June 26, 2006, More Trash Duty and a 1st look at "the cottage"

062606, And we continue to clean truck loads of junk -- where in the world was it hidden?!

Eventually this cottage will be leveled, put on a good foundation, and painted..

June 23, 2006, We try a big DR Trimmer on our weeds!

062306, Our DR Trimmer arrives...



062306, We put the trimmer into service fairly fast, but unfortunately it does not like lava rocks!

June 21, 2006, Solar Hot Water System Gets Replaced

062106, When we checked into repairing the old solar hot water it became more practical to replace it. We put in an oversized system but you have to remember we are up at the rain forest and we have naturally cloudy afternoons and often it rains.

We did good: we can go for two days without sun and still have hot water unless everyone washes clothes!


Surprise! When the hot water system is finished and we go to turn on the water, the main valve fails -- no water for us this night!

June 19th 2006, Invasive Species Investigation crew surveys our organic farmland in South Kona

061906, Are these invaders from outer space?

No, just a crew surveying for Miconia, they did find one or two!

June 16th 2006, At the farmhouse, we actually get to start putting some things in place

061606, The farm living room in progress

June 2006, Painting inside the farmhouse continues and some new solar water is in the works as well

June 2006_Painting is in progress...Ken Sheppard starts doing some work...New Solar Hot Water...Washer and Dryer being moved to garage...

060706, This is one of the first days Ken Sheppard was around the farm, here I think he is building a base for the solar water heater to sit on;
Ken is the same who lectured at the Small Equipment Seminar back in October of 2005. He continued to help outside where he would build the coffee mill and with that get us started in the right direction.