WWOOF

Progress

clafave8 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:29:00 GMT

I am doing well! The past 2-3 weeks I have felt like I am finally waking up. I woke up one morning, looked around and thought, 'what am I doing in a shed?' How funny! It is like when you get sleep deprived and then you catch up on your sleep and think,'wow, I feel good!' I am like a child, so many things are new and fascinating, simple pleasures and joys, my curiosity is coming back - so much good. I still cannot read anything more than newspaper articles. I took out my yarn and colored pencils, but have not worked on any projects. A friend sent me a box of art supplies and I am excited to try them out! It is so shocking how burned out I was. It took alot (personally and financially) to take this time out for myself, but i am really glad that I did. I am just beginning to realize where I am - in Hawaii!! I am feeling so much gratitude for the opportunity to hang in a hammock under a mango tree, in perfect weather, look out over the ocean, and think about life. I am working on a list of possible jobs/careers/training, and a list of knowledge, skills and abilities so that I can hit the road running when I get back to Flag. No huge epiphanies yet. I am better, but not well yet. I have done a lot of letting go, soul searching, forgiveness, weeping, acceptance, and ask God continually for healing. I am so happy to find myself on the road to recovering myself - I have to admit, there was a point that I was a little worried. I think that the turning point came when I finally broke down and had a pity party for myself and a good cry. I try to observe my behavior and belief systems and question if they are beneficial for me or if I need to get rid of them. Interesting process. I need to develop the fortitude to be able to hang on to and really incorporate the changes I am making. I have been in a stupor for so long. Working on the land really has been healing for me. I really needed the peace and quiet. Being out in the coffee tree orchards in sun and rain, watching birds and butterflies, listening to the birds, talking to the trees, apologizing to the spiders, and trying to keep my feet under me as I walk on the treacherous, loose lava rocks. I have fallen quite a few times, have scratches from the branches, mosquito bites and am generally pretty dinged up - but I heal. I get to pick and eat oranges, tangerines, papaya, avocados, mangos, bananas, and more. I will never look at these fruits in a grocery store in the same way as I did before this adventure. I have met so many interesting people and have so many stories, I have been asking God for what I need, and he has delivered!! I had asked for a massage therapist to help me release the emotions held in my body and help with my shoulders/arms that tingle and turn to pain if I sleep on my side. i hitchhiked into Captain Cook last weekend, and the guy who picked me up does massage at the Sheraton Hotel in Kona! I have an appointment with him, he will come to the farm! Perfect! I asjed for someone to go snorkeling with me. A yound woman I have become friends aithe at the farmer's market is going to pick me up tomorrow! She is a Dolphin person, too! I asked to make contact with a spiritual community, and I met a woman yesterday in Kona that attended NAU and she called a friend to pick me up for church next weekend! Wow! I really waasn't thinking of a Christian church - more of a new Thought church, but the connectin has been made, so I will follow it. My friend, Ray Lynch, always said 'I never turn down an invitation.'

I attended a free presentatin by Doreen Virtue (Angels, Archangels, Fairies, Mermaids, etc.) inKona yesterday. It was SO great to spend time with Lightworkers and feel the love and light that they carry. Doreen went around the room and told each person who their Archangel is and what color to wear for protection, at this time. Mine was the Archangel Sandolphon, and his color is turquoise. She looked at me and said, 'Turquois: mermaids, music, dolphins, and ocean. Get in it!' How fun/great/cool!

At the farmer's market today, Shawna (who is taking me snorkeling) pointed out a woman who is looking for WWOOFers. She has a booth with vegies, gluten-free baked goods, homemade ointments, dried fruit, and lots of other fun things. I tried to get a few moments with her, but she was busy talking with other people. Next week. Am I ready to leave Beverly?

My plan right now is to stay at the farm until the end of february - the end of the season for the farm. The trees will flower and fruit over the summer. I am thinking of returning to stay with Dennis for a few weeks and then home to Flag the end of March or so. This is Plan A and I am open to plans B and C. As I said, I have had no eye-opening epiphanies about what to do or where to go next, so I am leaving an opening for God to step in and let me know what His plans are when I am ready to take my next assignment. I am saying yes in advance. He knows that I need to be of service in some way.

Anyways, I told people that I was going to Hawaii to find my laughter - that I had lost my true, unique expression of joy. I have reason to believe that I have found it, and the sound of it is truly music to my ears. (cue the score to the Sound of Music). And yes, I still enjoy the hard physical work. Wierd!

New Year

clafave8 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:02:00 GMT

I decided I wasn't going to hang around the farm for the New year's weekend, and took the bus to Hilo. 5:30 a.m., I am standing on the highway, flagging the bus down with a flashlight. The bus goes around the north half of the island and takes over 4 hours! I got to see some scenery I haven't seen before. Makes me wish I had a car so I could stop and visit different places. Arrrive in Hilo after 11:00 a.m. Dennis picks me up, I take him out to lunch and we hit the road for Sea View, where Dennis is participating in a circus school during the school holiday break. Drop him off, go to the B&B, Sue says take the car into town and get what you need. For crying out loud! There is only one road that goes through town from the highway and then back to the highway, and a little side road that goes back to the highway. I do not want to tell you how many times I lost my bearings and was going the wrong way! Dang! Get back to the house and visit with Sue. We take the scenic route (oceanside) route to Sea View and arrive just in time to take our seats and watch theh circus put on by the students. I was very weepy. Those kids really put on a show! They did magic tricks, juggling, rode unicycles, tumbling, and did tricks on the silks. Two long silk strands humg from the ceiling and they do different poses hanging from them. it was great! Dennis had some students thqt did little clown skits between the 'acts.' Very cute! Made a quick stop at Uncle Robert's for a cup of kava. My hero, Puna was playing Uke and singing. Dennis was worn out and we had t oleave.

