Living healthy

This week we have been busy assessing the wonders of HVL. So many fresh fruits grow naturally here!  On the property there are Avocados, peaches, lemons, limes, tamarindo (sweet oranges), and others we have yet to identify..
​It inspired us to see what we might grow in the island gardens. 
On the island there is a garden shed, with ample water, a huge passion fruit vine, a ghost pepper bush (it's prolific but I've been scared to try them) an enormous rosemary bush and several lovely floral plants. There have been garden beds there in the past and we thought we could revive them this year. We intend to be able to grow most of our own food for the property, and provide healthy organic goods to our guests and neighbors.  
Quinn and I planted carrots, beans, melons, tomatoes, onions, summer squash, corn, spinach, watermelon, pineapples, and sweet peppers. They went crazy in the rich soil here! Viable sprouts in four days. 

The soil is composted matter from the property.  We added ash to it, but nothing else. The locals say to add bones to our compost and it will act like a 'Miracle Grow', but we don't have a lot of bones laying around (thankfully!).
The sprouts inspired us to get to work on the cleaning up the garden shed. Its the rainy season still, but the mornings are beautiful, so we spent several hours each morning working on the island.   

This week we will be planting seeds for Cilantro, cucumber, zucchini, golden berries, and various other herbs.  
Fresh organic foods make such a difference in how food tastes!  We cant wait to be providing our guests, family and friends food we have grown from start to finish. 
I like to call Dave a 'Culinary Engineer'. He makes the most amazing meals. Lately, he has been experimenting with baking. The flour here is different, as is the altitude ( 6700-7000 feet!) so it has been a process to get the correct time, temp and humidity for good baking.  So far, he has made bagels, croissants, and various bread loafs. This week, he is working on a sour dough start, as we have been told that sour dough does very well here. 

Thanks to all who have commented on the blog!  I appreciate the feedback, Please don't hesitate to ask about anything you're curious about at Hush Valley, we are happy to answer if we can.  I intend to release the blog every Monday, should the internet God's allow it.  :-)  Lastly, if you haven't seen it, Quinn has his blog available at www.thecostaricakid.weebly.com.  He works so hard on his little blog, and has so much to say. Check it out!