Aloha Homesteaders~ It has been a VERY busy Dragon year thus far. The baby goats are weaned, the milk is still flowing. I invite ALL of you to our neighborhood food share to sample some Feta and rosemary bread! The cheese making has taken on a life of... moreAloha Homesteaders~ It has been a VERY busy Dragon year thus far. The baby goats are weaned, the milk is still flowing. I invite ALL of you to our neighborhood food share to sample some Feta and rosemary bread! The cheese making has taken on a life of its own and I can't keep up with the demand. The weather on the Big Island has been great and the 20x20 garden is planted with bok-choi, tot-soi, arugula, tomatoes, kale, spinach, pole-beans....AND the grasshoppers have been a HUGE problem. I've come to the garden to water and whole tops have been mowed down. ANY organic GRASSHOPPER management suggestions? I have an old mosquito net (white), was wondering if i could make hoop structures with it...but will it still allow enough sunlight through? Help!! Aloha, Juliet less
Family
Chris,
Rosabella (4),
Annzlee (6 months)
Lucky, Skinny Minnie (Dogs),
Tipsy, Wiggs (Cats),
Fuzzy Wuzzy (Guinea pig),
Brown Cow, Nutmeg (Cows),
Inky, Flower (black lamb), Panda (wool sheep),
Favin (Nubian buck),
Little wing, star rock, little black fluffy fluff (chickens)
MORE MORE MORE, WE want MORE
About Me
Born in Hawaii
Graduated from University of Hawaii, Hilo
(anthropology/biology)
Master in Science Health Science (MSHS).
Haven't worked in the "tax paying"realm since 2007, when I was 7 months pregnant with Roseablla. This has forced my interest in self sufficiency. We run our 2 Mercedes and our ford F350 on waste veggie oil-FREE. We live off grid catching our rain water and a very modest solar system for electricity. We run our fridge on propane and listen to Prairie Home companion. We splurge on netflix but mainly entertain ourselves with OURSELVES!
Interests
Homesteading
Self Sufficient Living
Learning
Teaching
Surfing
Cooking
Music
Favorite Quote
"No Rain, No Rainbows"
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Mahatma Gandhi
Location
State | Province | Region
Hawaii
Country
United States of America
My Garden Facts
Plant Hardiness Zone
Tropical
Acreage / Lot Size
36 acres
Garden Sq. Ft.
20x20
Farm / Garden Name
Branch Off Fruits
Main Crops
Tropical fruits orchard (lots of Bananas),
Livestock
Climate Type:
Hawaii
alohaAloha Homesteaders~ It has been a VERY busy Dragon year thus far. The baby goats are weaned, the milk is still flowing. I invite ALL of you to our neighborhood food share to sample some Feta and rosemary bread! The cheese making has taken on a lif... moreAloha Homesteaders~ It has been a VERY busy Dragon year thus far. The baby goats are weaned, the milk is still flowing. I invite ALL of you to our neighborhood food share to sample some Feta and rosemary bread! The cheese making has taken on a life of its own and I can't keep up with the demand. The weather on the Big Island has been great and the 20x20 garden is planted with bok-choi, tot-soi, arugula, tomatoes, kale, spinach, pole-beans....AND the grasshoppers have been a HUGE problem. I've come to the garden to water and whole tops have been mowed down. ANY organic GRASSHOPPER management suggestions? I have an old mosquito net (white), was wondering if i could make hoop structures with it...but will it still allow enough sunlight through? Help!! Aloha, Juliet less
NebraskaDaveJuliet, I have no advice for grasshoppers. They are certainly a force to be reckoned with. Our spring planting doesn't start for the warm weather plants until May. I do envy you with a longer growing season. I think a mosquito net should let in enough... moreJuliet, I have no advice for grasshoppers. They are certainly a force to be reckoned with. Our spring planting doesn't start for the warm weather plants until May. I do envy you with a longer growing season. I think a mosquito net should let in enough light for plants to grow. If you don't try something, it appears that imitate destruction will happen. Good luck with the grasshopper adventure.
alohaGood Afternoon homesteaders~ It is a blustery day here on the Big Island, but still no rain. There have been fires on the west side of the island and the wind is picking up. No fret, I made a half gallon of goat's milk caramel a couple days ago! C... moreGood Afternoon homesteaders~ It is a blustery day here on the Big Island, but still no rain. There have been fires on the west side of the island and the wind is picking up. No fret, I made a half gallon of goat's milk caramel a couple days ago! Cajeta! it is so lovely!! It makes me almost forget my mozzarella disaster.... anyone have cheese making experience? My mozzarella was going so well, then when i reached 140deg. it would not stretch and come together, it got lumpy and....well...i'm afraid to try and make it again... Help? less
alohaGood Wee hours of the morning! How is it that you can be soo tired and not be able to sleep? I really do wish there were more hours in the day so I can take a nap this afternoon! Going to try and make bread today. Went to the grocery and bread is ... moreGood Wee hours of the morning! How is it that you can be soo tired and not be able to sleep? I really do wish there were more hours in the day so I can take a nap this afternoon! Going to try and make bread today. Went to the grocery and bread is $6.49 a loaf! DANG. So I bought a bag of organic flour and some yeast, for less than $7.00....Unfortunately, i'm not a baker...