Next day went shopping with Dennis for party food. he had invited people over for a New Year's Eve open house. Made lots of food. The sisters came (the family we spent Thanksgiving with) and the party started! We laughed and ate and drank and had a good time! Dennis and Sue didn't make it till midnight. I had to clean up all the food and help the sisters downstairs - one has to use a wheelchair. It was all good.

The next day we were all pretty tired, but ran into Hilo to have lunch with Bonnie. As I was standing outside the retaurant, a man walks by, looks me up and down and asks me 'Are you married?' No, I say. Wanna go do something? he asks. No, thanks, I am having lunch with friends. We chat a little and I go in to join my friends. I should hang out here more often! Had to get the room ready at the B&B for a couple that was coming in from Holland!

Monday I worked all day on Dennis' tea garden, until it started raining sometime after 5. Wow! That was hard work! But I am glad to help him out with projects.

Tuesday time to head into Hilo to catch the bus back. Went for lunch and caught the bus in the rain. The bus is packed. A VERY handsome young man sits next to me. OMG! Sun-bleaches hair cut just below the ears, tall, nice build, and SWEET! He was returning to Seattle. He had shipped his truck over and was looking for construction work. He had put 2,000 miles on his truck and no luck, so he was going back home. Pretty sad. he was so sweet - his mama should be proud of him. other seats opened up, but he continued to sit and talk with me. The bus dropped me off at Bebo's driveway. Such service for a buck! it was a very nice weekend, and I really appreciated the break from the farm.

Wishing each of you a prosperous and happy new year (with some adventures thrown in!)

What's New?

clafave8 — Fri, 6 Jan 2012 13:30:00 GMT

I finally figured out that the reason my stories disappear is that you have 60 minutes to type and save. I am a slow typer, but I didn't think I was that slow! I had a nice, philosophical story - gone! At the top of the news is my hard learned lesson that whatever is posted on a public site is...public! Did I learn when I posted some private comments on friend's facebook sites? No. I was googling Uncle Robert's in Hawaii in anticipation of going to visit Dennis over the holidays, and on the list is my World Nomad story about Uncle Robert's! I did put travel writer on my list of possible careers - can I say that I have been published? Anyways, I belatedly reaized that World Nomads in a public site, and I have made some judgemental and unkind statements about Bebo. Bebo, who is human like the rest of us, trying to create his own little piece of heaven here on the farm, and I have no right to judge his process. Sincere apologies. Uffda!

The holidays were different. Duh! Bebo said we were going to go to the beach on his birthday, then he said no. He said there is too much work to do. I show up Saturday, Christmas Eve all booted and ready to work. No one. Nothing. No movement or activiy from the house. Hmmm. I guess it is a holiday afterall. Decided to catch the bus into kona for the day. Success! Flagged down the bus. Found out the bus goes by one of my favorite mini-snorkeling beaches in Kona. My only day off is Sunday. Busses do not run on Sunday. Anyways, I got off the bus at the farmer's market (I have been to six different farmer's markets!) I walked through the shopping district, wishing I was rich and could buy gifts for everyone - including me! Very bittersweet. I walked this street with Walter four years ago. No Walter now. I took a tour through the 'palace' that the Hawaiian royalty used when in Kona. Loved it. Told the young man at the desk thatI was worried about catching the bus back to Captain Cook. He showed me where the bus stops, and while I was touring the house, he had called the bus company for me! That is aloha! But, the phone was busy, so he gave me the phone number and said there is a schedule posted inside the King Kamehameha Hotel. Mahalo! I walk across the street, intending to have breakfast at my favorite restaurant, Tante's, and realize that they are giving out free Christmas holiday lunch. I get in line. Yuck! I couldn't give it away. Too bad. Felt guilty finding a garbage to dispose it. Walked over to the hotel and couldn't find the schedule. Went to the Concierge - an elderly lady with badly-dyed hair, but sweet disposition. told her my story and asked about the schedule. She got out a notebook, looked around, took a schedule out and slid it to me. You keep it, she says. Mahalo! I check the schedule and decide i have time to find lunch. Walked up to my favorite Vietnamese place and got shrimp rice noodle salad. I saw the Walmart sign as I was walking to the restaurant, and remembered my list. Started walking to it, and it never seemed to get closer. Humbug! This is my holiday in town. I am not going to Walmart! I turn and walk back to the oceanfront shops. Ah, the smell and sound of the ocean! WOw! Time for the bus. An hour bus ride and then another hour to walk home from the last stop. I approach two people sitting on the sea wall and ask if this is the bus stop. Yes. I meet Pineapple and Rose. Pineapple (a joke name) is native Hawaiian and Rose is Micronesian. We sit and talk about the tourists walking by. We are joined by a man named Jaguar. he says something about being the Jaguar of the Jungle. Wants to know how old I am, and tells me I am luscious. He is swinging a plastic grocery bag around while he is talking. he says something about escaping/getting out of jail because he was going to get married. Then he takes this table knife out of the bag that has been sharpened and has cloth wrapped around the handle. I admit, I am getting a little worried. Pineapple and Rose do not seem concerned. Jaguar eventually wanders away. Various street people stop by and chat with Pine and ROse. We all comment on where is the bus? Pine says check the schedule. OH, the 1:48 bus runs on Friday, next bus at 3:30. I decide to walk around, my butt is tired of sitting on lava rock. Devin sends me a text pic of himself at his aunt's for dinner. I give him a call. The holidays...are somewhere. Not here. I walk back to the bench, and sit next to Pineapple. We discuss native Hawaiian sovereignty (sp?) and he shows me his tattoo of the symbol for sovereignty. He says he knows Bebo. What? He says Anthony is a cousin. I say Anthony says he is Navajo and Puerto Rican. Cousins? He looks me in the eye and says, we are cousins. he also says Anthony is a chief. OK. And then he says that Bebo is having financial difficulties. He says he knows everything that happens on the island. Interesting. The weird thing is that Anthony had told me that he is puzzled that people think he is native, even the natives! Previous lifetime? Wow! Other things were said that I do not want to share at this time. The bus finally comes and ROse and I get on. Rose gets off to meet her daughter and a woman named Terra sits next to me. We had a wonderful converstaion, lots in common. Wish I would have asked for her phone number. Someone to swim with! Walked home and wished some one would offer the old lady a ride! Dinner with Bebo and family Christmas Day alone and lonely. I tell myself this is just this year, next year will be different.

