13:15:00.000-07:002013-07-14T13:15:34.867-07:00Mid-Summer 2013 <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpUMo9j53jwgIrHGUYdQYCREzy6srjz-fR3LJ7VYC8hn-Nz75wNrCafflX-UzOAUMkVldqvP1kAFSFBOsdTy3UdMPg4b0wqF2G_Mv55ShI2CbYIIhUSVXZLVmRZFp7s1hyIRiYQ3LDzQ/s1600/IMG_2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpUMo9j53jwgIrHGUYdQYCREzy6srjz-fR3LJ7VYC8hn-Nz75wNrCafflX-UzOAUMkVldqvP1kAFSFBOsdTy3UdMPg4b0wqF2G_Mv55ShI2CbYIIhUSVXZLVmRZFp7s1hyIRiYQ3LDzQ/s400/IMG_2008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvesting String Beans</td></tr>
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<br />The first half of 2013 just whizzed by but not without accomplishments. We installed a 4 inch line on the Hanawai, added a second 48 volt Harris hydro alternator and we are now producing 20 Kilowatts of power per day from our river. The additional ag dwelling is completed, insides caulked, painted and the pine interiors sanded and coated with a water based varathane finnish which totally brings out the natural woods brilliance. Our daughter Kaitlin is expected to move in to the blue cabin soon.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer shows off her Kale and Amaranth</td></tr>
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It is only in the last month that I agian have concentrated on my gardens. If you neglect them, the grasses take over. So I have been digging out the wainaku roots in my greenhouses. This requires digging down three feet and sifting through each shovel of dirt to remove the roots. So as not to have to do this again I am utilizing my son's Drake method of changing the soil chemistry. The microbes are either bacterial (grasses) or fungal (forrest). We are attempting to be more fungal which we expect will be less atractive to the invasive grasses. Drake is using a living compost pile to inculate batches of liquid IMO which is then applied to our garden beds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drake making liquid IMO adding oxygen for 24 hours before spraying on plants</td></tr>
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We have planted our greenhouses with big beef steak tomatoes to be trellised up to a single leader. This leaves lots of room for more low profile vegies down below. We have scaled back in area, but are trying to be more intensive with that smaller space. This means less weeding as the vegies help shade out areas weeds would normally fill. Our plan is to have our greenhouses produce our green drinks. So we've planted kale, spinnach, chard, cilantro, celery and lettuce.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly planted Greenhouse</td></tr>
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We continue to drink our smoothies blended in our Vitamix from our papayas, bananas and sugar cane juice. So tastey. With an abundance of free electricity we can dehydrate our excess fruit. Our sugarloaf pineapple patch is in its annual harvest season. Dried pineapple is the bomb and apple bananas aren't bad either.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric in his Pineapple patch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaitlin and Jennifer Sugarloaf Harvest</td></tr>
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Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-35911014705079120832012-11-12T22:07:00.000-08:002012-11-12T22:07:42.790-08:0012/21/2012<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise Blessings</td></tr>
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The Mayan Calendar starts counting in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">3114 B.C. Wow, that is more than a few moons ago. Despite the craziness of our world today, including insane tensions and transitions in the Middle East, our daily lives and the human race march on. For me it is about the rhythms of life. Almost daily I am blessed with incredible sunrise paint-scapes of multi-colored clouds at sunrise as the world turns another turn. This morning a sliver of a new moon was just above the horizon as the sky turned from the blackness of night into another brilliant day.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mauna Kea at sunset and our nearly completed Kitchen/Living Area.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Getting near our goal of completing the infrastructure to be self sustaining, we crossed the $200K mark today. It ain't cheap to build. But I am blessed to have the resources to do make this happen. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Thank you!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">My dream is to enjoy the rhythms. I may get my wish soon. </span>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-30301233672384668322012-10-31T23:50:00.001-07:002012-11-01T00:11:26.838-07:00Halloween Night<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trick or Treat</td></tr>
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We are so remote, no child has ever knocked at our front door in the seven years we've lived here. They probably know they would receive an avocado or rambutan as their "treat" and are off to better pickens where they can get their high fructose corn syrup rush. So I am spending this uninterrupted time posting to my blog.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Additional Farm Dwelling Oct 31</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfJqPYuv6BOCbvIQQXJFKCF3T3ucszoB2Zi8ySyJ5IBGWPAeCNgZeXmuzHwHnhtCWpNxtZ8OS1_dr_-UDwQm37DDe1nIOLnOUGXlIZCNTs8JQxlJo-ZG3pfWoXD226CLUZnNAd0P_BSk/s1600/IMG_3682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfJqPYuv6BOCbvIQQXJFKCF3T3ucszoB2Zi8ySyJ5IBGWPAeCNgZeXmuzHwHnhtCWpNxtZ8OS1_dr_-UDwQm37DDe1nIOLnOUGXlIZCNTs8JQxlJo-ZG3pfWoXD226CLUZnNAd0P_BSk/s400/IMG_3682.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humble first steps. Foundation for Drakes bedroom starts to rise.</td></tr>
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Our goal for 2012 was to get the infrastructure built. We just might make it by 12/21/12. Our main kitchen / living building got the dry wall textured today. We'll paint the inside this weekend and cabinets and floors should go in soon. The three detached bedrooms are getting the interior finishing touches done, wood floors, bathrooms tiled, etc... The electrician is connecting the main unit to the bedrooms tomorrow in underground cable. The trenching was fun, ask Drake. The plumber will be installing solar hot water next week.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New shed before putting the tin roof on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from new shed</td></tr>
