Farm Up-Date

For the past couple of months, or so we have been blessed with the presence of  our friend John from Cleveland, Ohio, USA, who has laboured unceasingly since his arrival as he has endeavoured to overcome some of the back-log of work which has occurred over the years since the fire which destroyed our original home and most of the trees in our orchards. To say the least, we feel he has performed a minor miracle in what he has achieved, and cannot thank him too much for his every kindness.

In this photo John is to be seen picking  ripe sour-sops for our luncheon meal. The sour-sop is a member of the anona family and is related to the custard apple which is also of that very same genus. As the name implies, its is sour to the taste, and a great favourite with most. The custard apple on the other hand, is sweet to the taste, and has been referred to in some instances as the sweet-sop.

The Surinam cherry, pictured here on the right is only one of three or so of these bushes that are just coming into full bearing this year. Last year we were able to sample the first of the fruits, and the flavour at that stage was rather bland. This year the flavour is much improved.

I apologise for the poor quality of this photo, which is due in part to my lack of expertise. With the wet season being with us, it is the ideal time to plant out new banana suckers, and this photo portrays my latest endeavours and the planting of some twenty or so suckers  of  a number of varieties, including red daccas,sugars,ladies fingers,plantains,and monkey bananas.

I have been informed that there are up to three thousand varieties of bananas, with only a handful being developed commercially, and really only one - the cavendish - available in most countries.

This is another area of John's expertise which, ascan well be observed he has enhanced the units by the erection of the shades on the front of the units. Thank you John.

And if that is not enough, this next photo portraying the newly planted shrubs along the footpath to the entrance gate, which also another of John's miracles, should convince the most hardened sceptic of his value.