gardens and things

So, what else have I been up to in my prolonged absence? As you can see, I’ve discovered I have a spectacular knack for not writing in my blog. In fact not writing in my blog has been one of my favorite activities of the past month or so. How delightful to find another hidden skill, though as with all things, it will have to be honed through practice. Other things I have been working on:

Gardens! I have about 5 families I am building home gardens with. In 4 of those families my workmates consist entirely of children. I like the idea that I am passing some skills to the next generation and they are such enthusiastic workers! Here is a photo of some of my kiddies chopping up Platano stalks in one of their garden beds. We’ll mix that will cow poo, saw dust, leaves etc to make some nice compost. The soil around the houses here is pure clay, so growing decent veggies in it would barely be worth your time without it. The main garden crops here will be tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and culantro.

My garden challenge. Scratch that, my life challenge here is that everything I do must cost absolutely nothing. If it costs anything, no one will ever do it. I’ve really noticed this in my garden. Back in the states when gardening season comes around I am used to taking a trip or two to the garden store and buying some seeds, some seedlings, maybe a tomato cage, and if I am feeling luxurious some potting soil or compost to add to the soil. Even if it’s not necessary, I’ll always figure out something to buy with the idea that it will make whatever I am doing extra awesome. That’s life back home. Life here takes a little more creativity and a lot more work and time and absolutely no money. Luckily I have got a lot of time and very little money.

I also went and did 10 grafts on a cacao farm last week. That felt useful.
I’ve also had another batch of kittens. Though as with most second children, both photos and excitement have decreased. They are cute though. And I did wake up to a loud cat yowl at 6am to watch them be born, which was a nice chance viewing into the slimy miracle of life.

And to end, a challenge to you. Something I love, really really love not having is electricity. I like lighting up my little house with candles and a kerosene lamp every night so it sparkles from the inside out like a wooden jack-o-latern. Everything you do by candlelight seems, oh how to say it, more romantic? ( in the joy in the pleasures of living kind of way). You might also start to get nice and sleepy by around 8 or 9. So my dear reader, I beseech you to spend a night pretending electricity does not exist. Cook with a candle, read with a kerosene lamp, knit by the fire, what have you, I promise, it’s fun.