Flores Permaculture

I planted some pineapples years ago and they finally made fruit this year.  Sadly, they were planted in a windy spot and the fruit stalk buckled and the fruit fell before it was fully ripe. The fruit sprouted many new heads and the mother plant had many suckers, all of which were ready for transplanting. I located a perfect location for them in a tropical micro-climate zone of my farm, but first we harvested the purple sweet potatoes that had been growing in the garden throughout the summer. Next we planted the new pineapple heads in raised beds.  Hopefully this warm and wind protected location will allow the plants to thrive and produce many tasty fruits for the future.

We are taking a break from construction to return to the gardens this week. Above, Alex clears the jungle that is encroaching on the Banana Patch. Good ventilation is crucial to minimize fungus and rot on the newly forming fruits.  This year we have about 150 trees and we will continue expanding as we clear more jungle.  Everyone adores bananas.  We always run out no matter how many I harvest.   Estrella, Samantha, and Alex remove the weeds that are choking out the Taro Patch and opening new land to expand the existing patch. The Swiss Chard is going strong still, providing a tasty and healthy green leafy vegetable to eat daily. Everybody lends a hand to remove the weeds before topdressing with fresh compost in the Zone 1 gardens. Nadine hauls weeds from the gardens to the compost bin, where they will be recycled until next year. Jasmine is organizing the Zone 1 gardens with fresh compost, irrigation,and seeds. ...

Spring is nearly ready to turn into Summer as the Solstice arrives. The gardens are nearly all planted and soon construction on the house continues. The Japanese Blue Sweet Potato flowers are blooming.  The cuttings are in the ground and hopefully will produce a bountiful harvest in the Autumn. We are now harvesting Flores Yellow Sweet Potatoes that were planted last year, as well as Bananas and Taro.  These three crops are the staples that allow us to survive yearly. "Cozido de Porco" is a house favorite using the Kale and Sweet Potatoes, alongside island raised Pork.   Hopefully, we will keep our own pigs next year.  In theory we have enough surplus to feed two pigs, we only need to build the housing for them. The Sugar Cane is growing very well in the Tropical Micro-climate.  In the future, it can be used to help the fruit wine achieve a higher ABV.   The African Yams have sprouted and are now getting...

This year we managed to clear the largest flat area on our farm and plant it with Sweet Potatoes. I planted five varieties and all did very well. Above the brush fire is still smoldering as we turn the twigs into ash for fertilizer.   In the photo above you can see the massive Eucalyptus trees that still need to be cut down. For now 'ring-barking' them makes the leaves fall off, allowing the sun to enter the gardens.   A freshly harvested row shows the fantastic forest soil we begin with, now just to keep the natural balance intact and the gardens will keep giving forever. Sabrina helps to unearth more rows of yummy food.  The leaves are also excellent to cook with. Mitra is a huge help at gathering all the sweet potatoes as they are unearthed and gently placing them in a bucket for transport. We dry them in the sun for a day or three, until going into storage. At the present we have to sto...

Last year I had a good Sweet Potato harvest, but not nearly enough to keep my family fed through the winter.  This year I have cleared more land and planted about 500 slips of 5 different varieties. Above the forest trees are cut down and then the exposed roots are cut to kill the tree.  As it dies and rots it will feed the soil for me. Above is an experimental patch using recycled cardboard as a pathway mulch and fresh cut grass to mulch the Sweet Potatoes.   Another forest patch above. Above is the Super Bowl garden with Figs and Banana on the hillside and Sweet Potatoes on the drier level areas before the land drops into a boggy Taro garden. A row of a new experimental variety is above. The tools of my trade.  I am an OG (original gardener) .  A mattock and a hoe are all I need to take virgin forest land and transform it into fertile beds, just like my ancestors before me. A steeper garden cut into the m...

I have been steadily clearing boggy areas of our property and planting more Taro.  I think I have enough plants now to feed the farm and visiting friends year round on these tasty vegetables. The original Taro patch is below. My boys enjoy playing under these massive leaves, a good way to stay cool in the summer months. I am now incorporating Water-cress into the Under-story of the Taro with great success. Below are two cultivars of Taro with Water-cress thriving among them.  In the periphery is Nasturtium, another summer salad favorite.  This is my second Taro Patch. A closer view... Below is the newest Taro Patch, it is still filling in, but soon it will be larger than the previous two patches combined. Below is another view of the Third Patch with Sweet Potatoes growing in rows in the drier areas of the land.