Bull100We do many many things by hand and from scratch but bread making isn't one of them. We have a bread machine and do use it weekly. We get a good quality of bread and have one recipe that we use most often. Once in awhile we will get into making different... moreWe do many many things by hand and from scratch but bread making isn't one of them. We have a bread machine and do use it weekly. We get a good quality of bread and have one recipe that we use most often. Once in awhile we will get into making different recipies but seem to gravitate back to the old standby. Its not that we cant make the bread by hand its just easier for us to add the ingredients and pop the bread out when done.
January 26
ZimboWhen Zimbabwe was at its worst a few years ago we had to make bread daily. So glad I can buy it now - I know that sound so harsh and lazy but what a mircle to walk into a store a buy it. Anyway, it actually does taste better when you make it yourself. ... moreWhen Zimbabwe was at its worst a few years ago we had to make bread daily. So glad I can buy it now - I know that sound so harsh and lazy but what a mircle to walk into a store a buy it. Anyway, it actually does taste better when you make it yourself. I did't have a bread machine, did it by hand. Really not hard - just get the kneeding right - after a while you will know the moment you have kneeded enough by the way it feels.
January 28
alohaFeta cheese rocked! I shall be saving some goat milk off to the side for my own personal stash!! Chris made a giant cheese wheel...grated hard goat cheese? we will see in 2 months.......hopefully! Drank some homemade wine, oooh Lilikoi (passion fr... moreFeta cheese rocked! I shall be saving some goat milk off to the side for my own personal stash!! Chris made a giant cheese wheel...grated hard goat cheese? we will see in 2 months.......hopefully! Drank some homemade wine, oooh Lilikoi (passion fruit) and jaboticaba... and some were effervescent, a little tipsy~~~~. Hope all of you are having a lovely relaxing mid week!
Good news, a new baby goat arrived at sundown, a girl...I shall call her dragon.
All is at peace on my Hawaiian farm. aloha, Julie less
alohaKung Hei Fat Choy!
All is wonderful on the family farm. Today is cheese making, hope it goes well, OR that's 4 gallons of goat milk down the drain, ooooh NO!
Looks like Rain tonight, good thing, the water catchment is getting low and the trees, garden, ... moreKung Hei Fat Choy!
All is wonderful on the family farm. Today is cheese making, hope it goes well, OR that's 4 gallons of goat milk down the drain, ooooh NO!
Looks like Rain tonight, good thing, the water catchment is getting low and the trees, garden, and animals are thirsty!
alohaGood afternoon homesteaders~ A busy beautiful day here in Hawaii. Flower is nursing from inky which is a huge relief for me because it equals one less ma to milk. Her legs are still bowing and I have her in splints. We are Getting into a good goat... moreGood afternoon homesteaders~ A busy beautiful day here in Hawaii. Flower is nursing from inky which is a huge relief for me because it equals one less ma to milk. Her legs are still bowing and I have her in splints. We are Getting into a good goat groove with the stanchion and 2x a day milking and kid feeding. HARD WORK none the less!! Any one have any good goat cheese recipes? aloha, Julie
January 20
January 20
alohaGood afternoon Homesteaders! Still a wonderful winter day in Hawaii~ Flower is doing great, getting lamb frolics, but her front leg is starting to bow...I have her in a splint, Any suggestions?? More news: Chris bought the dairy goat dairy!!! We a... moreGood afternoon Homesteaders! Still a wonderful winter day in Hawaii~ Flower is doing great, getting lamb frolics, but her front leg is starting to bow...I have her in a splint, Any suggestions?? More news: Chris bought the dairy goat dairy!!! We are up to our ears in goats and 10 newborn kids, instant milk! AD instant WORK! I'm bottle feeding oe goat kid as he was a triplet that got rejected, bummers. We are going to disbud them in a few more days, any one have EXPERIENCE with that? I gotta get my photos up! Aloha, Julie less
alohaGood Morning Homesteaders! It is another beautiful day here in Hawaii. Update on Flower! She is doing Great, and I'm feeling pretty confident she will make it. She has over doubled in size since her new year's birthday. I have Inky down to a twic... moreGood Morning Homesteaders! It is another beautiful day here in Hawaii. Update on Flower! She is doing Great, and I'm feeling pretty confident she will make it. She has over doubled in size since her new year's birthday. I have Inky down to a twice a day milking and I'm not setting my alarm clock for wee hour of the night feedings anymore.
Chris now has a bid in on an 8 goat dairy business. He said, already milking one, why not milk 9??? My grand-parents were dairy farmers here in Hawaii, so it IS in my blood....we'll see
The rest of the farm stuff is going swell, we have a WWOOF volunteer that is working on the 'garden'.....Something most people don't know is that it is NOT easy growing your own food!!!!!!!!!! High-five to all of you that do! Have a great rest of the first 2012 weekend! aloha, Julie less
![[Untitled]](/neighborhood/public/user/24/e1/e043_79b6.JPG?c=5d91)