Farm Update March 09

Nothing could be much stranger than the weather. Always a major conversation piece, it most certainly is so at the moment at the farm. February and March are normally our wettest months, and February lived up to its reputation this year. On the other hand, since we have moved into March the rain seems to have abandoned us, and we have been experiencing quite cool conditions for this time of the year, and virtually no humidity. This leaves us wondering," Is the wet season over, and is it to be dry from now on presaging a long dry winter period, quite distinct from last year where we experienced rain for most of the year?" And as we all know, only time will tell.

The last month or so has been quite busy with guests keeping us on our toes with their various conditions, with the last week bringing us two delightful couples from the UK wishing to learn as much as they possibly can in the relatively short time they could afford, on how to apply the principles by which we live at the farm, to their daily lives.






It has been a real joy and blessing to have the opportunity to share the experience of many years with such enthusiastic people. And I sincerely thank them for giving me that opportunity.



Whilst they were at the farm we took the opportunity also of building another igloo on which to grow our passion fruit vines, which mainly fruit in the summer months. And in the winter months we hope to be able to grow cucumbers and beans, in fact anything which requires a trellis upon which to grow.

Our igloos, or trellis', are built with star pickets and poly piping for the main structure, and bamboo for the supporting cross beams. This is then covered with open mesh wire to support the vines and through which the passion fruit, cucumbers,beans etc., may then hang.



Over the last month or so we ahve been harvesting our first crop of guavas. We firstly had the strawberry guavas, followed by the pine-apple guavas, and are now picking the last of the Thai guavas, which are the largest of all three with the smallest being the strawberry guavas. Each has their own distinctive flavour, so that we are able to enjoy them as separate taste experiences. Also at this time the fruit of the strawberry tree is ripening. These are a rather tiny berry like fruit, very sweet in flavour, the flavour of which has been likened to the strawberry, and a most delicious addition to our daily fare.