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Our new shed is up, roof on, water tank full. Animals and their Natural Farming habitat is so close to being ready. Working hard trying to cross the finish line and meet our 2012 goal.</div>
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Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-26378542790479843022012-06-26T23:47:00.001-07:002012-06-26T23:47:47.942-07:00De-Wainaku<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSpAz8q2e2BanPBCG2RB6b5p1ALL07aRpygvA4Cecs6UkxlAjAHslGc_p0Va_S_0r-JewjcOLc07251O_yjaTPjuWWYx7i4nO23y1U81z4NAxrN8FTAx5B1Mj2aPZdeW8xM9XbNdtOHo/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSpAz8q2e2BanPBCG2RB6b5p1ALL07aRpygvA4Cecs6UkxlAjAHslGc_p0Va_S_0r-JewjcOLc07251O_yjaTPjuWWYx7i4nO23y1U81z4NAxrN8FTAx5B1Mj2aPZdeW8xM9XbNdtOHo/s400/IMG_0593.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wainaku Grass deep beneath Garden Bed</td></tr>
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I just spent four hours double digging a garden bed that had become overtaken by Wainaku Grass. It is also known as "Torpedo Grass" as it sends out roots very deep. It must like anerobic conditions as it most often travels along the clay just below the prepared garden. This makes it very difficult to combat. You just can't weed the surface. One must turn the entire garden bed, one shovel full at a time, throwing the dirt in such a manner as to expose any roots that may be in that shovel full of dirt. So each shovel of dirt must be sifted through to pick out the roots. Even the smallest root left in the garden bed will grow and be the nexus for the invasion.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden Bed after de-Wainaku process</td></tr>
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Master Cho suggests no till. However, Wainaku is so aggressive, I'm not sure desired plants could compete. I won't till this bed again. I'll let the insects dig their air holes in the soil, the microbes establish their environment, and I won't disturb it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wainaku Roots</td></tr>
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During this process I did notice that the soil just under the weeds was very healthy. It was darker in color, and in granules. It also had lots of worms. This must mean that the weeds are adding fertility to the soil. I used all the weeds and roots removed from the garden bed to mulch a near by avocado tree. Thinking that these have lots of good nutrients.</div>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-32717622882698094982012-06-25T18:53:00.001-07:002012-06-27T12:45:43.870-07:00LACTIC ACID BACTERIA<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduNNHCnT5ADqLOfaKkWXQDID9_cN8149nYHOHe5haKItlcozf0Zr-Htl2QkoLoQDk2CmYsMzVHEWMmqyaVj3UnyOnecStg3JESv_YiBzAAY0XHIv2pxho3ky2E_4MbKJ47zEU_PcTFuw/s1600/IMG_0583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduNNHCnT5ADqLOfaKkWXQDID9_cN8149nYHOHe5haKItlcozf0Zr-Htl2QkoLoQDk2CmYsMzVHEWMmqyaVj3UnyOnecStg3JESv_YiBzAAY0XHIv2pxho3ky2E_4MbKJ47zEU_PcTFuw/s400/IMG_0583.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rice rinse water surrounded by milk</td></tr>
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LAB, Lactic Acid Bacteria, is an ingredient we use frequently in Korean Natural Farming and it is easy to make. Rinse some rice, keep the water, let it sit for a day or two. Then pour a little (one part rice rinse water to 10 parts milk) into a jar of milk. Don't refrigerate. The kurds will separate in a day or so. Pour off the liquid and mix with equal parts brown sugar. This is liquid will keep for months and is used in almost all our plant sprays.<br />
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Lactic Acid Bacteria are very effective in improving ventilation of air in soil and highly effective in growth of fruit trees and leaf vegetables. It has a pH of 2, possessing strong sterilization power. LAB decomposes or chelates minerals stuck to soil and not easily dissolved, making them easy for plants to absorb. When plants absorb lactic acid, body fluid is adjusted within the plant to increase the disease tolerance and withstand heavy rain without becoming soft.<br />
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If I ever have a tummy ache or the runs, a take a sip of LAB and in no time I'm normal. </div>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-55719366081305466872012-06-12T14:37:00.002-07:002012-06-12T14:43:28.733-07:00Summer Time<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today's Harvest</td></tr>
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Summer is here in full swing. Jennifer and I hiked down to the beach in Volcano's National Park to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We spent 4 days watching the tide go in and out at a remote beach enjoying the solitude. When we returned we had fresh ripe tomatoes, lychee and zucchini waiting for us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IMO #3 pile growing mold</td></tr>
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I've been taking it easy this year, backing way off of last years gardening pace. Yet we still have lots and lots of food. Above is an IMO#3 pile, two days old, growing micro-organisms like crazy. A thin layer of IMO#4 on garden beds between plantings, and weekly sprays of CHO spray is all that the plants require to pump out large volumes of nutritious food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZVi7_kTGPv6j4eT44xV1cElrwH9BJQ4KQiLV4h6L4d9FjpXiToOmdl7B8hCIvHtn8Fl-pg0pmuW0_1eEVE5Erd_nMnNjetFuhFnPcHitvddyD3HKeSYekfm_prIGocUfEt8-xghUqhM/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZVi7_kTGPv6j4eT44xV1cElrwH9BJQ4KQiLV4h6L4d9FjpXiToOmdl7B8hCIvHtn8Fl-pg0pmuW0_1eEVE5Erd_nMnNjetFuhFnPcHitvddyD3HKeSYekfm_prIGocUfEt8-xghUqhM/s400/IMG_0530.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing Pig and Chicken Feed</td></tr>
