Five Years & Counting!

It's been five years since we moved onto the island as full-time residents.  Five years! 

As I look back at earlier blog postings, I realize how much we have gone through in this past half-decade, how much we've accomplished in this span of time.  We have learned a lot - about the island, about Hawaii nei, and living in the tropics... about Natural Farming, and raising pigs... and about ourselves, too. 

We have definitely been busy, though we've had plenty of fun along the way as well.  Some days have been better than others, of course.  

We would never have lasted this long if it hadn't been for our island ohana - a joyous collection of friends from our various circles, who have become like family.  Most of them - but not all! - are also transplants from the continent, or even further afield in a few cases.  Mahalo nui to each of them, just for being their own unique selves.

We have adapted well, I think, and this place is home now.  That's important.  I wonder what the next five years will bring?  More adventures, I have no doubt!

Meet the Piggies...

On a farm, most working animals are female.  They are the ones to give birth, produce the milk, lay the eggs.  So I thought it was about time to properly introduce the working girls of Hubbell's Hog Heaven.

First, we have Big Mama (aka Big Girl).  She had her first litter in May: 7 girls & 1 boy.  Big Mama lives up to her name, being the largest sow in the piggery at 420 lbs!

Spot is a sister of Big Mama.  She's such a friendly girl!  They were both born last year on Independence Day, so are a little over a year old now.  Spot weighs 400 lbs.  Her first litter was born in June: 1 girl & 7 boys.  Both these sows have been bred again, and are due to farrow in December.

Penelope is Big Mama's daughter.  She weighs in at 110 lbs.  (All these weights were taken about 3 weeks ago, so they actually weigh more by now.)  She's a bit skittish still; we'll need to handle her a lot more to help calm down her nervous personality.

Then there's Freckles, or Frecklebutt - so called due to freckles guess where.  Well, we needed a way to tell all those squirmy piglets apart!  She's from Spot, and is a little cutie at 50 lbs.  Both Penelope & Freckles will be raised up to increase our breedstock.  They're keepers.

And here we have Hammy, Freckles' brother and the lone boy of the group.  His dark coloration, and Freckles' freckles are from their Landrace-Hampshire-Yorkshire cross heritage.  Hammie is mellow and so soft.  He will fill our freezer at a later date, once he's big enough for the hams and bacon we all crave.  Right now, he's about 60 lbs.


Huli-girl was Penelope's sister.  I say "was" because, well, her name describes her fate.  She was well cared for, and met her end in the most humanely possible way.  She never felt any pain.  Yes, I cried when I said my goodbyes and thank you to her.

Huli-girl became the star of our recent lu'au and was much appreciated by everyone present.  She weighed over 100 lbs and dressed out at 80 lbs.  I must say this was the most delicious pig I ever tasted, spit-roasted to perfection by Chris Hara.  If you're on-island and need someone to do the pig for your next lu'au, he's the guy to get.

In related news:  We recently hosted what may have been our most important farm tour yet, as part of the Swine Seminar held in Hilo last month.  Ours was one of three piggeries chosen for the field trip portion of the two-day seminar.  Among the participants were several officials from various State and Federal agencies, including the guy who's in charge of rewriting and updating the laws regarding the housing aspects of swine production on a national level.  He was very pleased with what he saw here, and will be recommending Korean Natural Farming method of raising pigs as one of the "best practice methods" soon to be okayed for the entire US!! This is HUGE!!! And this is what we've been working towards with our 'crazy' barn with pens 3 feet above ground level... utilizing micro-organisms to do the work for us... no waste treatment necessary... and all the rest.  Mission accomplished!