Monthly Archives: May 2016

Belize, Farming, Food, Plants

Cutting, Mulching And Planting!

Together.Tank.Top

Phew!!  We’ve been busy on the farm.  Gnome has been cutting and clearing whilst I’ve been mulching around the trees.  We have been in Belize for long  enough to know that the rains are coming soon so we are trying to get things down before the big down-pour!

Spot The Gnome:

Clearing Grass.
Clearing Grass.

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

Mulch!!
Mulch!!
Mulch.
Mulch.

Planting Sorghum; originally we planted this for beer making but we have now decided to plant it as a food crop.

Planting Sorghum Seedlings.
Planting Sorghum Seedlings.

Sorghum is a tasty, nutty grain rich in protein (higher than corn), B Vitamins and manganese.  The fresh grain can be harvested and boiled for about 15 minutes to provide a nutritious cereal.  Can be consumed by man or beast.

Cooked Sorghum.
Cooked Sorghum.

Ohhhhh!!!  We are soooo tired….

Knackered!!
Knackered!!
Amusing, Belize, Pets

Gnome Paradise Resorts.

The High Velocity Cleansing Power of Sulphur.

Reserve the Ultimate Gnome Paradise Resorts now!  Nestled in the Maya Mountains of Toledo with stunning roof top vista views, you can’t beat the maximal velocity feeling of “I’ve made it.”  Coco-Prune Resorts…the Best Resort for the discerning guinea pig.  Check out the New-Look Condos…compact luxury for an easy-living life-style.

Luxury Condos.
Luxury Condos.
Coco-Prune Superb Vistas.
Coco-Prune Superb Vistas.

Gnome Coco-Prune Resorts: The Better Way to Get-a-Way.  New Spa and Yoga on site soon!!

We have to have Yoga!!

Strike.a.Pose.Piggies

Belize, Our Products, Soap

Artisan Clay Sandalwood Soaps.

Everyone always asks us which soaps are our favourite.  Artisan Clay Sandalwood Soaps are our choice soaps; in fact we make a whole batch just for ourselves.  These are made from coconut oil and the lovely violet clays of Bladen.  For more ordering details and product information check out The Apothecary.

Beautiful Clay Colours.
Beautiful Clay Colours.

Check out The Gallery:

Clay Sandalwood Soaps.
Clay Sandalwood Soaps.
Clay Sandalwood Soaps.
Clay Sandalwood Soaps.
Artisan Clay Soaps.
Artisan Clay Soaps.
Artisan Clay Soaps.
Artisan Clay Soaps.

What a lovely colour and the swirls came out nicely!!  So pleased with them.

Belize, Farming, Our Products, Plants

New Casa Mascia Product!

Lime Sulphur Fungicide Treatment.
Lime Sulphur Fungicide Treatment.

We are pleased to announce that we have a new product: Lime-Sulphur Fungicide For All Plants.   This is an organic product indicated for the treatment of plant fungus.   For more product details and usage directions click on the link.

This is available at The Farm Store in Punta Gorda, Toledo.  If you live outside this region, you can check out ordering information in The Apothecary.

Combat the fungus with Lime-Sulphur Fungicide For All Plants.  If you can’t remember the name, just ask for Presidente No.2!!

Organic Fungicide.
Organic Fungicide.
Belize, Our Products, Soap

Copal Resin.

Together.Perspective

Hello There.  We are have been cleaning up copal blocks to use the resin to make soap, ointment and medicinal oil.  These are the blocks which you purchase at PG market:

Fresh Copal Blocks.
Fresh Copal Blocks.
Fresh Raw Copal.
Fresh Raw Copal.

Copal resin is tapped from the Copal tree (Protium copal) which is a tree indigenous to Belize.  It is most commonly used as incense; to use: break off pieces of copal and burn on hot coals.  It has an earthy resinous smell which is very aromatic.  Copal has also been used as a medicine by the ancient Maya for the treatment of skin ailments.  We process the copal to remove all the gunk (leaves, bark, flies and all).  This is the trash that you get out of the blocks…

Copal Trash
Copal Trash

We use the refined resin to make our copal products.  Our copal products are recommended for rash, itch, insect bites and they can also be used as a natural anti-septic and anti-fungal.  Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, Copal Medicinal Oil can be used an external rub for muscle-ache and arthritis.

Copal Products:

Copal Medicinal Soap.
Copal Medicinal Soap.
Copal Medicinal Ointment.
Copal Medicinal Ointment.
Copal Medicinal Oil.
Copal Medicinal Oil.

If you are interested in reading more about Copal, click on the link.  For more product information, click on The Apothecary.

