Baupal Park Farm My Organic Odyssey

23 Jan 2018

Good morning everyone. Time to get stuck back into work and OMG do I have some work to catch up on here too. The trip home had a few issues but I wont bother you with those here. All in all though the trip was fantastic and I have learnt so much. The course itself was the Level 2 Competency course in Korean Natural Farming, which means I can now make all the organic solutions competently. There is also a certification process included which means photographing every solution upon return from home and documenting them to a website for verification by instructors. So the whole process is very well organised and validated. Having arrived home very early on Friday morning to the farm, I got stuck in to making up new Lactobacilus solutions from Saturday morning. Now have my fourth one brewing and already applying it out to selected sick trees in orchards.

Inoculated rice water and milk solution

Solution after 24 hours at room temperature

Finished strained lactobacillus solution
 

So this is the lactobacillus solution which is used as a means to super boost the amount of good bacteria in the soil. Effectively its making curds and whey from milk with the rice water as the starter culture. It can apparently be used to treat mild cases of food poisoning as well. Its a process of attrition in the natural environment. Good bacteria out performing the bad. At the moment I am spraying this onto soil of sick trees in combination with OHN and FPJ. (Read back to earlier posts to find out about them). Combined together these create a super charged maintenance solution for the soil.

The course was conducted in the region of Papaikou, which is about 15 minute drive north of Hilo township, on the farm belonging to Mr Eric Drake Weinert. Eric ran the course as he is one of the KNF instructors for Cho Global Natural Farming. And what an amazing course it was. Sitting in his open air barn each day between the pigs and the chickens, on long wooden benches, we were taken step by step through the solutions and how to make them.

 

And then we did have a field trip away from the farm to view the action of microbes in the volcanic environment. This was absolutely fascinating and clearly demonstrated the power these little beauties have to soil creation. Without them the volcanic rock would essentially remain dormant and fail to thrive.

The lava plug as seen in Volcanic National Park Sunday 15 Jan 18

Observing how the fern adapts to growing in hostile conditions

Eventual moss covering the lava rock shelfs in symbiosis with bacteria

A visit to the local markets was always going to happen for me, being the farmer chick that I am. Especially to view the local fruit and vegetables on sale, always interesting to see what other locations grow and sell. The tropical fruit of course was amazing, but some of the local artefacts were pretty outstanding as well.

Glossy beautiful red onions

Cassava? I think

Visits to some of the regions Macadamia factories has spurred me along with some ideas for the farm here...a small shortbread biscuit kitchen maybe? Anyway we bought up a load of samples and shipped them back for later snacking. My hand luggage which was all I travelled with, was not going to fit those on board.

 

Ok yes I did get that emergency text message about the Ballistic missile...
"....Incoming Ballistic Missile, this is not a drill."
Interestingly enough all I did was go back to reading my book......(better get dressed....don't wish to be found naked in building rubble!!?)

Then about 30 minutes later (after I got dressed) the stand down text came. Apparently some idiot pushed the wrong button....