Winter into Spring

We continue to be busy with the pigs, chickens, guest house, and farm tours.



13 piglets thrived, grew quickly, and were sold off after weaning; they weighed in at 40 lbs each, bigger than the average wean-off.  We changed our minds about expanding the pig herd at this time due to the high cost of feed.  Our food crops are coming along nicely, but pigs eat a lot and it takes a lot of feed each day to keep them in tip-top shape.  So, we're back to just Big Mama and Spot as our breed sows.  Both of them have recently been bred, with three weeks between them, so we should have an easier time of it come May and June when they're due to farrow again.

All 50 chicks I ordered last Fall survived, plus another 9 from our own birds.  They grew quickly, and are in full production already - except for the roosters who are gradually filling our freezer.  Farm fresh eggs, anyone?  I'm gathering almost 5 dozen a day!  I sell them from home, and a friend takes the excess to the Hilo Farmer's Market twice a week, to sell at her produce table. (Thank you, Cherie!)

Our guest house has been bustling with bookings all winter.  Among those many bookings were old Daybreak friends.  It's always deeply satisfying to reconnect with good people from long ago and find that we continue to have much in common.

We had the opportunity to go back to Ho'okena for some beach-camping with a few good friends.  It was a much-needed respite from the torrentially downpouring rains of our tropical winter.  It still amazes me how different the weather can be on another part of the island.  I wonder if I will ever get used to that?

The biggest news is that I've written a book of our farm tour!  It is at the editor's now. (Thank you, Lori!)  We're aiming for release in late spring.  Those of you who have been to our farm will like the book for remembering all the information presented on the tour... and those who have not had a chance to visit will be able to see more of what we are doing here.  Of course, I will let you know when it is available. 

Meanwhile, we continue to plant food! Like I said, the food crops are coming along nicely - amazingly well, in fact.  I think we've finally got it figured out: Korean Natural Farming is the key.