You can't beat my writing spot today. Sitting in the pallet swing, suspended by a giant Saman tree with a view of my tiny house, a solar-powered pond pump gently burbling to my left, surrounded by herb-garden circles and mounds that I've been gradually creating. It's a breezy afternoon with clouds scudding across the intensely... Continue Reading →

The annual St Croix Ag Fair happened this past weekend. I hadn't been in 7, maybe 8 years - since well before the closing of Hovensa (the island's oil refinery) and the consequent economic decline. I knew not to expect too much, for times are hard and there is little money for people to throw... Continue Reading →

I'm once again falling behind on writing blog posts - sorry everyone! The Chikungunya makes it painful to type, and my to-do list keeps on getting away from me... Some major advances this week have been getting the Nid kitchen up and running, finishing the carving on the doors, and learning to graft trees! Not... Continue Reading →

Perhaps you noticed my absence this week from the market, and the blog? I was away for good reason, I swear! Well, I spent the week over at Cruzan Gardens, helping people choose from a vast array of plant choices for their offices, interior decor, and outdoor landscaping projects. It was nice to get away... Continue Reading →

It's been a rough week (or two?) with the Chikungunya, trudging through, trying to get things done. So here are some photos of random things and little accomplishments! Hope you enjoyed the photos - next week I hope to be able to brag about the pouring of my concrete kitchen counter-top! Don't forget to order... Continue Reading →

6am. The hens grumble and squawk as they begin to shift on their roosts, waking each other. Through the burlap-curtained window the sky pales, with a hint of coral above the hillside. A light breeze stirs the tree tops, and the coquís become silent as night fades away. Soon the morning mosquitoes will emerge, and... Continue Reading →

It's come around again, the winter solstice, the mid-winter feasting, a time of reminiscing and also of looking forward, to the days to come. A time of assessment, celebration, yet also determination to continue with the same vigour in the coming weeks and months, despite all exhaustion, setbacks, and distractions. Overall, it's been a great... Continue Reading →

Meet Edwin, our new four-legged family member! Edwin hails from the St Croix Animal Wellfare Center, our local Humane Society. He'd been there for 5 months, waiting for just the right home, and is a great pup. He's about 9 months old, loves dogs, people, and anything else that will give him food or attention!... Continue Reading →

Yesterday was the big day! On approximately the 1-year anniversary of the conception of the Nid and the Nidulari project in general, I spent my first night under the roof built with my own hands, had an ice-cold shower in a shower I plumbed myself, and even used the not-so-state-of-the-art composting toilet for the first... Continue Reading →

Thanks to our last WWOOF volunteer, Hannah, I am able to present a step-by-step photo tutorial of how we built our Hugelkultur-inspired garden beds! The initial one has been planted for about 6 weeks now, and is already bearing okra, several types of greens, and sorrel (a flower that is used to make tea or... Continue Reading →