up and out

Well, I finally did it. I moved off of Don's farm last week onto another farm on the North shore of Kauai. It was really difficult the last week or so I was there. Don was acting normal except for being a pain about helping me move my bags to the new place, but Maya was the one that surprised me. For some reason she was being really hostile toward me and even yelling sometimes. It was weird, but it's over now. So.....

The new place I'm at is called La Ola organic farms. It's about 3 acres with fully producing papaya, starfruit, pineapples, and guava trees as well as a whole range of vegetables and herbs. I'm expected to do about 20 hours per week and you actually get a weekly list of assignments that you can get done on your own time. How refreshing! I live in this little shelter toward the back of the property. It's just a frame with a rain tarp on a tent platform and a bed, but it's pretty sweet to be sleeping outside, a step up from camping! I get to wake up to the smell of guavas wafting in every morning. Not bad, I'd say! The farm is owned by Tim and Catherine. Tim handles most of the farm overseeing and Catherine is a naturopathic doctor and midwife. I'm here with an older woman named Sunny, and a young couple, Josh and Corinne. Everyone's really cool. It's a nice change. I am up in a much less developed part of the island, and am surrounded by lots and lots of other farms and the small town of Kilauea.

I am still waiting to hear back about the food co-op program. Cross your fingers for me! Getting into that would be so wonderful!! The only thing that concerns me at the moment is that Tim has asked the two women before me to leave and, according to Sunny, his interactions with me are almost identical with theirs up to the point when he asked them to go. You see, the first two weeks are a trial period. Apparently, he's got a pattern with asking people to go even when they've been working hard (I've already put in 10 hours more than I needed to). I'm not quite sure I get it fully, but I'm hoping I don't get asked to go or there will have to be some scrambling for plan B's and C's. I'll just keep working hard and doing my best and that's all I can do. But, for now, I'm in a new place and I'm working and learning. I've already learned a bunch of new things, preparing and maintaining compost, and planting teensy onions among other things.

Oh! and I bought a motor bike to get around on. Not a motorcycle, not a scooter, a beach cruiser with an 80 cc, 2-stroke motor welded onto the frame. It gets 150 mpg and can go up to 45 mph. I can be a motorbike enthusiast legitimately now! No more pretending! haha.

 the "back yard"
Tim and Catherine's house
Some of the vegetable gardens
 view of the pineapple fields with some papayas
 mi casa

 a pretty picture
 my sweet ride.

trapped in paradise...not really, I'm just pouting

Back from the island-hopping trip about a week now. What else can I say, it was awesome. So great to have a long break from the farm. Lauren and I saw so much in our ten days. The first 5 days on my island I felt like I was "seeing" Kauai for the first time. We saw incredible lava pools, white beaches, waterfalls, a luau, and went on beautiful hikes. The Big Island was full of great people, snorkeling, black sand, and, of course, it kicked some real ass to see lava exploding. :D On Oahu, it was relaxing a bit, seeing Waikiki, and "going out" to Mai Tais.

I, unfortunately, don't have any promising news on the getting out of crazy town front. I met with the guy from the other farm. He said I should be good to come, but I talked to him yesterday and it seems that they filled up already. Though, he did tell me they might have another spot and he would know in a few days. So, it could still work out. Who knows? The other option I'm looking at right now (because I can't stay on Don's farm anymore) is just renting a room, getting a part-time job, and applying to this agriculture program/course I found out about. Basically, it's a 3-month program where they teach you about permaculture while you help with their CSA (community supported agriculture). At the end of the 3 months you can stay on as an intern to help grow things. As an intern you would work 20 hours a week maintaining the gardens and get 800 a month. That would be a pretty good outcome, actually. I want to be a part of something that fosters community building and really learn about sustainable agriculture practices, and this would do both. This whole thing has just made me re-question what things I really want to pursue at this stage of life. Got some thinkin' to do, I suppose. 

I hope to have news to report in the next week or so. Stay classy, people.

Jenn

 sunset at Pollihale Beach, Kauai
 
 summit of Sleeping Giant, Kauai

 Kilauea Falls, Kauai

 Luau, Kauai


 Kalalua Valley Lookout, Kauai
 View in Kilauea, North Shore Kauai

 Secret Lava Pools, Kauai
 Na Pali coast hike, Kauai

 Rainbow Falls, Big Island, HI

 sweet cabin we stayed in on Big Island
 snorkeling, Big Island


Lauren and I with Bob, our host on the Big Island

 Lava exploding where it met the water, Big Island

 night out in Honolulu with Casey and Miguel