My time is almost up. More in New Year's story!

Happenings ll

clafave8 — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:01:00 GMT

Sorry about the repeat of Life on the Farm, I can't figure out how to delete it. Anyways, I wanted to say something more about Phil. He left because he cared. He worked on diary farms as a youth, has always had a garden, no mattter where he was (Even in Korea), and he is a retired lumberjack - so he knows and cares about trees (can one say that about a lumberjack?). He left because he had philosophical differences with Bebo about caring for the trees on the farm

Happenings

clafave8 — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:01:00 GMT

So much has happened recently. Last week,Henry, my neighbor, got drunk and loud and abusive to his wife, so he was asked to pack up and leave. And then yesterday 12/22, Phil quit because he could not take anymore of Bebo's B.S.. Bebo loaned us out to a neighbor to help lay asphalt without asking us, and it was the last straw for Phil. He called his son who got him a plane ticket out to Oregon today, he packed up his backpack and left. He left me (not quite) half of our cherry picking money, his peanuts, bug spray,and his address. Well, there goes a good friend and all the plans we had: camping, kayaking, renting a car and playing tourist. So here I am, the only farm worker. *sigh* A new couple - WOOFers, are supposed to come Christmas day. I have no idea what their stay will be like. They are supposed to run a fruit stand. The only thing we have to sell is avacados and papayas. We made some raised garden beds to grow vegies in, but nothing has been planting yet. I heard he is not feeding them, they have to forage from the farm and they will earn half of what they sell. Sad for them if this is true. Bebo had an electric bill of $600 so we are on austerity measures. He changes out all the light bulbs, lights off at 10 p.m., no outside lights on,and he is honestly going to try NO COOKING! What a nut! Despite the drama, I am doing all right. As long as I get to keep my little shed room and get some semblence of three meals, I will be OK. I am suntan, healthy, have lost some weight and am doing just fine. I am the observer of the dramas. I am too relaxed to care. I show up at 8 and get my duties for the day. I think the toughest job was yesterday. I helped to spread 25 yards of asphalt with a rake. Holy Moly! Maybe I can get a job as general labor when I return to Flag! We were supposed to go to the beach tomorrow - Christmas Eve and Bebo's birthday. Now he says no, we are working. Who knows, we may go after all - you never know with Bebo. The cherry picking season is over, so I now have time for my healing work. You may find this humorous, but it is my experience. I have really taken to a mango tree that sits up on a hill (well, everything is on a hill). I have been going to sit under her branches (and plan to hang my hammock from her) and contemplating my life. Yesterday I asked her what her name is - I heard the name Beverly! She is teaching me alot and is very compassionate. When I went to say goodbye to her today, I put my hands on her trunk and immediately I was weeping. Wow! Shocking! I also hav a beautiful bright green gecko in my room. I asked its name and IO heard Geraldine! Hilarious. She said call my name and I will come out, because I as talking out loud and wondering if she was still here. Well, so the spiritual adventures begin. It has been wierd working with all men. men are different. One of the messages I have gotten is to balance male/female energy. So I have been contemplating what male energy is, what it means to be male. I was sharing this with Phil before he left. He had no clue what I was talking about. maybe that is why he left. He also wanted an intimate relationship and I said no. I had thought of some observations to share, but as usual, I have forgotten them. I meet interesting people, birds, trees, lizards, and HEY! The mosquito bites no longer itch like they did! A friend sent me some benadryl lotion for the ones that do bother me. And I found out that sea water takes away the itch too! I got a ride from Bebo into Captain Cook yhesterday - I had to mail my glasses to JCPenney to get them fixed, and as I was walking back to the farm, I was thinking about trying to hitchhike. Not even the threat of rain couldget me to stick my thumb out! mele kalikimaka and lots of aloha!!

