Last week I posted this picture of some tropical fruits we harvested from the farm and asked for guesses:
Some of you did quite well.
Here are the answers:
Thus far I’ve found the following edibles growing on our property:
Acerola cherry, Avocado, Banana (many), Breadfruit, Breadnut, Cacao (many), Cashew, Cecropia, Cinnamon, Citrus (many various trees), Coconut, Coffee, Grapes, Guava, Hog plum, Jackfruit, June plum, Katuk, Lychee, Malay apple, Mango (many), Moringa, Nutmeg, Papaya, Passionfruit, Plantain (many), Purple mombin, Rambutan, Soursop, Star apple, Sugar apple, Tamarind, Wax apple
Interestingly, many of these fruit trees (cacao excepted) were planted around the same time I was planting my now-sold property up in North Florida. We’ve actually managed to acquire a piece of land at a similar level of development to our old homestead; however, trees produce faster and in greater quantity down here. Not a day goes by that we aren’t harvesting fruit of some sort.
I haven’t been able to find out if macadamia nuts are growing on any farms here, but I’ll bet they are somewhere I haven’t seen yet. That would be a great tree to add.
Here are some more photos from around the property. First, a look at part of the banana grove:
There are quite a few more bananas planted further down the mountain but I didn’t feel like walking all the way down the slope with my camera.
Here are some shots of the cocoa orchard:
We’ve already had some hot chocolate from the cocoa growing on the farm and I’m drying out more right now:
It’s not really cocoa season at the moment, but there are ripe pods scattered here and there through the orchard.
There’s also a massive breadfruit tree behind the house with plenty of almost-ripe fruit on it:
Soon, soon!
By the back of the house is a jackfruit tree. I’ll post more on jackfruit later this week, but for now let me just say it’s a really delicious fruit as well as being a relative of the mulberry… just a lot, lot bigger!
The children cannot wait for those fruit to ripen!
Anyhow, that’s enough writing for today. I’ve got to get outside and starting planting pigeon peas.
34 responses to “A few pictures from the new homestead”
How about large snakes and spiders. Have you seen any of those? :-)
Surprisingly, so far I’ve seen 100% less of both than I did in Florida.
So you’re not in Florida at all any more? I don’t think it gets mountainous further south…
We’ve checked out some places here and there, visited Redlands and Homestead, went over to Naples, St. Augustine, Ft. Myers, around Ft. Lauderdale… no place in the state has as much freedom as the countries nearer the equator, so we figured what the heck… you only live once!
…but, is there a Covenant community?
@Jeff – yes, indeed. They’re not OPC like us, but we’ve joined a Reformed Baptist church with a very theologically sound pastor and have been welcomed despite our baby-baptizing ways. They were low on members and said they were praying for us even before we arrived. That was a big answer to prayer for us – I really wouldn’t want to be without a church. (Hopefully that’s what you were asking.)
If they’re theologically sound and only liberal with water…then Praise God. Bloom where you’re planted. Blessings.
Right on.
Lucky you!! I wish my spouse was adventurous enough to live outside of the US. You do only live once, enjoy your new adventure! We all will enjoy living vicariously through your posts. Since it looks like there’s a location pool, I’m wagering you’re in Costa Rica.
Thank you, Rachel. I have to know – are you the same Rachel I met at my talk in Gainesville when I brought plants to the Presbyterian church?
I am :) Hi!
You were quite an encouragement to me when I gave that talk and you came over afterwards to say you read my site daily – thanks. I think of you often. “What would Rachel like to read today?” ;)
No mango trees? I know you’ll be fixing that soon enough!
Heh. Actually, there are about 16 of them. Piles of fruit on the counter right now… and the season is just starting.
Awesome, you’re in paradise. Happy for for you guys. Looking forward to hearing about your adventures.
Thank you.
Mountain! Toto, I don’t think we’re in Florida anymore!
Maybe it’s just a huge landfill?
Awesome.
No more challenge in gardening :-)
I know. It’s like cheating.
WOW!
I didn’t realize there were boulders like that there, I expected maybe some lava rock like on Guam, but it looks like you have some large boulders in the cocoa orchard.
Hmm, Making us guess huh – I spent a lot of time in that area back in the day. I’m thinking it looks a lot like some areas of CR I’ve been through and they allow personal freedom when it comes to self-defense. Could be N. Panama around Boquette (great coffee) but the laws there aren’t as friendly. Hondo comes to mind as they are a pretty much mind your own business place. Belize would also fit well plus you could speak English. Likewise about 6 Islands I could name that are far enough off the tourist routes that you can still buy land there.
This could take awhile :)
I bet the children are having an absolute blast exploring it all with you!! How lucky you all are to have this wonderful opportunity & adventure, so very happy you made it there safe & sound! I will update folks at the 326.
Much love to everyone!!!
Looks like your years of survival gardening & self reliance skills are going to come handy now.
Looking forward to following you on the new adventures.
Wish you & the family all the best!
Craig
So, are you going to start a mail order business soon so that we can order nutmeg, cocoa, moringa, etc. ?
I’m tempted. It’s not easy getting plants into the US, though.
I’d be happy to buy the spices and seeds!
David, it looks like you found a cross between Eden and Heaven. I am looking forward to what you will share from this new chapter of your life. Also glad that you found a church for you and your family. (being opc are you familiar with Greg Bahnsen?)
My mulberry tree is producing right now and it has been fun sharing the fruit with friends at church and work. Most have no idea what it is that I am giving them. Some have asked for cuttings to give it a go themselves. That’s a good feeling to know that some people are giving new things a try.
No, I had to look Bahnsen up. Sounds like he was a great guy.
Good work with the mulberry. Most people I’ve shared them with can’t believe how good they are… and many go on to plant their own trees.
David can you pls share your email ID or phone number pls. I am a BIG BIG lover of breadfruit and want to have some. I am in Texas. Anyway I can get them?
No, not possible – I live in Central America.
So there is no way of shipping them :(
No – the regulations are impossible. You might have luck hunting online, though. Someone has to have the proper permits inside the US.