A little while back, my friend gifted me 2 sheep. Of course I said, “sure”. After all, sheep are grass eaters, right? Theyʻll be a cheap and easy way top keep the weeds down, fertility up and maybe even get some milk or something out of the whole...
History shows that when Hawai’i was first settled, there were few edible plants: mostly ferns and some tree fruits. That is one reason why the first Polynesian voyagers brought select, important plants with them, in their traditional canoes. These plants, known as...
Finding seeds for the tropical garden can be hard sometimes. Traditionally seeds are shared among gardeners. This sharing of seed builds up the genetic makeup of a seed that becomes local to a place. Ideally, this practice of sharing seed can be revived...
Shipping containers are gaining popularity around the world for being low-cost, sustainable housing options. These durable containers are versatile and offer a great deal of construction possibility for much less than traditional houses. Even before prefab container...
Did you know that one of the most prolific fruit trees is the jackfruit? Not only are these massive fruits the largest that grow on trees, but a single tree can produce over 150 fruits each year! With such an abundance of fruit, it is certainly worth it to grow your...
The rainy season in the tropics provides an abundance of rainwater. And if youʻre like me, you try to save every drop that falls in storage tanks, buckets, garbage cans, whatever you can find to store it. But for how long can you keep that rainwater in a...
One of my ongoing goals is to reduce how much food I buy and increase how much I grow. One of the best investments you can make on your homestead is planting fruit trees. There are so many options of fruits to grow in tropical locations and one of the more...
Macadamia nuts are the most expensive nuts in the world which might give the impression that macadamia trees are difficult to grow. But in reality, while it does take a great deal of patience to grow a macadamia tree, it does not take a great deal of effort. Macadamia...
One taste of the unique, sweet abiu fruit and you’ll want to plant your own abiu tree, stat! Since abiu is native to the tropical areas of South America, it is fairly easy to grow your own abiu in Hawai’i or other warm climates. Here’s how. To grow abiu, you will need...
When I first went off grid, I remember a neighbor asking me if I needed an old-fashioned washboard to scrub my clothes. Actually, I did for the first few years, until I finally built my solar system up enough to power an energy-efficient laundry machine. A small,...