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Drake has been feeding our pigs and chickens. Here he is cutting papaya, and he'll add a tiny bit of store bought feed, and add OHN, and a hand full of IMO#4. He lets it sit to ferment for a day before feeding to the animals. The animals get much more nutrition out of the same amount of food and they do NOT exhibit hungry behavior as they did before he went to a 24 hour ferment of their feed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr49eFx3n-5fk7uMBX4k96Q9qQ4JyJH1OZqEfBSojYcog_aQXxR5i-L2Og_bTPZ4e8k1GZGlOO-A2ZL-PdMa3NcCUd4zz7tWN_Mv7aD9o6Ru9QeqZixjlPuOtl2O1QppkIsszFqEP9u4E/s1600/IMG_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr49eFx3n-5fk7uMBX4k96Q9qQ4JyJH1OZqEfBSojYcog_aQXxR5i-L2Og_bTPZ4e8k1GZGlOO-A2ZL-PdMa3NcCUd4zz7tWN_Mv7aD9o6Ru9QeqZixjlPuOtl2O1QppkIsszFqEP9u4E/s400/IMG_0536.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common living and kitchen begins to rise</td></tr>
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Troy and Drake are working daily to construct our additional agricultural dwelling. The 3 detached bedrooms are almost complete and the common living and kitchen is beginning to take shape.Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-13875307553542860952012-05-06T22:06:00.001-07:002012-05-06T22:06:11.071-07:00Family Gardening on Sunday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4G2CanhXd0Bb9NEPcTjqS-L0NlCbanKlxZiAUbgzWLLqmf7rxVdjZC6eiJEftP_tIp21nFkovRrPturyMP5xnJzvBO6Ez1HqsxMKteDOu4YbEo0K2Ez_G0dsTHPMOsZA8S1cB0GIiPs/s1600/IMG_0428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4G2CanhXd0Bb9NEPcTjqS-L0NlCbanKlxZiAUbgzWLLqmf7rxVdjZC6eiJEftP_tIp21nFkovRrPturyMP5xnJzvBO6Ez1HqsxMKteDOu4YbEo0K2Ez_G0dsTHPMOsZA8S1cB0GIiPs/s400/IMG_0428.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team Ready<br /></td></tr>
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Weekend weather was just gorgeous. We weeded, chopped and dropped and just enjoyed working together. Jen treated us to french toast & bacon after our morning session.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSSIRndXvadxmEWOxtRyg2Ct5ihXhXA_j6xzRypVco3qsCqahzTs_3SUbaFOyGiHM3yNXXQwO6_154kl9reZ7ZRVA6qPwuMJh5pHwdY0AejCQ6Sxe9-qLVukVx1tlmzJ7sjuVnYqMcFE/s1600/IMG_0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSSIRndXvadxmEWOxtRyg2Ct5ihXhXA_j6xzRypVco3qsCqahzTs_3SUbaFOyGiHM3yNXXQwO6_154kl9reZ7ZRVA6qPwuMJh5pHwdY0AejCQ6Sxe9-qLVukVx1tlmzJ7sjuVnYqMcFE/s400/IMG_0421.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoking Home Made Bacon</td></tr>
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Speaking of bacon, today I made home made bacon from pork bellies. Cured by coating with salt and brown sugar for about 5 days in the fridge, then smoked at 150 degrees F for about 5 hours. Yummmm!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQk5Xvc40t08ArugRBfLIAPpGkvUku9jwAez9xPqTqOCQuzJlLzHtMnO2ZstXEFS1MmtntC8SoEyQmskk9Yav6nFe-Gz9LkOGpLkg9QbfpdIyQSrqrUvOl32iO8stSwQ4A4GwKtG_OK6g/s1600/IMG_0406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQk5Xvc40t08ArugRBfLIAPpGkvUku9jwAez9xPqTqOCQuzJlLzHtMnO2ZstXEFS1MmtntC8SoEyQmskk9Yav6nFe-Gz9LkOGpLkg9QbfpdIyQSrqrUvOl32iO8stSwQ4A4GwKtG_OK6g/s400/IMG_0406.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry Tomatoes ready for Dehydration</td></tr>
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Inspired by Richard Fletcher, who is posting recipes on his facebook page, these cherry tomatoes are being dehydrated to make sun dried tomato pesto. Buckets of these tomatoes are coming off one volunteer plant rising out of the compost pile from last years green waste.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6220QKLverEcObATocYpBKHPLZzXBxQ30FJBrNyJOQZaZNApSJiK82HBHd_oSwODcP9fXqZbfyoF1MFuTRxbapndOWNT01UJkGJoy-PAjvVMLFuH-oDaJh9XoAcDa_bRPsaQt50oVzM/s1600/IMG_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6220QKLverEcObATocYpBKHPLZzXBxQ30FJBrNyJOQZaZNApSJiK82HBHd_oSwODcP9fXqZbfyoF1MFuTRxbapndOWNT01UJkGJoy-PAjvVMLFuH-oDaJh9XoAcDa_bRPsaQt50oVzM/s400/IMG_0423.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Chemical Shed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIabZQZj-yiX6rvkjJEunwMITXf0vMeoSYhjefzll4t_95gjuscktvmDEH4v_I9CKmURgdG4IgG-I9EmAKFHPW2fDWfE0huNuidBz5S-KwF-g5MvqAXSnGGUeOnppcXl0TWLYKG3MUBWc/s1600/IMG_0416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIabZQZj-yiX6rvkjJEunwMITXf0vMeoSYhjefzll4t_95gjuscktvmDEH4v_I9CKmURgdG4IgG-I9EmAKFHPW2fDWfE0huNuidBz5S-KwF-g5MvqAXSnGGUeOnppcXl0TWLYKG3MUBWc/s400/IMG_0416.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing Bones to make Water Soluble Calcium Phosphate</td></tr>
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We make all our own fertilizers. Fruit and plant ferments, lacto bacilus, oriental herb nutrient, rice wine vinegar, and water soluble calcium made from egg shells and pig bones. All of these can eaten/drank. In fact we do that to see if it's ok to spray on our plants. If you don't want to drink it, you shouldn't spray it on your plants. I spray a 5 gallon tank on our garden and fruit trees each week, that's all it takes.<br /><br /></div>
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</div>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-50487848680861872392012-04-08T21:16:00.000-07:002012-04-08T21:16:00.151-07:00First post for 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmU1KsVrdfq-Pj1hyphenhyphenD3EHq9OxG8Sfsf2vr5Bw2AXFxpVrlhMnfWuEL2nLOFIXkrwsAnz8YOxeEEC_5PXyYsBtVxc5OjW5WzCSHVp6a-gZmA0b1KPDK9EvWH2Acy_OCT2MfcFlpWes9cE/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmU1KsVrdfq-Pj1hyphenhyphenD3EHq9OxG8Sfsf2vr5Bw2AXFxpVrlhMnfWuEL2nLOFIXkrwsAnz8YOxeEEC_5PXyYsBtVxc5OjW5WzCSHVp6a-gZmA0b1KPDK9EvWH2Acy_OCT2MfcFlpWes9cE/s400/IMG_0362.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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All those who come to this site, please read posts in 2011. Specially during August where we only ate what we grew on our own land. Each day that month is documented. Fresh, very fresh, naturally farmed produce, it changed me in so many ways. I learned so much about myself last year. The most important lesson wasn’t that I could feed our family, but the spiritual connection with the “aina” that comes from depending on the land and the good earth to provide your next meal. <br />
