Transitions

Transitions was Originally Posted on October 16, 2011 by lavarock

My yellow Lab O`Lena is still “in season” and I had to fortify the lanai (porch) after two neighbor dogs came to visit. O`lena is a year and a half old and is to oyoung to breed yet, but her next season will be her time. I have gotten pretty good at delivering puppies so her litter hopefully will be easy. I think she will make an excellent Mom.

Speaking of Moms, mine wants to visit the farm to see what progress I’ve made, but I need to get the kitchen and bathroom fixed first. I will try to get to that very soon. I have just had other pressing items first.

Many years ago I became aware of an artist, well known for his Hawaiian work. Herb Kane has done some fantastic work, paintings, US postage stamps and was instrumental in the design and building of the Hohule`a, a recreation of a Polynesian sailing canoe. I had the honor of sitting at a dinner table with he and his wife at a Kona Coffee Farmers Association banquest and he gratiously donated some of his work to our cause.

Herb recently passed away and I think that you will enjoy reading a bit about him and seeing some of his works. You can find “Herb Kane” in his Wikipedia page and at http://www.herbkanestudio.com. He really did a lot for the revival of interest in Hawaiian culture and history.

As for the farm, I have now picked, pulped, had milled and roasted my first coffee from the new trees. These 1600 or so trees will be the anchor for my revised LavaRock Farm.

I took over an ailing macadamia nut farm with some coffee on it and over the years have removed old trees, planted new coffee trees in rows, planted over 130 fruit trees (more to come) and installed water catchment and irrigation systems.

All the while I juggled money and projects (neither as well as I had hoped). Still, this crop represents a milestone in the history of the farm.

Today is also my birthday and I am enjoying a first cup of this first crop. The beans really needed to sit a couple weeks before roasting, but I thought I would take a first sip a bit early. It is not fair to judge the taste based upon the first pick, but so far I’m very very happy!