When we left Arkansas at the beginning of 2018, we left behind our rural lifestyle. We learned so much through trial and error. I always dreamed of having the Little House on the Prairie lifestyle. What resulted from my learning were many ‘funny farm’ stories.
The days of chasing chickens that escaped their enclosure. The night before our daughter was born, I remember laughing hysterically as I was running about the yard trying to catch the 30 or so escapees (chickens). All the while, my husband was under the house trying to roust out the hens that were hiding in the cool shade away from me.
“Am I really doing this 9 months pregnant, the night before I am scheduled to give birth, in the heat of the July Arkansas summer?” Thank goodness no one could see me! I liked to learn the hard way.
The joy of awaking to find a hen nesting on a clutch of eggs in my hanging flower basket. Learning to milk goats while training them to stand still and not kick over the milk bucket. Our days on that small homestead are a beautiful memory that we each cherish. Three years later, we now have the exciting privilege of starting a small, urban homestead in Hawaii on the island of O’ahu!
Our Urban Hawaiian Homestead
It won’t involve a 10 acre parcel of land, not even a quarter of an acre. We will be living in an old plantation style house on a small urban lot with mature fruit trees. No, I won’t be milking goats again, but am excited to tend a mature landscape full of fruit. The lot has a couple of established mango trees, a small white peach tree, a pomegranate tree, lilikoi vines, Suriname cherry bushes, a mandarin orange tree and Kona coffee bush. They have been neglected for a time and will require some tender care to be productive again. Yet, I am excitedly awaiting the process of caring for and learning about each variety. I can already taste the flavors on my tongue and see the vibrant colors in my minds eye. I can’t wait to share each day with you!
