According to the biodynamic
calendar, which considers not only sun and moon cycles for planting but also
the other heavily bodies, today was a “fruit day”. Based on previous long-term
studies, planting on a fruit day will enhance fruit production, while planting
root days enhance root growth, and so forth. To take advantage of the
designation of this day, we were each given a project that will ultimately
yield fruit. My project was pineapples!
Before planting, I added compost to
a bed I had created the previous week. Using pineapple heads we gathered from
the farmer’s market, I plucked leaves from the bottom so that an inch of bare
stem was showing. While another pineapple bed on the farm has larger
row-spacing, Robert wanted these plants closer together to see if it would provide
support for the heavy winds that are present during the dry season. I briefly
showed Katrina and Dalton the technique, and presto-change-o, a lovely patch of
pineapple! I’ll admit that it was very satisfying work.
In
the evening, after our hike down the dangerous cliff (yup, all the same day!),
we went into town to meet up with some new friends from the University for
Peace. Each Thursday a few people get together for an informal “drum session” and
bring some musical instruments as well as pots, pans, bowls, tins and
chopsticks. We jammed for a while, but hunger got the best of me and I walked
over for some comida rapida (fast food); a nice plate of arroz con pollo with French
fries and coleslaw. Followed by a piece of tres leches cake, my night was
complete and a busy day over!