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So moving on in 2012, my goals are two fold: to personally be “in health” and for the property, to put in the remaining infrastructure in place to support our family from the land on a sustained and ongoing basis. <br />
We are now building two more detached bedroom units in addition the one Drake currently is living in. There will also be a central shared kitchen and living area, big enough to host small groups interested in learning about natural farming. On the far side near the Hanawai river, we are building a 36’ by 72’ shed for animal production. All the construction should be complete by years end and fully functional. As those who have followed know, I think a big shift is coming to our economy and way of life because the world has reached peak oil. Although the media tells us things seem to be recovering as I write, this is only temporary. The math says the old ways cannot go on indefinitely. The dollar too will crash, as the reality of a debt larger than GDP takes its course. So why hold onto savings? I’m spending ours on tangible infrastructure. <br />
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Personally, I’ve come a long way toward being “in health”, but have a long way to go. At least now I am conscious of what I put in my body. Before putting only fresh naturally farmed food into my body, I didn’t even realize that it mattered. I stopped drinking alcohol this past February, cause I had trouble limiting my intake to the doctor recommended maximum of two a day. Easier just to put it aside, avoid temptation. I read a life changing book, “younger every year” that speaks to people my age, those entering the last third of their life. Says that 70% of ALL diseases can be avoided by simply exercising 45 minutes per day 6 days per week and recommends strength training 2 to 3 days per week to eliminate all the aches and pains of old age. I want to really enjoy the last third of my life, so I’ll be doing this every day for the rest of my life, my new job. I may be getting older, but I don’t have to feel older or accept the aches and pains that our society claims is ‘normal’.<br />
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I've downsized our gardens, trying to minimize the size and time for upkeep. Still, we have lots of tomatoes and salad greens. Our fruit trees and sugar cane keep going regardless of human energy output. We lost one cow during childbirth but she now fills our freezer, and is some of the best grass fed steaks ever. Our other cow birthed a healthy calf so we still have two. Our chickens give plenty of eggs. So despite minimal effort, we still have lots of fresh naturally farmed food.<br />
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</span>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-90154205572079849132011-11-07T20:13:00.000-08:002011-11-07T20:34:09.948-08:00Growth Has an Expiration Date<a href="http://fora.tv/2011/10/26/Growth_Has_an_Expiration_Date">Growth Has an Expiration Date</a><br />
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Check out this lecture by Tom Murphy, physics professor at UCSD. <i><b>He outlines the mathematical reasons why our economy based on continual growth must end</b></i><b>. </b>It is filled with insights and well worth the 23 minute investment.<br />
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This is a must see for anyone who talks about sustainability. It should be seen by every voter and every politician. Understanding these concepts are essential to constructing our planetary future.<br />
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Our future is now.Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-75536495530085073772011-10-31T13:30:00.000-07:002011-10-31T13:30:23.210-07:00OCCUPY HILO<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drake thanking volunteers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My son Drake organized a positive protest this past Sunday evening October 30th. Rather than be "against" anything, he is protesting by <i><b>planting food</b></i> in public spaces.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KZQPoQpFSDF4P2tK9I9Sm1Zzed25vyHt7g0CRQSZzHROfmPYir8BbVlPCgLSp1d-fUfAfE1S8jf0NsqBCObPHprrYo3FRc_6Ka6jP9nnSbbVzrhyl3ew3aEuDCeNd-Jz5cYXGChCsio/s1600/PA300016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KZQPoQpFSDF4P2tK9I9Sm1Zzed25vyHt7g0CRQSZzHROfmPYir8BbVlPCgLSp1d-fUfAfE1S8jf0NsqBCObPHprrYo3FRc_6Ka6jP9nnSbbVzrhyl3ew3aEuDCeNd-Jz5cYXGChCsio/s400/PA300016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer and Julie planting taro</td></tr>
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Over 40 persons showed up in Downtown Hilo to plant taro and other edible plants in the median strips on Kamehameha Avenue. What had been weeds and roundup became wonderful edible landscapes in just two hours. The vibe was so positive and the intention will reverberate and hopefully spread across the globe.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transformation in Progress</td></tr>
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This is all done using Natural Farming techniques. Several weeks ago Drake and a few of his friends sprinkled IMO (indigenous micro organisms) in the areas to be planted. Folks showed up with plants, mulch, watering cans, more IMO's and intention to make Hawaii sustainable.<br />
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Each of us on the Island can plant food. It will make us free from dependence.<br />