Life at the Farm

clafave8 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:56:00 GMT

Hello! It has been awhile, and I have lost track of what I said in my last story. So, sorry if I ramble over old news and new. How can you have an old new? Finally made the trek into Captain Cook. Not a bad hike. Three miles in, walk around, and three miles home. My left foot was very sore on the way home, I think I have a bone spur in there somewhere. On the way in, I took a bazillion pictures of all the different kinds of flowers we saw. So much beauty. We walk along the road side, and there is only a two foot space to walk. Feels like playing Russian Roulette. Someone suggested bikes - I am afraid to walk, facing traffic, much less riding with my back to oncoming traffic!We stopped at the 90 year old manago Hotel for breakfast. Yay! Bacon! Discussed hiking to see the property that Phil's son is looking to buy. Sorry, I don't think so. Let me just see how I do on this trip. We stopped at a bakery that had gluten-free goodies! Yum! Then off to the farmer's market. OMG! So many differnt kinds of vegies and fruits - bought a lilikoi - passionfruit. Haven't eaten it yet.So many different kinds of local arts. Wood carving, jewelry, block printed t-shirts with prehistoric petroglyphs, honey, teas, jams, all kinds of food - including gluten-free bread! I bought some kukui oil from an old woman who pressed it herself, she was shelling the nuts as we spoke. There was a cup of flowers and I picked it up to smell it - take one, she says. Oh, Heaven! Pu'u Kenekene. Tahitian. She tucked it behind my ear, and I smelled it all day - wonderful! I can still smell it today as it sits in a cup of water. I also met the woman artist who makes these beautiful sacred geometry art cards. I bought some on my last trip to the island. I just started weeping when she said she is the artist.We walked back to the bakeryand Phil bolught carrot juice (prevents cancer he says), and then back to teh market to buy a pie with gluten-free crushed nut crust, three kinds of chocolate at the bottom, and coconut pudding on top. There are no words for the delishiousness! Sat and ate listening to a man who sang and played a Dobro guitar. What more can a person ask? Stopped at the local grocery store and filled our backpacks with some basic foodstuffs. No fridge to store stuff in. On the way back, Phil kept trying to talk me into walking further to find the farm properties. No. I am tired and crabby now. As we pass the house of one of the farm tenants, Jenny, she invites us to go to the beach with her. Forget about the phone calls to friends and familly, forget about writing a new World Nomad story, forget about the aching feet. Yes! We will go! We get our swim gear and jump in her beat up Subaru. She picks up a friend and goes down the road where Phil's farm is - way, way out! To the beach with two pregnant women. The day has gotten overcast, and the water feels chilly. I get 2/3 wet. Poseidon, your daughter is here, I say. Send me a sign you know me! Two green sea turtles appear. So cool! There is a narrow channel that we were in which is the route to the sea. I talk with two boys who are collecting brittle star fish and sea cucumbers. Can I touch them? They share. I talk to families, snorkelers, surfers, dogs, turtles, just having a dang good time! We pack it up and head back home. Phil says, we could hike down here and camp! Are you crazy? hike down here with camping gear? Who is gonna get me home? We will figure it out. Back at the farm, Bebo's family is having an early Christmas because Anthony and Marcus are going to the mainland to visit Marcus' mother, and sell coffee.A really nice turkey dinner. We leave as they get ready to open presents. What a perfect day!! This morning, Phil was going to take the day off to hike to the farm properties. We have to spray fertilizer, so he stays. Anthony gives him a ride to the road he is going to hike. Phil asks me again if I will come. The answer is still no. It was waaaaaay down the road. We let him off at 11:30 and he is not back yet!

Anthony is leaving us. Leaving us to the whims of Bebo. Bebo changes his mind on the minute. Whenever we go to spray the trees, one minute we are going to spray fertilizer, no just fungus, no fungus and fertilizer. We are going to spray it here, no there, no here and there. Well, he does have good ideas. He had cut down all of the vegetation in the middle of the compound and the 13 permutatin of his ideas for this space (including tent space for me), was to make an enclosed area with raised garden beds, maybe a stage and picnic area. On and on, Anyways, We had hauled 12 truckloads of lava rock to the center of the compound. Henry built a beautiful rock wall by himself. We shoveled smelly, rotting wood that had gone through the chipper all around the inside of the area created by the rock wall, and then shoveled green waste all over that. Pee-yew!!. Then we built 10 raised garden beds that were placed in the enclosure. Looks beautimous! The stag and picnic area are still in development. We never know what we are going to do day to day, or minute to minute, with Bebo.

Henry, my neighbor is crying. There are only boards separating us. I hear everything. I am now able to sleep even when they are drinking and watching TV. They try to keep it low, but still, we can see into each other's rooms. I have a sheet hanging up on the wall. They have a lot of drama going on. Henry and his friend have invited me to go spear fishing with them. H-m-m-m, can Phil come too?

Well, I gotta go show up for dinner and see if Phil has returned. Bebo's wife, Karen, put out cold leftovers from dinner last night and tolod us to help ourselves. Lunch was a sandwich with a couple little pieces of turkey in it. Guess what is for supper? I must be losing weight...

Hope all are well, despite everything, I am WELL!!!!

Life at the Farm

clafave8 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:56:00 GMT

Anthony is leaving us. Leaving us to the whims of Bebo. Bebo changes his mind on the minute. Whenever we go to spray the trees, one minute we are going to spray fertilizer, no just fungus, no fungus and fertilizer. We are going to spray it here, no there, no here and there. He does have good ideas. He had cut down all of the vegetation in the middle of the compound and the 13 permutatin of his ideas for this space (including tent space for me), was to make an enclosed area with raised garden beds, maybe a stage and picnic area. On and on, Anyways, We had hauled 12 truckloads of lava rock to the center of the compound. Henry built a beautiful rock wall by himself. We shoveled smelly, rotting wood that had gone through the chipper all around the inside of the area created by the rock wall, and then shoveled green waste all over that. Pee-yew!!. Then we built 10 raised garden beds that were placed in the enclosure. Looks beautimous! The stag and picnic area are still in development. We never know what we are going to do day to day, or minute to minute, with Bebo.

