Category Archives: Building

Mother’s Day, TARS, and our Tropical Gardens

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Overlook spot in Moca

A quick update. We have been tackling house repairs and building of the deck railings, keeping up with the cabana (recently painted the entire interior again) staying on track with all the mowing (we maintain about 2 acres of green areas) as well as planting and watering the tropical gardens when it’s dry. When we are not at the farm, we go out for drives or on searches for more plants as well as just normal chores like grocery shopping and things like that. We have also had the opportunity to spend some time with friends which is always nice.


The farm always feels so refreshed after we mow it, it’s like our own personal park


It would be a rare occasion at a plant store that I don’t find something to buy


Quick stop at Borinquen Beach in Aguadilla


Aeden loved it!

We also went to TARS in Mayaguez. It has been a long time since we’ve visited. Now that we’ve been doing this tropical gardening for a good long while I can appreciate the collection that they have there even more. It looked to have suffered some damage from the hurricane, but overall it is still quite impressive. So inspiring to see what’s possible here. So many home gardens are plain and this is extraordinary!


Britton and Aeden under a huge palm


Me and a HUGE Panama Canoe Tree


Britton and Aeden with a large agave


Me and a jackfruit tree/fruit


We just started a pandanus. It would be amazing to see it grow into this


Back at our farm


We are growing a new variety of microphone/beehive ginger


Another turkey came out of the woods with babies


Early morning sunrise at the finca


Peaceful serenity in the gardens


A mango tree releafing over head


Newest additions to the farm -2 tortoises (I think sulcata but not sure)!


Amazing number of torch gingers to take to the farmer’s market lately


At the farmer’s market with the babe


Celebrated my very first mother’s day as a mother. Here’s the mother who made me, and who made me a mother (around the same age 8-9 months)


My precious boy


Crossing the suspension bridge in San Sebastian


Everyone loves Aeden, everywhere we go. His hair is so “llamativo” and many people want to hold our smiley coloraito/ cano


Doing a photoshoot with friend Laura. Going to miss her so much! We always have fun together. And I have loved being her muse!

Tree-mendous!


Going away party for Laura and Kara


Receiving party (Hawaiian themed) for someone who got out of hospital with our neighbors


A normal day in Rincon -cows crossing the road and mangos falling from the sky


What a beautiful life!

Here’s our 8 month baby update video!

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Easter, Spring Time, Deck Rails, and More!

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The kiddo’s first Easter

We have had a busy few last weeks. We’ve been working on the farm with a lot of guests staying with us. We are in process of building the deck railings so that Aeden doesn’t fall off, clearing and planting more and keeping up with the flower orders. We also had a really nice Easter with friends and have generally been enjoying ourselves.


Fun times on Easter


The fam


More flowers for the garden. We’ll see how this rose grows.


Clearing more paths thru the gardens/jungle


Lots of mowing in the meadow area now that it’s raining more


Lots of flowers in bloom like these heliconias


And gingers


The iguanas are nuts! They keep eating our mulberries and hibiscus. Thankfully they don’t eat heliconias or gingers or we’d be really po’d


Britton has had some time with Aeden alone while I take a French class down by Lala’s beach/La Mojonera


You can’t take a French class and not get a glass du vin with your new copains!


Working on painting and installing the railings at the cabin


More rails! Like almost 200!


Cabin before rails

 
Working with Roberto on the install


Coming together nicely!


Torch ginger! One of my faves!


Walking through the jungle to the cabin in the rain


Parenting is a team effort! (Thanks Laura for this great picture)


Aeden is a joy to be with most of the time!


Sunset at Cofresi with the classic Pirata drinks!


And a ride in a golf cart


Sunsets over the Caribbean still don’t get old


Still working on the whole photogenic thing with Aeden -haha


He’s getting there though (and notice the rails coming along?)!


Our first avocado flower buds on trees we planted about 5/6 years ago! And a bee working on the quenepas! Could be a productive August/September!


Which is good, because Aeden is a comelon (likes to eat). Both breastmilk and baby food now!


Fun pool party at Keith and Linda’s boutique guesthouse (Casa D’Palma)


Our water baby, Aeden, was totally blissed out

   
Pomarrosas in bloom, Esperanza bug, hanging out in downtown Rincon


Farmer’s Market in Rincon every Sunday!


A Mariachi Singer in San Sebastian’s Pulguero (Random note: people seem to LOVE Mexican music here, there was so much cheering and “ay, ay, ay que viva Mexico” I had to laugh it was so fun!)


