Three Months

Things to remember about this farm/community/island/parenting life we've found ourselves in for the last three months: 

Nap time is essential

Hard physical work helps you sleep better 

The sunshine days are glorious 

The rainy days are usually an opportunity to rest

Always bring an umbrella 

Everything molds

Everything grows... and grows back 

The reward is worth the work 

The sound of weeds popping out of the soil with all their roots is the best sound in the world 

Organizing, for recycling, your own (and sometimes others') trash helps you become more aware of your purchases

It all starts with the quality of the soil 

Weekends really are prime 

If I can do farm boys' laundry, I can do anything 

Naked babies save diapers 

Farm kittens are adorable and insanely disgusting 

Success is opening a coconut gracefully and swiftly and finding you picked a perfect one 

Babies want everything they can't have 

Friends are sanity. Farm friends are imperative. 

The night skies are so clear in the middle of the Pacific 

Always cleaning. Always cleaning. Always cleaning 

Bananas are so good, but so so so dirty 

I've never hated slugs more 

Hawaiians know how to beach

Humility 

Earplugs can save a relationship 

You learn something new everyday 

Dancing through it helps 

Can I really potty train on a community compost toilet? 

Choose your battles 

But the toddler is always right... jk 

The breeze is sent straight from heaven 

Sugar cane is a hot topic 

You are the only person who loves your baby's poop 

Going through an election out here has been refreshing 

The world cares too much about nonsense and not enough about the basics 

Don't be surprised 

Don't have expectations 

Don't take things personally 

Work hard 

Play hard 

Be thankful

Be respectful

Communicate 

It takes a village 

Live aloha 

Dream Big 

Ride Far 

Land Living

Fresh Food

Farm to Table 

Sustainability 

Permaculture 

Eating off the Land 

Unprocessed 

Organic 

Simple 

Vegan 

High Raw 

As we were debating where our lives should take us in the next few years, these topics laid heavy on our hearts. And as we have changed, failed and refined our own definition of healthy eating, these terms have popped up in one way or another. Learning more and more about where our food comes from and how deeply it effects us, naturally, our hearts have called us to dig deeper and live out these passions. How and where we buy our food is a huge vote towards companies, farms and moral standings. We've learned we want to be wise about voting with our hard earned money. We want to be more educated in the food. As we become parents and are making choices not only for ourselves but for the future generations, we wanted to set up Kingston in a way to see what's really important in his years to come. The basic needs need to be met. He needs to eat and drink before he can do anything else. We wanted to take him to a place he could see where it all starts at such an early age. 

We recognize there are many other important things going on in this life. There are a lot of things that need to change in order for us to continue living on this earth; with agriculture and farming, plastics, fracking, our oceans, how we treat one another, politics, how we look at ourselves, fare trade work, sanitation, etc. How we look at food and how we look at waste and consumerism kind of all snow balls into a lot of other issues. We are learning to take our time in the process while trying our best not to just waste time. All these things need a drastic change right now, but we are in it for the long haul, so we are trying to be patient with what the world is showing us as we start to shed our old ways and learn to live in our new skin. 

Now that we have been here for almost three months we have learned so much more then I even expected. These people care big for their land and their culture and their history. They care big for the every day man and his journey. They care big for your growth and for your health. We are on indigenous land, with deeply routed history and spiritual beliefs. I knew I've always wanted to learn more about these islands and their culture, so to be here now, at my age, with someone I've been together with for nearly eight years, as a new mom with a beautifully absorbent and eager toddler, and with my toes barely dipped into a world of clean health and rescourceful living, is literally a dream come true. 

Then there is the education we are getting about plants and dirt. They were calling us, and as much as we thought we knew, we didn't know anything, though I'm so glad we knew what we did before landing here. We wouldn't have made it to this point if we didn't. This farm produces coconuts, bananas, papaya, sugar cane, citrus, lilikoi, taro/kalo, ulu/breadfruit, avocados, peppers, kales, basil, parsley, eggplant, dark greens, and so much more we are still learning about. 

We aren't taking these opportunities for granted. Living more sustainably, working on a producing farm, seeing those plants being made into delicious dishes served to the community, and being a part of this family vegetarian business is a blessing. 

>> tongan greens << 

>> banana plants <<

>> breadfruit tree << 

>> breadfruit/ulu << 

>> lilikoi/passion fruit << 

>> papaya tree <<

>> baby eggplants << 

>> kale << 

>> baby sugar cane stalks << 

>> lemon tree <<

>> ulu flower <<

Dream Big, Ride Far