Well, I gotta go show up for dinner and see if Phil has returned. Bebo's wife, Karen, put out cold leftovers from dinner last night and told us to help ourselves. Lunch was a sandwich with a couple little pieces of turkey in it. Guess what is for supper? I must be losing weight...

Hope all are well, despite everything, I am WELL!!!!

Picking Cherries

clafave8 — Fri, 2 Dec 2011 13:29:00 GMT

Well, todayI picked my first coffee cherries. When you get good fruit, it is bright red and looks just like cherries. Phil and I were done with spraying around 11:00, had lunch and he took me to teach me how to pick cherry. We finished at 4:15 and betweene the two of us, we picked 100 pounds! We get paid $50. We webt in together on the bags, and we are going to spend it on Sunday fun. I want a meal, Phil wants a motel. Ha! Just kidding. Picking cherry was great fun! We laughed and swapped stories. I had said that I was coming to hawaii to heal and to find my laugh again - I am finding the laughter many times over. Working with a crew of guys - the language is, how should I term this? Well, I am learning new words and phrases, educational, I guess you could say. I think I got some sunburn and more mosquito bites from picking cherries. I am thinking of contacting Guinness Book of World Records to see if there is a category for most mosquito bites. It takes forever for them to go away. The folk here swear by Safeguard soap. Doesn't work for me. I so need to get into town to Walmart and get some bug spray. No one is going to take us in. I have looked at the bus schedule, but haven't figured out when to go - it is a long, slow trip with limited hours of operation, and, no one seems to know where it stops. Maybe Phil would just hitch hike with me... Well, I am saving money by not having any opportunity to spend it. As Bebo says, we keep it simple here. Bebo has asked Phil if I am doing my share of the work. Phil told him that yesterday, when we did five pick-up loads of lava rock to build a wall, I hauled rock and did my fair share. He said he told Bebo I am very strong. Hah! I was tired today. Strangely, I had no aches and pains from lifting and carrying tons of rock. yay me!

Maybe the tired is from having noisy neighbors who stay up late drinking and then this morning I had to say ,"Hey! Could you have this conversation another time? It is 4:00 a.m." There is a wall between us, but it is only barn board slats. I had to ask for a sheet to hang on the wall because I could see into their place and then they could see into mine. So, basically, only a sheet separates us. I hear everything they say and do. It is a good thing that I do not understand what they are saying. They are from Micronesia and they speak Bumbe (bumbay), which is also the capital of Micronesia. I gotta google that. Anyways, life is good here, but it has its challenges, too. I am very happy to be here.

oh, yeah, I am working on the laughter thing, and I need to work on the healing thing. Finding the time is difficult. I need time alone, peace and quiet. I will work on that. Soon, real soon...

Day 2 of work

clafave8 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:30:00 GMT

Third time is a charm, I hope. I don't know where my stories go... istanabul perhaps. Anyways, yesterday was day two of work on the farm. We collected all the branches we had thrown inthe road on Saturday and threw them in the area where the chipper will be parked. Then we wnet spraying the coffee trees with fertilizer and a fungus called bosiana (SP?)that is used to kill the borer bettle. I am the hoser. it is a job title I gave myself. Bebo cooks up this cocktail of composted donkey poop, bone meal, something called green sand, maolasses, kelp, fish emulsion and the bosiana. Everything goes in a giant nylon bag suspended in a giant tub of water and cooks for 24 hours. We pump it out of the tub into 2 55 gallon barrels and take off on thte farm roads to spray the trees using a generator and a power washer. The roads we call 'lavacoasters. They were all made by hand by the original Japanese owners. The roads are made out of piled up lava rock and are pretty scary - sometiimes I get out and walk. Anyways, we pull up to a site, Phil jumps out and decides where he is going to spray. I am the hose wrangler, 150 feet of hose. I follow him and pay out the hose, as he works his way back to teh road, he yells 'pull' and I rell in the hose, and yell to Anthony 'pull.' We drive down the road and do it over agaiin. Phil is the sprayer, me the hoser, Henry is the machine master, and Anthony is the driver.

I was standing and waiting for them to get the pump primed, and I was watching the sweat run down my nose, onto my glasses, and then run along the bottom of the lenses, and finally drip off. I was soaking wet from sweat and a light, misty rain, and absolutely happy to be dripping wet. I like the work I do, I like the people I work with - we are a good crew, and I like being a member of the team. We all confer, all opinions are welcome, my contributino is appreciated, and we get along very well. Lots of laughter and joking around. Good work, good food, and beautiful scenery - what more could a person ask?

I had some other observations, but that was so yesterday and two attempts at telling the story. Anyway, as I was sitting in my Shed Spread, I noticed the beautful golden rays of the setting sun highlight my Hanes, hanging ona wire across my room. So much beauty...