We saw a huge bee swarm as we were leaving the house. Good to see the bees are alive and well at least around here!


Aeden having fun steering the shopping cart at Selectos in Aguada


We took a ride in an old Model A from Missy’s neighbor, Gerardo! So fun!


Aeden didn’t know what was up!


Well that’s it for now! Chao with lovely plumerias in bloom once again

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Earthship PR on Earth Day

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Earthship PR in Aguada, Puerto Rico

I have heard about the Earthship in Aguada for some time, but haven’t had the chance to check it out until now. It has been a working apiary (TainaSoy/Chaparro Apiaro) but recently has transformed into something magical. The Earthship PR has a lot of potential as it is still in its infancy, but it was great to see the results in the making. Based on the biotechture Earthships of Taos New Mexico, the goal is for it to be a sustainably built (using tires, cans, bottles and other “trash”) community center that is completely off grid -water, electricity and food. At this point it has a basic working rainwater system, and a very minimal solar set up (one panel) and a small garden.


Derek and Matt led the discussion

But the coolest thing to me was the structure style and re-use of the colored glass bottles to make a stain-glass effect in the dome-like huts. It felt like we were in a movie/art set. The soft edges made it seem like we were in a fairy tale setting dancing under mushroom caps. From the vision of Eco-sustainability to the community engagement (it was built nearly all from volunteer labor) and just the sheer “cool factor” this place was a true inspiration of what can be possible with a little dream and a lot of elbow grease! Check out the video below for a full tour. The Earth Day event was also a lot of fun with bomba music, local artisans and food, and just a really chill, good vibe to help us appreciate how awesome it is to live on planet Earth!


Inside the first hut


Beautiful art work


Down by the river area people were set up hanging out, playing music

Aeden checking out the glass cut outs


Me, Derek and Matt on the tour

My friend Missy with her homemade soap using goat milk and beeswax from there


They are small Dome-like structures (maybe 10×10). I enjoyed the art on the walls


Lovely heliconias in bloom


And a lot of pineapples everywhere we looked!


From the backside -a work in progress!


How the dome structures are built- tires and a rebar cage dome filled with refuse and concrete


Goat on a rope


Open every Saturday -bring food, bring support, volunteer in whatever manner you can!


People on the tour during Earth Day


Me and Aeden down by the river/quebrada area


A special thanks to David White for filming this interview

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Around the Finca, Moca, Festival de Chinas, Isabela and More

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Aeden is too cool for photos

Whew. Lots to update. We have been doing a variety of projects around the farm including finding new plants and building a new staircase into the jungle. When we’re not working on the farm or cleaning or repairing the cabana or cabin, we go out into the world and try to find new adventures. We like to stay around the west side because we can make a day trip out of it and still get back by dark to keep to Aeden’s sleep schedule. Here are a few moments caught on camera recently.


Another beachy day in Rincon – Playa Lala is now a favorite here


Fun at Villa Cofresi with the babe

From eggs we came to eggs we sit


Isabela, PR with the moon and all


We filled one of our largest single orders of flowers!


I love making the bouquets

Aeden has many adoptive aunts and uncles like Carlos and Maribel from the market


Photo bombed by a cow and a bird 🙂


Cool church in Moca


Just chillin’, kickin’ back on Mom’s lap


Aeden’s making his mark! In the new cement stairs!


Lots of hard work!


Silly boys at the beach


First time in a swing! He’s getting so big!


He has even gone swimming, underwater!

And had his first real bath -in the kitchen sink!


Cool leaves on a plant. I think this is a rattlesnake flower


Our monstera plant fruited!


Immature and mature monstera fruit! Tasted like pineapple and banana with a slight bite. You have to be careful not to eat them immature or it will burn your mouth.

 


Our prettiest ginger yet!

 
The Festival de la China was a bit of a bust! Super rainy!


I thought it was funny they were selling oranges in onion bags though!


And I was amazed at the variety of oranges (and bananas) one can grow


Aloha! A fun day in Isabela


Britton and Aeden in Isabela


Family fun


Two cuties


“Still round the corner there may wait a new road or a secret gate”


This little guy melts my heart!


We walked this LOOONG boardwalk in Isabela -windy, hot and dry but very beautiful. Would be a great bike ride


Fun with friends from Colo. It’s weird to “remember when.” It seems so long ago now


This just happened. I always call him my little monster and then I saw this onesie at the flea market and I was wearing basically the same thing and then we ate at an El Meson that had this colored wall. Serendipity-do-dah!

Latest update from the farm about baby Aeden (on the new stairs!)

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