Su Ba

Rufaro, I have some questions about groundnuts. I recall you grew some.

I have the opportunity to acquire some groundnuts to use as seed, to start my own plants. Nobody in my area has ever grown them before, nor eaten them. Could you give me some hints on growing them? And how do you eat them?  

I’m always looking for new crops to add to my homestead style farm. So I’m excited that I have been offered these groundnuts.

I have spearmint and chocolate mint. In my climate, both can be rather aggressive. But I have them growing in my pastures which I mow every couple months. Truly, I don’t mind them invading the pasture.

I find mint to be a refreshing tea by itself, but I normally add it to regular green or black tea for iced tea. We keep a gallon jug in the frig all the time.

I don’t know if this will work for your conditions, but I simply use tip cuttings to start new plants. I will harvest, then replant with tip cuttings.

You’re in trouble. Border collies are really smart and your pup looks like it is exercising the border collie genes.

Paul Canosa, I wouldn’t worry about that pebbled yard. Those stones would act as a mulch, helping to retain soil moisture. By carefully setting aside the pebbles, planting a veggie plant (say an eggplant for example), then returning the pebbles in place—- you’re good to go.  

My concern living way out in the middle of the ocean is not just "what if food prices rise 10X? …. but what if shipping to Hawaii gets interrupted?  The State of Hawaii currently imports around 90% of its food. And the overwhelming majority of the population doesn’t have a clue about growing food.

Personally, I’ll be fine. My diet will surely change quite a bit, but I won’t go hungry. Now my husband will find himself in a sad situation, because he’s not fond of sweet potatoes, taro, breadfruit, pumpkins, green papayas, and edible gourds. I guess he will have to learn to eat them because those would become our staples.

I foresee two other problems that would develop if the price of food went up tenfold. ….
…. Theft. People will be trying to steal from my farm. And my livestock would be at risk. Since my farm is fully fenced, I suppose I could go to animal control and adopt a dozen dogs to run loose on the farm to prevent theft.
…. Availability of seed.  It’s happened before that seed suppliers restricted who could buy seed. Luckily I’m already recognized as a farmer and have access to seed, but home gardeners may find themselves restricted or cut off from seed.

I also foresee that I could do very well selling my excess at our local farmers market.

No need for long term storage here in Hawaii. Plus the ground temperature doesn’t get very cool. And no need to protect against a freeze.

Having said this, I had a root cellar before I moved to Hawaii.

Another tactic you may wish to consider……..

Living in the wet tropics, I’ve got lots of mosquitos. The best steps I’ve taken are:

1- create breeding ponds and stock them with guppies. The fish will eat the mosquito larvae, thus eliminating future generations of thousands of mosquitos. About every 50’ apart I’ve set up half barrels (you could use other things) with a few guppies in them. If it is in the sun, I put water plants in to provide shade for the fish so that the water doesn’t get too warm.

2- eliminate any potential water collection spots. Store old tires inside a shed or under a tarp. Keep tarps taunt to avoid water pooling. Pick up or protect any tools….or trash….that could collect water.  Etc.

3- use “dunk granules" (bt for killing mosquito larvae) in plants that gather water. I have my driveway rock wall covered with bromeliads which hold water. A couple of the granules into each appears sufficient to stop the mosquito life cycle.

4- encourage bats.

Super job, guys!!!     Fantastic!  

I’ve used ivermectin successfully for ear mites in the past. I’ve also had good results with fipronil (aka- Frontline).

Ivermectin treats a variety of parasites, both internal and external. Not all types of course, but quite a few. I use it routinely for scabies (aka-sarcoptic mange), which is quite common in my area.