Be the solution!Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-61483099510986450572011-09-21T22:25:00.000-07:002011-09-21T22:25:54.449-07:00I Love Living in Hilo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hilo town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Each weekday morning when I drive to work I pass by beautiful Hilo Bay. On a clear day this past winter I took this photograph of snow capped Mauna Kea (13,796 ft.) from bay front. Tonight was another clear evening that inspired me to write this post and to be grateful that I am so blessed to live here. I passed paddlers in the bay and surfers at Alai Point. On my return from town I witnessed a parade of color in the sky over the observatories atop Mauna Kea. As I write this the colors are still changing from reds and purples into the night sky. Going up to the upper garden to take a sunset shot over Mauna Kea, I was greeted by an Owl. Too cool.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backyard sunset tonight over Mauna Kea</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><div>I was reluctant to write this as I do not want to encourage anyone to move here. One of the best things about living here is the uncrowded spaces. You won't like that you are miles away and mega dollars away from your family. You won't like that there is NOTHING to do on a Saturday night or that there are NO restaurants, and NO shopping beyond Wal-Mart. Trust me, you don't want to move here.</div><div><br />
</div><div>But for me, who loves to stay home, loves clean air, lot's of space, doesn't mind 180 inches of rain per year, it is heaven. I love the cultural diversity. No body here thinks like me, looks like me or even relates to me. Amen. I love looking at miles of blue blue ocean. I love the green fields. I love that on a calm clear evening I can take off from my front lawn in my paraglider and take in the views, leaving everything and everybody below, to soak in the beauty of this paradise.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afternoon flight above Onomea Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div>Lastly as I was about to post this, my daughter Kaitlin called me to look out from the front yard. Puu'oo volcano is aglow, spewing lava visible from our yard. Oh yeah, I love living in Hilo.<br />
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</div></div>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-60930113195542404262011-09-18T23:25:00.000-07:002011-09-18T23:25:18.487-07:00Chop and Drop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSGE2aVNwAMvu5OAD2W7Itgu0BbEXLpSEqeitUOnq-Aly_rcqgZ8Yy02fIsPGpEzReTRHk2D9FnHUsl8HTX3EPxAMWZR-YTEVK_5iFmaL0VMJzYc3a8Gb6DNVwnzfseKLz2fILoygz70/s1600/P9180008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSGE2aVNwAMvu5OAD2W7Itgu0BbEXLpSEqeitUOnq-Aly_rcqgZ8Yy02fIsPGpEzReTRHk2D9FnHUsl8HTX3EPxAMWZR-YTEVK_5iFmaL0VMJzYc3a8Gb6DNVwnzfseKLz2fILoygz70/s400/P9180008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I want to share an effective gardening technique. Chop and drop. I am refurbishing older gardens. Today I removed the remaining plants from a few gardens that had run their course and I did NOT till, just weeded. Then I topped with IMO #4 and bio char. On top of that I took whole branches of gliricida and covered the IMO beds. Master Cho says IMO love 60% shade. He also wants us to emulate nature by providing inputs on the soil surface as nature would do rather than till in nutrients as man has done in modern times. Putting whole branches provides shade but also plenty of oxygen (because of the physical space) for the aerobic microbes to grow. In a few weeks the leaves will dry and fall off the branches providing additional organic matter. The woody branches will break down by the action of the aerobic microbes. While I wait for seedlings to be ready to transplant, this technique allows me to be patient. The microbes are at work in the garden bed. When I do transplant seedlings, they will rocket because the soil is alive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqkNp4reTCqb1k436i-VYuoKFFNb9AL03dI5Y8obQSFBH7HXYdfBqGcE7Hp1eOneRY_dRF0sUKRDdbcJ310mvIHvG585Cd3ib4FA-EFlaV09EVcEZV-ONholyEGvi7wdstl9P3v8d4co/s1600/P9180005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqkNp4reTCqb1k436i-VYuoKFFNb9AL03dI5Y8obQSFBH7HXYdfBqGcE7Hp1eOneRY_dRF0sUKRDdbcJ310mvIHvG585Cd3ib4FA-EFlaV09EVcEZV-ONholyEGvi7wdstl9P3v8d4co/s400/P9180005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plant in foreground has been pruned, the bushier Gliricidia behind needs to be pruned.</td></tr>
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Originally I dedicated a row in my garden to gliricida. Within that row I also have some papaya as well as pineapple plants. The idea is that the gliricida are nitrogen fixing plants, and I would use their branches and leaves as mulching material. I don't have to transport far, just a few feet, chop and drop.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTMTjNh7CeY7BaNeEQSk85JZDdrAENkIBO_Xh7lTMrpEsPrk_m2-uVYWVIOGyNectGVSiHYQ2Y5W3NtxlxtThyphenhyphen3BGUdnW6taZRZNiogUIv_IHt47oQv0Z7A1kqsW7L0fXYjqZ7PpuDbk/s1600/P9180010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTMTjNh7CeY7BaNeEQSk85JZDdrAENkIBO_Xh7lTMrpEsPrk_m2-uVYWVIOGyNectGVSiHYQ2Y5W3NtxlxtThyphenhyphen3BGUdnW6taZRZNiogUIv_IHt47oQv0Z7A1kqsW7L0fXYjqZ7PpuDbk/s400/P9180010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">New pond for Azolla production.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made a pond this weekend to propagate azolla. It is a water plant that can double in volume in a single day. Pigs will eat it, as it is high in protein. Wikipedia reports,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in addition to its traditional cultivation as a bio-fertilizer for wetland paddy (due to its ability to fix nitrogen), azolla is finding increasing use for sustainable production of livestock feed</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Azolla is rich in proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Studies describe feeding azolla to dairy cattle, pigs, ducks, and chickens, with reported increases in milk production, weight of broiler chickens and egg production of layers, as compared to conventional feed. </span></span></div>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-50207078414200331702011-09-09T00:11:00.000-07:002011-09-09T00:11:57.360-07:00Post experiment thoughtsI have been following Andrea Dean's blog ( http://www.andreadean.com/blog/ ) who is doing a very interesting experiment herself. She is trying to eat food grown locally on a Food Stamp budget for a month. I think it's about day 9 now and she is half way through her monthly budget.<br />
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It has brought up some interesting conundrums. Isn't the goal to get folks OFF food stamps and be self-supporting with regards to food? Comments welcome.<br />