The Beach

clafave8 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:30:00 GMT

Just a quick note to say that I did finally make it to the ocean. Bebo took his wife, Karen, Pjil, the other WWOOFer, and myself down to Ohonounou. The swimming palce was too crowded, got there too late in the day I guess. There really isn't any public parking, so the roads get filled to near impassable. Bebo took us through the national park grounds, and there is a road that goes to another 'beach' - all lava rock. It's where the locals go to hang out. Once again, the surf was too rough to really get in the water - no protected by here. Phil and I found some tide pools we walked in, and then an area where the ocean water comes in and out. Can't figure how to describe it. Anyways,we were able to find rock 'benches' to sit in the water and chat and watch the waves come in - ya gotta keep an eye on them because every 7th wave, so legend goes, is a BIG one, and it will knock you over if you are not ready for it. Phil got some good scratches. Was good to be in the water. We had to be careful and keep an eye on Bebo, because Phil reported that Bebowill decide to leave and if you are not there, he will leave with out you! Phil gave me the lowdown on Bebo, and to not count on him for anything. He changes his mind on a dime. Be independent, be prepared to feed yourself at any time,never count on him, and just take everything he says with a grain of salt. OK. In the evening, we had a 'potluck'. All the families are suppoosed to attend and discuss the farm. There are renters Silas and Jenny, Henry and Estella, my very close neighbors, Phil and I, and Bebo's daughter and family. Phil and I didn't bring anything, we have no where to store food and we have no facilities to prepare it. Silas brought three kinds of homemade wine. The pineapple/papaya/mango was the best. Very pleasant evening drinking wine, talking with interesting people and eating good food - all on a warm, wonderful Hawaiian night. Priceless!

Would be good to know!

clafave8 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:30:00 GMT

So...breakfast is usually at 7:30. I get up and show up. No activity. I go take a walk and take some pictures. Go back to the house, nothing going on. Go stand and look out over the mountainside. bebo comes out in his robe and says good morning, goes back in. OK. Go to my room and see if my laptop has any power. I hear ukulele music, and come out to see where it is coming from. Bebo hails me and says that on Sunday everyone is on their own for breakfast and lunch, and supper is a potluck with everyone on the farm. oh, would be good to know that. Everyone forgot to tell me. He points out what is available up and down the highway. So they aren't going to feed me, and I have no where to keep food or facilities to make anything. Lots of granola bars and fruit. If I could get into town to buy stuff. The island bus comes by at 6:00 a.m. I will adjust. Bebo said that we are going to the beach this afternoon - so all is forgiven. Well, back to my room and see if I can find my crochet hook. I brought a bag of yarn, but I threw the crochet hook in a suitcase while inline at teh airport. I thought I remembered seeing that knitting needles and crochet hooks are dangerous weapons... Well, hey, I have good phone reception! TTYL!

Bebo's Farm

clafave8 — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:09:00 GMT

Dennis drove me over to the farm on Friday. We stopped at teh Black Sand Beach for a lunch of turkey sandwiches. Nice little spot. No one in the water. The tide was coming in and a sign was posted - Strong Current.

Got to Bebo's and there was a lot going on. They had coffee pickers turning in their day's haul (50 cents a pound), and their familes had been hanging around all day - all over the place. They were cutting down the trees in the center of the compound, so there were branches and debris all over. Bebo had goone shopping was not there, so his son-in-law, Anthony, the Farm Manager, was trying to tend to business, greet me and see what I needed. Chaos.

Well, it is truly a shed attached to the back of the barn. it smells of...old, rotted wood, and damp, maybe. The place was covered in cobwebs and spider webs. Thankfully, the spiders I saw were 'Daddy long Legs,' and a kind of spider I can generally tolerate. I guess vacuuming spiders at Dennis house was a good way to de-sensitize me. I borrowed a shop vac with suction at a 2 (out of 10), and chased the buggers around. They did bring in a twin bed and gave me sheets, so it is a treat to sleep in a bed instead of the floor. My neighbors were up till midnight, watching TV and talking. They are Phillipino or something (haven't asked yet). I had to ask for a sheet to hang on the wall because I could see into the neighbors 'apartment'. Henry and Estrella and their little boy. The bathroom and shower are in separate rooms, in a hallway outside of bebo's house. VERY rustic. The 'shower' is a Japanese style tub. short and square for squatting in. It has a hand held shower head, so just stand in the tub and shower yourself. It is a dark, dank, cement enclosure. Sweet. The toilet is at the end of a long storage room with a sink at the end of the room and the toilet in a little side room.

I started my WWOOFie duties this morning. We gathered old piles of sticks from last year's tree trimming, that were in among the trees and hauled them out to pile on the farm road. They will be gathered next week to go into the wood chipper that they are renting. Then we walked uphill among the coffee trees and pulled weeds. I liked that. We were all joking (me, Anthony, Henry, and Phil, the other WWOOFie)and teasing. Then we headed down to the center of the compound where they had cut all the trees and cleared up the cuttings, pulled stumps, clearedrocks and used the rocks to stabilize an old rock wall. Lunch! Done for the day. I work 8-noon Monday - Saturday, for all my meals and the shed. Bebo said that I could work extra and pick cherries (coffee beans) for $.50 a pound. I said no, this is my first day and I am fine with the work I have done so far.

While I have been sitting at my laptop in the outside dining area, I was served fresh guacamole made from avocados we brought back with us this morning. Some fresh pineapple, and a tangerine we brought back. We also picked some papaya for breakfast. Henry wears only flipflops, or in Island speak 'slippas' (slippers) and no gloves while working. he climbed the fruit trees like nothing, barefoot and brought the fruit down. amazing! So, it is very rustic, a lot to get used to, but I am OK. In the words of Walter (you ccamped out in Siberia and went through hardships - you can do this), and Dennis (a bad day on the Island is far better than a good day anywhere else), I can do this.

