A Week in Images
Squash Stickers
Can You Even Recognize It?
(Left: a May 1 image of the month old farm, at Right: the same view with additional planting beds fully realized six months later.)
One quarter acre all filled out after 7 months of farming. We can do it, everyone! Every inch of soil…and it is now deep rich soil, was lovingly built with one woman (me,) one shovel, and a fair bit of focus.
My Seed Trials and Farm Journal
Chaos and order at the same time…but it worked, and I ate very well this summer
Looking Back so to Look Forward
The first bloom of the first heirloom in my 2012 squash seed trials. It was simple, beautiful and perfect to mark what would become the first of many plants that were grown so to try to solve a problem here in Hawaii.
A Beautiful Harvest
Simple Pumpkin Curry Recipe
Simple Pumpkin Curry
I practically live on this highly adaptable recipe that I change depending on what is in the field. I use a crock pot set on low all day, so that I can stay outside well after dark. You can use a range top method as well.
The basics: One can coconut milk, one can water, one to two cube(s) vegetable or chicken bullion, roughly 3-4 lbs of fresh pumpkin or winter squash. I fill the pot up with the pumpkin since I have plenty! (peeled while raw, and cut into 1 1/2″ chunks) any other vegetable of choice, including green beans, tomatoes, chayote, carrots, red pepper…really anything) two to three fresh chills (optional but I use homegrown Thai Dragon for heat) three cloves chopped garlic, two big rounded tablespoons of Thai curry paste (yellow, red, green or Masaman all work great. Look in the Asian food aisle.) Then a handful of farm fresh basil (I am currently growing the heirloom licorice basil.) In the following image, I included mustard seeds for a change, with daikon, chayote since they were taking over the garden! Cook over low to medium heat until the pumpkin breaks down into soft chunks. It tastes even better on day two. Serve over rice of choice. Share with friends…Enjoy!
A Gift for a Business That Helped First, and Asked Questions Later
Soil Building Initiative Launched!
These weeks are busy, as the month of October is a squash farmer’s dream as all minds turn to pumpkin. So what better way to celebrate the season than with a two fold community building action. This past week, I got the Squash and Awe Soil Building Initiative launched. Building Soil-Building Community. I have asked local businesses to “sign on” to the program by donating pure, green or brown compost worthy waste to help build my farm’s soil. In turn, I teach a pumpkin program at their school of choice. So far so good…40 gallons of green waste. 18 lbs of coffee grounds, and three trunk loads of cardboard to use in my sheet mulching. 30 preschoolers served, and 5 classes at 3 schools in the weeks ahead.
Squash and Awe 