More Slash and Burn

This summer we have steadily cleared more jungle to create gardens.

Jocelyn helps keep the brush pile happily burning by throwing Eucalyptus leaves on the fire.

After the first phase of fire has reduced the hard wood into ash, Wells lends a hand to build a second pile of smaller brush to burn.

After a pathway is cleared into the old gardens, we begin clearing in earnest.

This zone is protected from the winds, but still get excellent sun exposure and water supply year round.

After removing the underbrush, the trees and dead wood can be cut and piled for another fire.

Avichai takes on the challenge of Fire Master and keeps this pile going for three days.

The area is beginning to take shape and the lay of the land can be found.

A few rogue taro have thrived in this environment for years.

Mitra hides from the smoke and flames behind his Taro guardian.

Avichai contemplating his next log toss.

Another sunny summer day makes the fire so very happy.

Cutting Canna is a tedious but necessary process before the roots can be removed.

After several days, the massive Acatia trees have burnt through and the brush pile is minimized.

Next, we remove the roots and replant the area with edible crops!

Early Summer Produce

All of the following are in abundance this time of year and all are 100% organic.

Zucchini, cucumber and cilantro.

Sweet peppers and beans.

Potatoes.

Pok Choy.

Eggs...Eggs....and more Eggs

We currently have 20 laying hens, 2 roosters (because one always needs a spare cock), 2 helmeted guinea hens, and 2 helmeted guinea cocks.

We now have a fenced in area for the fowl, so we can find all the eggs they lay and keep accurate records.  Every time we purchase a new bag of chicken feed, we start a new column of  eggs collected daily.  Below you can see the results of 5 sacks of 50kg chicken feed.  We average between 10 to 20 eggs daily.

The chickens seem to enjoy their habitat and use the laying boxes as well as the fodder crops to hide their eggs.  Below is a clutch of eggs hidden inside the Perennial Kale crop. 

We planted Tagasaste and Kale for them to eat and to provide shade during the hot summer months.  

 Both crops provide a high protein seed and leaf combination that is ideal for fowl consumption.

We also planted White Mulberry trees, which  produce a protein rich fruit for the fowl to enjoy. 

Inside the fowl pen we have limes, oranges and strawberry guava trees. The fowl like to roost in the trees at night and only eat the wind fall guava.  They keep the trees free of parasites with their constant insect hunting.

Our goal is to produce 100% of their feed on site and not have to rely on buying feed from the shop.

Every year the cost per egg drops as we provide more fodder for the fowl to consume.  Now we are able to have eggs year round at 30% of the cost of buying them in the shops.  And of course, with the satisfaction of knowing the chickens have a great life full of sunshine and fresh air and dust baths.

We are able to cut our costs of buying other high protein foods for our family and friends by incorporating eggs into all of our meals. 

Eggs are VERY healthy and guilt free source of protein and many other vitamins and minerals.

Colocasia esculenta is thriving on our farm

Magnus has been steadily clearing and planting a boggy area on our land for the last few years. The ideal crop for this sunny, protected and wet location is a local favorite,  Colocasia esculenta, or Taro.

This amazing plant has been cultivated by humans for over 28,000 years.  Taro is the true Paleolithic Staple  food. 

The starchy root grows quickly and is an ideal permaculture plant.

Our wwoofers, Anjelika and Hannah, helped to weed the area and plant young corms into surrounding land that had been cleared earlier.

Renault took a break in the taro patch to enjoy cool spring water and bask in the shade that these majestic and ancient friends.

According to fitday, "Taro root is often used in a similar fashion to a potato, but in fact has better nutritional qualities than a potato. It has almost three times the dietary fiber, which is important for proper digestive health and regularity. Fiber can also fill you up and make you feel less hungry with fewer calories. Taro root has a low Glycemic Index, as opposed to potato which has a high Glycemic Index. A low GI means that taro effects blood sugar levels slowly, without the peaks and crashes of a high GI, which lead to increased hunger later on. Eating a diet of low GI foods can also help prevent diabetes.  Taro is nutritious, and is an excellent source of potassium, which is an essential mineral for many bodily functions. Taro also contains some calcium, vitamin C, vitamin E and B vitamins, as well as magnesium, manganese and copper."

 Mitra gave Daddy-Magnus a helping hand to harvest these giant corms....

....and lent a hand to clean the corms before processing.

After the outer skin is removed, the taro corms are cut into slices.

The corms are then steamed in our Hydro-Electric powered Slow Cooker for several hours to cook thoroughly.

After being steamed, they can be pan seared in home-rendered lard to make a tasty snack.

All the boys love taro.  Daddy likes to wrap it in garden leaves, but the boys prefer to dip it in ketchup and mayonnaise.

The local Azorean milk adds the protein, along with grass fed Flores beef.

Eating locally is so much fun and tasty too!

Stay tuned for fermented taro (poi).

Autumn Equinox

Pepper harvest continues and new ways to store them are experimented with.

Fire roasted turned out very well and tasty.

Tomato canning for the coming winter months.

Lacto fermented peppers are great too.

Squash harvest begins.

Banana harvesting takes place year round, but we always have surplus at this time of year for alcohol and vinegar production.

Our compost bins are filling in the foreground and cooking for spring application in the second bin.

Fig trees, grape, and Robinia pseudoacacia waiting to be planted in freshly cleared forest lands of Zone 3.

Final eggplant harvesting takes place and seeds are saved for next year.

Here is a permaculture garden with figs, taro, tree tomato, peanuts, mulberry, squash and citrus.

The fencing keeps the chickens out and provides a dry place for the fruit to hang until harvest.