Tomorrow we are going to Ohonounou - EXACTLY where I want to be - knee-deep in the ocean! Actually, I hope to be all the way in. My snorkeling gear is with my camping gear, enjoying a storage room in Honolulu.

Will try to take pictures and upload them tomorrow!

Happy Pig day

clafave8 — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:29:00 GMT

Thanksgiving Day. Sent an email to the kids wishing them a happy holiday. Missing them. Haven't actually spent the day with them in a long time. Devin in Minnesota and Nick and Janelle spend the day with her family. Still, nostalgia for being with family. We have had an exciting start to the day. Up early to help Dennis make food. Brought some garbage out and I see 7 dogs and 3 guys in camo run across the back yard - the last guy is carrying a dead wild pig on his back! I yell for Dennis and I run in to get my camera. The guy carrying the pig stops and poses for a picture. The other guys ae trying to get the dogs over the fence. Dennis yells that it is OK and that he will unlock the gate. The dogs, some big, scary-looking things with protective gear on, never look at us, they are all eyes on their human. Dennis chats with the guys and finds out that they have another pig in the truck that arrives to pick them up. Each pig is at about 250 pounds! Crazy. It was quite a rush when I first saw them running through the yard, Men in camo and big dogs! Yikes! They promised to bring Dennis some smoked pork. Nice. Anything can happen in Puna. Dennis lives in teh Puna District of the island, and they call people who live here Punatics. There are a lot of 'characters' that live around here. Happy Turkey (pig) Day from Puna! Check the photo section!

Random Observations

clafave8 — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:49:00 GMT

Reggae music playing in the lobby of the community health clinic. Overheard in same lobby - calling a shopping cart a 'wagon.' Topic of discussino was Black Friday and the need to hire a guard for your 'wagon' cause people will just take stuff out of it if they want it.

Poi being sold on the side of the highway. I like poi.

Food is so international. Went to the Pahoa farmer's market and the food court sold Japanese, Mexican, Phillipine, Hawaiian, Thai, Chinese, Puerto Rican, I really couldn't keep track of all the different kinds. I have tried Phillipine Lu, Puerto Rican - ah - forgot the name. I will probably remember when I hit send. Hawaiian Loco Moco & Kalua pig, Chinese shrimp spring roll, to name a few. There is fruit I have never heard of, and don't know their names, either!

Dennis keeps extolling the virtues of life in Hawaii. I asked him about the crime factor. He lives within fenced property and keeps the gate locked unless he is expecting guests, and has an alarm system. We are all locked up at night. Remember my first story with the woman who had a part of her house stolen? Everyone has big dogs for protection. What about that, Dennis? Is this only in Puna, or an island-wide problem?

Green on green here. I ask Dennis, what is that? What is that? he doesn't know. He doesn't know what the cultivated trees anad shrubs in his yeard are. He did find a book on trees of Hawaii, and it even lists which are native, or where they came from. Very interesting reading.He found a book on birds of Hawaii - different island and no binocs.

Lots of local news stories and programs on Channel 8 (PBS) about Native Hawaiian traditions, arts and folkways. Always the request to live aloha - be respectful and care about/help others. So many different cultural/ethnic backgrounds - I am learning alot. Craving interaction with native people. I want to learn about native healing herbs. Most of the native islanders live in this side of the island. I will be back for visits. Was going to check for booths selling native harbs, but got overwhelmed with all of the variety, and soon forgot my mission. Especially after we found a kava booth - that closed before we got there.

I have quite a collection of mosquito bites. Good thing I brought Benadryl cream!

Parks!

clafave8 — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:24:00 GMT

Woo-hoo! I finally got to play tourist the past couple of days. Yesterday Dennis had an appointment in Pahoa, and I tagged along for the ride. I got to stroll through downtown, all three blocks of it. Took a few pics, met some locals, and got to make some phone calls. Everyone friendly. Interesting little shops. Took Dennis to lunch and had Kalua pig and cabbage. Was good. He had poke (po-kay), raw tuna in sesame oil and I don't know what else. The meat was all soft. Erk! it is a textural thing.

Today we hit the parks that run along the shore. First we went to Lava Tree State Park. Beautiful, lush greenery. Plants growing on plants growing on trees. Plants we carefully tend as indoor plants just grow wild here. They have cut back the jungle to reveal the 'lava trees'. When the lava came through (don't know how long ago) the lava ran around and up the trunks of the trees and encased them in lava. So there are these upright 'tubes' of lava that are hollow because the trees have rotted away.Pretty magical setting. They have little shelters that look out over the formations and you can sit and soak it in. The shelters are simple but elegant. They have giant 'earth cracks' where the cooling lava left giant cracks. We have them in the Flagstaff area. They have theirs fenced off. I am sure people had tried to climb down in them. They are all mossy and sllippery. The park was an awesome experience. Next we went to the Warm Ponds. Volcano heated water comes out into a pond area next to the shore, and sea water also comes in through a breakwater. The water is warm and clear, but is full of bacteria - no open sores allowed. Do mosquito bites count as open wounds? Didn't chance it. Really wanted to get into the water. People were just hanging out with their waater 'noodles' (those colorful, ah, noodles that float. A few people were snorkeling, but I didn't see much to look at).Huge waves were crashing on the shore. Beautiful blue and white waves of strength, energy, and power. We bought a coconut from a young man selling them out of the back of his minivan. He made a slice in it to reveal the soft pulp where the white coconut meat is forming, cut a straw from a hollow guava leaf stem, poked a hole through the soft pulp, and then handed it to us to drink the milk. Sweet! When we drank all the milk, he cut the coconut in half, cut 'spoons' from a slice of the shell, and we ate the soft, sweet pulp. Great fun!

