The fall equinox just past, and our summer is officially over, although the warm temps and sunny days have far from ceded. We are long overdue for some rain, but are taking advantage of the nice days to do some labor of love. We just put in our fall garden-- hand-plowed (double-dug) beds enriched with our first batch of homemade compost, Paloma poop, and some fermented leafy anti-bug juices. Before planting, we built a fence around the beds with "costaneras" (leftovers from the sawmill up the road) to keep the chickens and dogs and cows out!
And our old friends Minera and Fazera (the giant white oxen) were back (with our neighbor Claudio) doing some work in the yerba mate.
Over the elephant grass and through the woods, in the cart we go!
We collected tons of elephant grass to use as fodder, and to dry out for use as matter for the compost bins and to experiment with in our adobe brick mix. 
And of course, there has been the usual goings on... egg collecting from our chickens (we get lots of different sizes) and we are building them a new larger coop right now. 
And milking Paloma... who has tamed down enough to get about a gallon (4 liters) of milk every morning. She behaves herself so long as we give her a heap of elephant grass to distract her. Meanwhile, Suki is growing so big and strong, and so tame that she nuzzles up to just about anyone--even Amanita the cat! 
We have just about finished the last details of the cabin (I know I keep saying that). Most recently, we built an inside staircase out of a fallen hardwood tree--- it is ten thousand times better than that pokey pointy ladder we were using for the past few months! Now we can get up to our look-out tower bedroom with style (and ease.) 
Other news... the mystery jungle plant is here again, this time with an inside view of fruit and seeds. Not the Kiwano, as some folks suggested. What could it be??
And Marcelo has shed a layer of long curly hair and is back to his clean-cut disguise... he can now meditate in hair peace.
And of course, there has been the usual goings on... egg collecting from our chickens (we get lots of different sizes) and we are building them a new larger coop right now. And milking Paloma... who has tamed down enough to get about a gallon (4 liters) of milk every morning. She behaves herself so long as we give her a heap of elephant grass to distract her. Meanwhile, Suki is growing so big and strong, and so tame that she nuzzles up to just about anyone--even Amanita the cat! We have just about finished the last details of the cabin (I know I keep saying that). Most recently, we built an inside staircase out of a fallen hardwood tree--- it is ten thousand times better than that pokey pointy ladder we were using for the past few months! Now we can get up to our look-out tower bedroom with style (and ease.) Other news... the mystery jungle plant is here again, this time with an inside view of fruit and seeds. Not the Kiwano, as some folks suggested. What could it be??
And Marcelo has shed a layer of long curly hair and is back to his clean-cut disguise... he can now meditate in hair peace.This photo is actually from way before, but it has good, goofy memories in it. Us and our beloved volunteers, who help make this project and homestead possible, and fun! Thanks everyone!
1 comment:
"...the mystery jungle plant is here again, this time with an inside view of fruit and seeds. Not the Kiwano, as some folks suggested. What could it be?"
It's a small variety of bittermelon, Momordica charantia. The vine leaves and the unripe fruits are edible when cooked; but very bitter. It's used a lot in Asian recipes and for some as medicinal uses.
Suete the sliced unripe fruits, sans the seeds, and when cooked, add some eggs. It's a scramble eggs with bitter melon. It's good for you and delicious; however, its an acquired taste I think. Enjoy!
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