Maui Food Network: Inspiration Taking Root

(video of the 2 acres we've been offered to farm at the bottom of this post - with characteristic Daren embellishments for fun - check it out!)

We’re really happy that Dano’s on board with our gowing vision (Yay!).

Yesterday, D spent the day with Dan (Dano) and Brendan in Haiku at Jess and Dano’s home clearing Gliricidia trees (an amazing nitrogen fixing tree – which will make fantastic soil once chipped for compost).

Brendan made a really good point – which is, why should we prepare someone else’s land (the two acres.....Video at bottom of this blog) before we get the land "in the family" up and producing! (duh? – how silly are we?? – thank you Brendan).

So our focus has become to update the clearing and planting that Dano started on his property 20 years ago. He’s put a lot of energy and preparation in to the land over the years, including the forethought to plant the Gliricidia trees when he got his property. The place is already producing, and loaded with potential.

D said that they unearthed a lime tree (and accidentally cut down an All Spice tree) while clearing – and that there are lots of other healthy fruit trees on the property just waiting for a little boost to really take off.

Dano has threatened to start contributing to this blog - and we're hoping he's serious. (He does know just a wee-bit about this stuff - though you'll never hear him blowing his own horn - so I will - 'toot-toot!')

We realized our own garden isn’t producing like it could be. We got a little lazy with the idea that it’s a ‘winter garden’ – but in truth, we need to get more winterized plants in the ground.

Before and after pictures of the clearing progress:

Here are some of the Gliricidias planted many years ago in-between planting rows. The tree stumps will send up new shoots in 2 weeks or so and begin the process again. As you can see, the trees have crowded out light.