aloha

Of course, this is pretty big news since I had said I'd be staying on the Bamboo Farm for the whole six months I was in Hawaii.  I made it 2.5 weeks before I said my farewells.  Pretty much, it turned into drama-central with the owners kicking out two of the other WWOOFers.  It was beginning to feel like a reality tv show, where my friends were slowly getting eliminated from the game.  Then in the same day, I got "talked at" for about 30 minutes regarding cleanliness in the communal kitchen, etc.  Frustration ensued.

I had found a blog a few months ago, written by a couple, Ashley & Joel, who were going to be at the Bamboo Farm.  They had left before I had arrived, but I searched their blog again to see if they had mentioned anything about their experience at the farm and if what I was dealing with was typical.  They didn't mention anything about leaving the farm, but they had written something about their last farm being horrible.  And went on to say: "that is the magic of the WWOOFer program... that when you aren't getting what you want, you just pluck up your courage and leave!"

That was last night.  This morning I woke up, wide awake at 6 am, and my first thought was, "This isn't going to work."  The opportunities I was going to have with the owners regarding learning sustainability and writing grants, was not worth it feeling like I was going to have to walk on eggshells constantly and say goodbye to new friends on a bi-weekly basis.  So I pulled out my WWOOFer booklet.  By 7 am I had a guy respond - he could pick me up for a tour later in the day.  By 9:15 the lady in charge called a meeting that ended with me in frustrated tears.  By 10:30, my new hero and boss, John, rolled up in his truck where I threw all my belongings in the back.  I gave Sean a big hug and instructions to say goodbye to all my friends.  I didn't even tell the owners I was leaving.  Or the lady I was supposed to clean for.  I just... evaporated.  And it feels so good.

Here comes the crazy part.  Guess who John's other WWOOFers are.  None other than Ashley & Joel, who, as it turns out were supposed to be on the Bamboo farm for 6+ months.  They lasted 5 weeks.  We've spent the afternoon comparing stories, peeling coffee beans, and reveling in the newfound paradise we have at John's farm.

Unfortunately, the Bamboo Farm was not a farm at all, rather a sustainable retreat with immature gardens throughout.  It was not a place to learn about sustainable agriculture, rather a place to teach yourself.  What John has going is amazing - he's been studying permaculture since the early 80s.  He has fruit trees and huge vegetable plants.  (Today I tried lilikoi (passionfruit) and pepino dolce (like a mini-melon) for the first time, right off the vine.  Then I ate 2 papayas because they are just begging to be eaten.)  He has tons of books and experience.  He has chickens that are so happy, he's got Ashley & Joel, life-long vegans, eating their eggs.  And free range ducks that follow you in a line when you carry the bucket of food around.  He makes Chocolate Avocado pudding that is freaky-delicious and made from avocados he grows on his land.  I am going to learn so much.  And even better, I'm going to eat so well.  The WWOOFers here say they haven't been to a grocery store since they arrived here about a month ago.

Pretty much, this is how you'd imagine working on an organic farm to be.  And the place we stay is a two bedroom house, which was recently built.  I go from gecko-shit covered cottage to having a comfortable bed with a view of the ocean and chickens laying my breakfast eggs out the back door.

So when John came on a rescue mission this morning, he said he'd give me a place to stay for at least a few weeks.  He has had a bunch of cancellations, so it seems like it's up to me to see if the vibe is right.  From my experience at the Bamboo Farm, I know not to get too settled anywhere.  But if first impressions mean anything, I forsee a happy partnership on this farm.

It's pretty cool, because within a span of 6 hours today, I completely changed my situation from a shitty one, to one where as I write this my new housemates are making me vegan chocolate cupcakes with fresh papaya frosting.  I feel more and more like using my intuition and my feelings to steer me on this adventure totally works.  The vibes were bad at the Bamboo Farm, so I just... left.  I can keep in touch with my friends I made there and now get started learning permaculture here.  Pretty amazing how simple life can be.

Today has been a settling in day, but I'll take pictures soon of my new beautiful Hawaiian locale.  Plus a friend I made in Honolulu is now in Maui, so I think I'll be venturing to Lahaina to see her this weekend, and then maybe to a Hawaiian festival celebrating in the ocean.