Next we went to Isaac Hale Park and watched the surfers. Surfers of all ages and colors. Tried to step into the water from the boat ramp ('view the volcano by water' tours launch here), but it was too slippery/mossy. Checked out the food seller, Bueno Burritos. Instead of Chinese food everywhere in the world, I think it is changing to Mexican food everywhere! I noticed a family that had been swimming come up from a beach area - the 'beach' was a collection of loose ankle-turning lava rocks. AH, FINALLY knee deep in the water. Poseidon, your daughter has returned!

Then we were off to Mackenzie Park. A barren, windswept park full of Ironwood trees with leaves that look kind of like pine needles, but very ferny and fine. (How do I upload the dang pictures?) Anyways, we were high up on cliffs with the water crashing below us. The waves would come crashing in and water would jet up, way above us. I said it was like the 4th of July with water instead of fire. We were always oohing and aahing with each huge display. Very mesmerizing, watching the waves and waiting for another big one to hit.

The ride down the road between parks was full of surprises. Little familes of Mongoose would run across the road. no pigs. The island has a large population of wild pigs in this area. So many different trees, plants and flowers to look at and wonder at. In places, the trees arch over the road. I was mindful of our Hawaiian guest who said you are not to travel with pork in your car, especially under arching trees, because spirits linger therre and they will want your pork, so you may experience a breakdown. And DO NOT stop for white-haired elders, they may be Pele in disguise and no good will come.

That's all for now! Mahalo!

Photos: WWOOF

clafave8 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:06:00 GMT

WWOOFing in Hawaii

Plumeria Hill

clafave8 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 06:55:00 GMT

Aloha!

I am hoping that the third time is a charm. I have typed this out three times and either the internet connectin is down, or I did something wrong in an attempt to save the story. Plumeria Hill is the name of the B&B I am staying at. It is owned by Dennis Carter, a friend from high school. It is just south of Pahoa, which is just south of Hilo - about 20 miles. There is no cell phone service down here, so I check for messages when we go into town, maybe everyother day. Geez, now I am at a loss for what to say that I have already said twice. Oh yeah, it has been raining every day. The locals say it is very unusual. We had a thunderstorm that took out Dennis' security system. It took four days for someone to come out to fix it. Security system? Well, we were at teh post office and a neighbor reported that she is putting an addition on and while she was out, someone came and took her addition down and all of the materials - someone stole her house! A lot of 'hippies' that salvage any kind of material to build shacks, are in the area. Maybe I should say 'alternative lifestyle folk'. I will call them ALFs. I have been helping Dennis to pay my way. Weeding, planting, clearing land, and sucking spiders (with a vacumn cleaner). We try to get out between waves of rain. You can hear it coming from the north. One day Dennis comes up with this project for me, sucking spiders off of the lanai (porch). It wraps around the house, both upstairs and the front of the downstairs. It took me more than a full day to suck them all down. Spiders give me the willies. I told him it was cruel and unusual punishment. he laughs. I am feeling guilty, I had thought to stay a couple of days and then go to the coffee farm. My camping gear still has not arrived. I fell guilty that I am not at the farm. Bebo said they could make do - make me a room in a shed. Hmmmm, B&B or shed? It looks like I will stay the week and hope that my stuff comes soon. Well, just wanted you to know that I am alive and well! Aloha!

Uncle Robert's

clafave8 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 06:55:00 GMT

Dennis took me to the SPACE school for their after-school program where they are teaching the kids circus skills. Dennis is a professional clown. He gave them a paper and pencil test to see if they would be able to become clowns. It was a very funny test. Dennis taught me and another woman how to toss juggling rings to each other. Fun! On the way home, he decided to take a quick detour to see the remains of Kalapana. Pele took Kalapana out about 30 years ago. All that remains is about four houses, a restaurant, and Uncle Robert's. Local legend has it that Uncle Robert had 10 kids and his kids had 10 kids. Friends and neighbors would come over to eat and someone said "Hey! you should sell your food!" And so it began. Uncle's is a funky little corner of the world tha operates under the re-organized government of Hawaii - the Natives are reclaiming the islands. It is a collectin of shacks and tents where food and alcohol and kava (awa) is sold. For $3 you can get a cocnut cup of kava, sit back and enjoy. You can google kava. It is made from the dried and ground roots of the kava plant and is a Polynesian staple. You feel relaxed but mentally alert - interesting effects. People bring their own booze, food, and smoke and just hang out. We went on Wednesday night and it was market night. People sell food, jewelry, produce - a little bit of everything. Food is Hawaiian, Portugese, Japanese, Puerto Rican and of course, hot dogs and hamburgers. The smell of ganja is in the air. People of all colors congregate. And the best thing is the band! They play Hawaiian music and regular tunes with a Hawaiian flavor. And they sing heavenly harmonies. OMG! Did I already write about the 'freeze-dried hippies'? That is what Dennis calls them. Old hippies that are a little burned-out and caught in a time-warp. I have decided to call them ALFs = Alternative Lifestyle Folk. Dennis and I stopped in Friday night and there was an ALF with an easel set up in front of the stage. As teh band played, he danced and painted a picture, Couldn't quite tell what it was, from our vantage point. But, he was added entertainment. The people are all very polite, even the 20 somethings. As we left, several people wished us a good night. Very nice. We will be back.