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Of course it took me years of hard work and dues paying to be able to own land to grow my own food supply. So how do we get people who don't own land to be able to grow their own food? Comments welcome.<br />
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Why do people purchase their food supply from Costco (you name the store) verses growing their own or buying locally produced food? I have a few ideas. After growing and preparing our own food for a month my wife will tell you it is a lot more work and takes a lot more time to prepare your own food. So the convenience of store bought food is a big factor. Eating and preparing your own food isn't for the lazy folks, which eliminates most of us.<br />
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Price is another big reason. Local farmers cannot make a decent living selling raw agricultural products because they are competing against cheap industrial agriculture subsidized by cheap oil. It is cheaper to grow food in a foreign country using oil based inputs and pay the transportation costs than to grow food in Hawaii. Someone commented on Andrea's blog that foreign mangos are cheaper in the mainland than Hawaii grown mangos are in Hawaii. Think about that. Ask yourself why.<br />
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Variety is another factor. Canoe crops grow easily here but people don't eat Taro. When was the last time you at taro/poi? Today, Last Week, Last Month, Last Year, or I can't remember????Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-66017802328495442011-08-29T09:50:00.000-07:002011-08-29T09:50:43.615-07:00Jennifers Reflective Thoughts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Well...it's time for me to pipe up again. WOW...it's hard to believe four weeks have passed...time IS speeding up.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Recap- I was so psyched to do this in the beginning and enjoyed the process most of the time. I definitely had some cravings and sometimes was really sick of washing the harvest and preparing our meals day after day- I like to eat out a couple of times a week so this was a withdrawal for me. I so enjoyed perusing the gardens and seeing what was ready, what we could create. I enjoyed my time with Eric, cooking and caring for the garden. I can spend much more time than I do now in the garden...maybe when I make that commitment I will lean to an even more appreciative attitude. I found myself feeling so much gratitude to the plants for providing SO much. And SO much gratitude to Eric for keeping it all together. He is amazing..many people when they see our gardens ask if we have help. No siree...we have Eric with tremendous energy, a more than positive attitude and a heart full of love for his garden and providing for his family. A beautiful man, a gentle man. Today I told him he was a 'gentle man' farmer.</span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It is HUGE to know that we can do this. We have learned to be more creative with 'whatever we got' and to inJOY the results. We have vowed to eat more from the garden into the future, and are letting ourselves use coconut milk and mushrooms, and whatever else from the market can make a meal just right. We have a solid garden basis now and will continue to create and inJOY. Life is full, blessed and GOOD. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">~Namaste~</span>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-14295984639849178782011-08-29T00:33:00.000-07:002011-08-29T00:42:30.456-07:00Our Month is Complete - Just the Beginning!Well Jennifer and I just completed 4 weeks of "Eating What We Grow". We DID IT!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing Apple Bananas for the Dehydrator</td></tr>
</tbody></table>However, it is <b>just the beginning</b> of our journey into self-sufficiency. Now that we know we can feed ourselves, we are free to explore the subtleties what to produce and fine tune how to make fabulous meals right from our land.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh OJ, White Pineapple, Purple Sweet Potato and Squash</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eggs with salsa, and Purple Sweet Potato Hash Browns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>For those who think this is impossible, or that this can only be done in Hawaii, or you don't have enough land.... check out this video where one family is totally self-sufficient on one fifth of an acre in Pasadena. No excuses. It is simply a matter of deciding to do it.<br />
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One of the best things about eating from your gardens is the freshness of the food. Korean Natural Farming produces the most nutritious food, filled with vitamins and minerals. Dr. Park always says that to get the same amount of nutrition as an apple grown the old fashion way before modern fertilization practices, you'd have to eat 40 of todays apples. So eating this way is the most healthy way to eat. No need to have government inspectors looking out for your safety or to worry about what went into your food, anti-biotics, preservatives, hormones, fungicides, pesticides... whatever.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baked Pumpkin Squash and French Green Beans</td></tr>
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Not only is it healthy, it's FREE. Thats right my grocery bill for August was ZERO, nada, nothing, zip. And I spent nothing on fertilizer too as all Korean Natural inputs are found right on your land.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm6iztj3ZN6-NgqDklwnSdp4cv1AYu_1HTd604fC-BzpLXXA2e-H4L3uy6zLRVMVZkMaQGngIdFSkgpY-yVVszlv7CmG3tvAV4SPwWGBj3R-T_hVNoZp8CKjDmfTa_eJ-5ca5Hnqu8W0/s1600/P8280006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm6iztj3ZN6-NgqDklwnSdp4cv1AYu_1HTd604fC-BzpLXXA2e-H4L3uy6zLRVMVZkMaQGngIdFSkgpY-yVVszlv7CmG3tvAV4SPwWGBj3R-T_hVNoZp8CKjDmfTa_eJ-5ca5Hnqu8W0/s400/P8280006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey likes Bananas too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Even my dog likes it. No store bought dog food for her.<br />
