Gloomy Days

The few days of amazing weather was short lived. The swell drastically increased with onshore winds make both diving and surfing nonexistent. Along with this, consistent rain storms keep us inside. While going outside in the rain isn't bad since it's warm, it does get tiresome constantly drying off. 

Solo sunrise walk

Usually this wave is no bigger than waist high. This is probably a twelve foot wave.

Lone coconut drifting in the waves

Pretty sure that's what I looked like wiping out the other day.

Instead, between listening to the rhythm of the rain drops on the tin roof and plunking on the guitar, we have been spending more time in the garden and working. 

Glad we have some guitars to jam with

Hanging out

The garden that Gio maintains is phenomenal. It's a full time job on top of his other jobs but he somehow manages to keep it going.

For him it's a lifelong experiment. He's a mad scientist trying to get the best results. Growing kale, cilantro, and other veggies isn't good enough. It can always be better. Gio tries different tilling methods, lighting, everything imaginable.

Where it all begins

I think the pattern that papaya leaves make is pretty cool. Like big snowflakes. 

His results are impressive, basil plants that are small hedges. Tomato plants that are five years old and still producing. 

Gio finds that fighting the constant dampness followed by mold is a huge problem. When it starts raining he flies around the garden trimming and hacking plants back so they won't die or rot. He still sees life in them and we need it to eat. For the most part we don't buy any fruits or veggies except for carrots, onions, and garlic. Everything else is from the garden. 

One of the terraces

Hawaiian chili peppers

Tarot

Sweet potatoes

While banana trees line the perimeter and  papaya trees dot the interior, terraces line the yard with fruits and veggies of all kinds. There are often multiple varieties of each plant. Different oreganos, spinach, and peppers. 

He also reminds me of Jonny Apleseed. More like Gio Avoseed though. He makes little piles of the seeds from his best avacados and will fill a pocket full and toss them along the jungly road side knowing ten years down the road there could be an avacado tree for people to enjoy.

Papaya, banana, and lilicoy (passion fruit) for breakfast