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</div>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-72626776313961938562011-08-28T00:19:00.000-07:002011-08-28T00:21:31.583-07:00Day Twenty-Seven<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgTIk42_UOPcLTMEUrDOiCHOcKBxlC4fnJcfxy_1ZR2w5hJH5V87bXDj5UIE6ImB7qw4CR84GowEk20rtfh7aGiuZ-d8w9gBHIhDvf7z6dIJwtnPnSvoMOIdtYGx4eB_mRtQ2qIomGOk/s1600/P8270013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgTIk42_UOPcLTMEUrDOiCHOcKBxlC4fnJcfxy_1ZR2w5hJH5V87bXDj5UIE6ImB7qw4CR84GowEk20rtfh7aGiuZ-d8w9gBHIhDvf7z6dIJwtnPnSvoMOIdtYGx4eB_mRtQ2qIomGOk/s400/P8270013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salad and Chicken Soup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I love the weekend when I can just hang at home. Today was a spectacularly beautiful day, blue skies, some billowy clouds, lush green fields, deep blue calm ocean. Drake visited today and about 5:00 I drove him home. Right when were entering Hilo a rainbow graced the harbor. Half circle to start, then turning full and by the time we reached Drakes house it was a brilliant double rainbow. Lucky we live Hawaii.<br />
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</div><div>This morning I harvested an older hen and made Chicken Stock with my new slow cook electric crock pot. It was the first time using the crock pot and it worked very well. We are off the grid and get our electricity free from the river so I was pleased that the crock slow cooked all day and didn't take much power. Even though the hen was older the slow cook process made the meat very tender. I added pumpkin squash and beet leaves to about a third of the stock to make tonights dinner. I poured off most of the liquid to have Chicken Stock for future soups. I kept most of the meat and vegetables in a separate container for a undetermined creation for tomorrow night.</div><div><br />
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</div>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-69435109191158739422011-08-26T22:47:00.000-07:002011-08-29T01:33:44.435-07:00Day Twenty-Six<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyfZhEcMgvehShne-2bdVInIrnkjyXD-6xYPINcpLosx_Rvuil4d9DqPaBElzrwixNbq0TR0UD2yt3UJ7WdkHT5LRSgbYwwbU3gOmwd1xw0oAsISRIwa-UTSYSRQ_CbJrKjtSkYbi59A/s1600/Photo+on+2011-08-26+at+19.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyfZhEcMgvehShne-2bdVInIrnkjyXD-6xYPINcpLosx_Rvuil4d9DqPaBElzrwixNbq0TR0UD2yt3UJ7WdkHT5LRSgbYwwbU3gOmwd1xw0oAsISRIwa-UTSYSRQ_CbJrKjtSkYbi59A/s400/Photo+on+2011-08-26+at+19.48.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric from his computer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We're almost at the finish line. So thinking about what I've learned.<br />
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My original goal was to see if we could feed ourselves. Secondly, I wanted to know what we needed more or less of to make our diet wonderful. Thirdly, I wanted to see what effect it would have on us both physically and psychologically.<br />
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As to the first goal, we succeeded way better than I thought we would before we started. We had a wide variety of foods to choose from and our meals were varied for the most part. We have enough planted to feed our family and more.<br />
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We have the right amount of bananas and papaya and other fruits planted. We enjoyed that it was pineapple season and having oranges, lemons, and limes is nice. One key for someone else trying to do this is to have sugar cane. It blends with every other fruit, and satisfies any craving for sweets. Plus sugar cane is loaded with vitamins and minerals. I have too much taro. It goes a long way. However, if all else fails, taro is a dependable staple that fills you up and provides most dietary needs.<br />
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I purchased two macadamia nut trees and another lime from my sister's nursery and planted those this evening.<br />
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The key to having greens and lettuce is to plant a little bit each month. I will consolidate my greens and vegetable gardens in the future, planting closer and more intensely.<br />
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The physical effect was that I lost 10 pounds. I feel much better in that I feel lighter and more energetic. I used to huff and puff toting my fat ass up the hill to the upper garden. Now I skip up the hill. That, my friends, is a BIG deal. At 58 years old, to walk up hills effortlessly is NICE.<br />
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Psychologically I did pretty well. I had a few cravings in the first weeks, but it was overshadowed by my determination to see this experiment through. I am torn because I miss some of the old foods, but feel so good I don't want to return to the unhealthful habits. I hope I can strike a good balance in the weeks and months to come.Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-15146055627208219682011-08-26T02:08:00.000-07:002011-08-26T02:16:12.171-07:00Day Twenty-Five<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOKfspIl3ZDlM3esP1lH7joQzkOyOcmT0_j8tq0WNdvmWIQEU441sLCXWVTFq1OuWhCveDXXvKG4Dbh4kpX7HrUtuQWaKg8RomWlcwP0RoNfz7j0hW0k5ppCeiJn5QivD1Ab_0YrEr1o/s1600/P8250009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOKfspIl3ZDlM3esP1lH7joQzkOyOcmT0_j8tq0WNdvmWIQEU441sLCXWVTFq1OuWhCveDXXvKG4Dbh4kpX7HrUtuQWaKg8RomWlcwP0RoNfz7j0hW0k5ppCeiJn5QivD1Ab_0YrEr1o/s320/P8250009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New bed topped with IMO#4 and chest high taro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Another great day in paradise. Jennifer and I had a tasty fruit smoothie for breakfast to start our day. Then off to work, poi and hard boiled eggs for lunch. Some fresh white pineapple for snacks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZV4R4_NIkcQz3a5bpirf7SYVi1NunK9iEy88ynhbbHli1h0-ZiT5XQF8JDZjym3LQYBhoF7jU5k3nJqKkCYfywSCbz8uxHDrPeRVeU00zJCPNZzI6fNdk4lQBKYAG3vg6bEdsB84m1I/s1600/P8250008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZV4R4_NIkcQz3a5bpirf7SYVi1NunK9iEy88ynhbbHli1h0-ZiT5XQF8JDZjym3LQYBhoF7jU5k3nJqKkCYfywSCbz8uxHDrPeRVeU00zJCPNZzI6fNdk4lQBKYAG3vg6bEdsB84m1I/s320/P8250008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next years pineapple crop using weed mat</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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I finished putting IMO#4 on the garden bed I prepared yesterday then topped it off with lawn clippings to protect the IMO from direct sunlight that would be harmful to the microbes. Look at the health of the taro plants in the bed next to this new one, they are chest high. The cassava plants are thriving. I was able to sneak in a flight on my paraglider before dark on a perfectly calm evening in Onomea. Life is sweet!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmQe8usTn4gl0OoXykHHtuevCwRItBPv5i5GMNppVkd2mMw-G8BQjgu9AdICQjYqGHZ2diYFR8hzQlYTGFnc78Xt4FmkrJCHQpJ3anv7e6bexP7ecY-OtHvoEorv_IGpbIezeyZXICTc/s1600/P8250010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmQe8usTn4gl0OoXykHHtuevCwRItBPv5i5GMNppVkd2mMw-G8BQjgu9AdICQjYqGHZ2diYFR8hzQlYTGFnc78Xt4FmkrJCHQpJ3anv7e6bexP7ecY-OtHvoEorv_IGpbIezeyZXICTc/s400/P8250010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New sugar cane with cassava</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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Dinner was a salad, cassava with pesto, and taro chips with guacamole.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvwT-gPkPww_1DdC04-ELAYEkJSrBW45EE2QyYk3USX1ZiUtYW6UCgctTVtfuSyylyj_XDN0cu-sNMJGf91X-cxcQMkZ1tyCPvGg5U4Xu8mhnufT5yuU5Z8z8X7TJ_jUmYn74V0DNRHA/s1600/P8250012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvwT-gPkPww_1DdC04-ELAYEkJSrBW45EE2QyYk3USX1ZiUtYW6UCgctTVtfuSyylyj_XDN0cu-sNMJGf91X-cxcQMkZ1tyCPvGg5U4Xu8mhnufT5yuU5Z8z8X7TJ_jUmYn74V0DNRHA/s320/P8250012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cassava hash browns</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUoNZuclWtbDH4y3pBOKSW1iHxlkqleKy24d9yvAl9GaSpx7GEjGvFz002Zw6VcYXdKNgSs6OcGyx-TC3ZhwQCe7fpk15RYomKL_rw57l4h8gpBZiDXkVdMAwmceaokINuYqw94eNMfs/s1600/P8250011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUoNZuclWtbDH4y3pBOKSW1iHxlkqleKy24d9yvAl9GaSpx7GEjGvFz002Zw6VcYXdKNgSs6OcGyx-TC3ZhwQCe7fpk15RYomKL_rw57l4h8gpBZiDXkVdMAwmceaokINuYqw94eNMfs/s320/P8250011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">taro chips, salad, salsa, guacamole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159315478053192194.post-41276296667759758742011-08-24T23:56:00.000-07:002011-08-25T00:04:28.270-07:00Twenty-Four DaysHeading towards the final stretch. Started the day with a fruit bowl and some home made yogurt from our neighbors raw milk. Very wonderful! Then off to work.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6WUvDlcYaNLAmovMJUemRuPYs93tRWjjGRuiD6kC19jxv__3Kgqbqz9La97JiBLRYMqC_smGCtBDvXl0Wu9Gm7y6Kvx1YJxm-YbLJTfM2htUOUnNs0IYE08PhxSIEEX7Ca3k1OGi52I/s1600/P8240001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6WUvDlcYaNLAmovMJUemRuPYs93tRWjjGRuiD6kC19jxv__3Kgqbqz9La97JiBLRYMqC_smGCtBDvXl0Wu9Gm7y6Kvx1YJxm-YbLJTfM2htUOUnNs0IYE08PhxSIEEX7Ca3k1OGi52I/s400/P8240001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer making fruit bowl and yogurt breakfast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When home I was able to prepare about a 200 foot long by 4 feet wide garden bed. It has never been planted before but had been spaded about a year ago. I added bio-char, dolomite lime (calcium and magnesium), horse manure, some wood shaving that had been inoculated with IMOs. Then I tilled that in and shoveled and raked the bed into a uniform and even garden bed. Tomorrow I'll add a thin layer of IMO #4 to the top surface and cover lightly with grass clipping. I'll use this bed to transplant the small taro plants that surround the big corms when I harvest them. I did the same preparation to the two rows that are next to the one I prepared today and they are thriving with cassava, sugar cane, sweet potato and taro.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmGv6YGfEByOxC21BySLR7KBrJU-2H7HadN7SmbUizhifZ_MnxVTbs8sOywuqq2-G8pH3p4HYfysutOFsRSjyjrP3PMUouGje7IJD2BiSpIZcjakBMuDNTs5h1A86BE4ArC8Lf_WRg-w/s1600/P8240003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmGv6YGfEByOxC21BySLR7KBrJU-2H7HadN7SmbUizhifZ_MnxVTbs8sOywuqq2-G8pH3p4HYfysutOFsRSjyjrP3PMUouGje7IJD2BiSpIZcjakBMuDNTs5h1A86BE4ArC8Lf_WRg-w/s200/P8240003.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new tomato plants in greenhouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OAsv_Ij9k2G6B7eGL8rgDI_56aRBM2bRBxk-YxF1bwgrLFDTd_-Y8OogiZaXP470Nv18xUldsHdrdfNffxHQE6VHE75iem0Q6hOXwd0CV-QtH6nr0P6RczyOJd9TY3MEFHzstOKvzHI/s1600/P8240004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OAsv_Ij9k2G6B7eGL8rgDI_56aRBM2bRBxk-YxF1bwgrLFDTd_-Y8OogiZaXP470Nv18xUldsHdrdfNffxHQE6VHE75iem0Q6hOXwd0CV-QtH6nr0P6RczyOJd9TY3MEFHzstOKvzHI/s200/P8240004.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lettuce and purslane in greenhouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>These pictures are from two of my four greenhouse. One has new tomato plants starting to be trained up on bobbins. There are thirty two tomato plants and each week I trim off all suckers except the growing tip and clip to the bobbin. This method produces 4 tomatoes per plant every ten days and will keep producing for months. I am just now abandoning my other tomato greenhouse as those tomatoes have been producing since about February and are now a bit tired. The picture on the right is young little manoa green lettuce and purslane a very nutritious addition to salads. Google it.<br />
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For dinner Jennifer and I enjoyed sauteed french green beans, sugar cane juice with a half a lime, and a fresh green garden salad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLcpPFlAJxsybmL86fXfazCYv0ntDjQ_46uti4LfipSF27tJwJXnymoWkwikKv-LlsVT2l_eslhPaXAGjV3i13tOIArT8Nv7LGFrHm25Fwlukn7G0qKrdrVs4ZXT5zcSQcD_-XFgO1XU/s1600/P8240006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLcpPFlAJxsybmL86fXfazCYv0ntDjQ_46uti4LfipSF27tJwJXnymoWkwikKv-LlsVT2l_eslhPaXAGjV3i13tOIArT8Nv7LGFrHm25Fwlukn7G0qKrdrVs4ZXT5zcSQcD_-XFgO1XU/s400/P8240006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cane juice, french green beans, and garden salad</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Eric Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08892572403445531992noreply@blogger.com0