Amusing, Belize, Farming, Food, Plants

Good Time To Harvest Roots.

Together.Eating.Fire.PotThe dry season in Belize is a great time to harvest roots.  We have been pulling up cassava from our beds.  Each plant has been giving us a generous 10lbs (5kg) of root.  Cassava requires immediate processing because it tends to go off after 1 or 2 days.  We usually peel a whole load of them in one go, boil them and then store them in the freezer.

Cleaning Cassava.
Cleaning Cassava.

This is food security:

Peeled Cassava.
Peeled Cassava.

This time we had a surprise harvest.  Gnome called me out to the veranda and said,

“Surprise!!  I found three brains for you!”

Gnome.Smiling

He was of course referring to these; elephant foot yam which we have humourously coined “The Brain.”

Triple Brain.
Triple Brain.

More Food!!

Amusing, Belize

Zazen Duckies Are Not Convinced!

Together

So what’s happening with the Zazen Duckies in the Zen Garden?  They’ve been giving Mayor Gnome the “Duckie Look” for weeks.

Duckie Look.
Duckie Look.

Mayor Gnome has made a valiant attempt to ignore these enquiring looks for fear of confrontation.  But alas, it seems that our spiritual duckies are winning out on this staring competition.  He finally broken down and asked them:

“What’s the matter duckies?”

Gnome.Thinking

Spokesduckie:  “Mayor Gnome!  We are embarrassed by your weak ploys and foolish manipulation to get us into those concrete monstrosities.”

Mayor Gnome:  “Oh, you mean the laying nests which I built for you to strict ISO building standards?”

Spokesduckie:  “Yes.  Do you honestly think that we would lay eggs in them?”

Mayor Gnome:  “Well, yes.  What’s wrong with them?”

Spokesduckie:  “There have ping pong balls in them!”

Mayor Gnome: “They are supposed to be fake eggs!”

Fake Eggs.
Fake Eggs.

Spokesduckie: “Well you certainly didn’t fool us!”

Mayor Gnome: “So you’re not convinced?”

Spokesduckie: “Mayor Gnome…they have “Halux 40″ written on them?”

Mayor Gnome: “Oh.”

Mayor Gnome: Unsure.

“Sorry!!!”

Amusing, Belize, Farming, Food, Plants

Definitely Habaneros.

Munchkin.BossieYip, these are most definitely habaneros.  A while back, I wanted to plant Jalapeños and bought a seed packet imported from the States.  When the first lot of leaves started coming out, I had some doubts because they were heart-shaped rather than elongated.  Nevertheless, Gnome told me to be patient and I waited a bit longer.  The plants started flowering and then I watched the formation of the fruits with great anticipation.  All this time, I kept on think to myself…

“Hmmmm…..”

Munchkin.Confused

Gnome: “My dear…be patient!”

Gnome.Straight.Smile

Well, there’s not denying it!  They are definitely habaneros!!

Red habaneros.
Red habaneros.

They are still nice and I do like the red colour of these habaneros.  Okay…back to looking for some real jalapeño seeds!

Amusing, Belize, Farming, Food, Plants

Surprise Sesame Seed Plants!

New.Munchkin.Gnome.Yellow.Boots

A while back, I bought some sesame seeds from the market in Punta Gorda.  It was sold in a thin plastic bag and when I got back home, I just placed the bag on the shelf in the kitchen.  I am one of those messy types of cooks with a plethora of bags and containers of raw ingredients placed on my kitchen shelf for easy access.

The next morning I found the bag ripped open with tell-tale cat teeth marks on the bag.

Our cat has a predilection for all food in plastic bags; this is because once he found beef jerky in a plastic bag and since then he will attempt to chew through all plastic bags in the hope of finding beef jerky.

Some of the sesame seeds had spilled on the floor so I quickly vacuumed it with my little companion Eureka.  The cat had scarpered by then and there was no hope of getting him to clean it up!

Eureka Is The One On The Left.
Eureka Is The One On The Left.

Thinking that it was just organic waste, I emptied the contents of vacuum cleaner into a nearby plant pot.  And look what I’ve got 3 months later…surprise sesame seed plants!

Sesame Seed Plants.
Sesame Seed Plants.

Looks like it is an easy crop to grow…will probably harvest this lot to plant on the farm.

Belize

An Evening Out.

Liqueur.Tasting.TogetherYes, Shock! Horror!  We left our comfortable nest in the bush to go out for the evening.  We went to Belcampo for Green Drinks with some friends.  The scenery up there is spectacular; sipping on an ice cold drink whilst watching the sunset is certainly a pleasant experience!

Belcampo Bar.
Belcampo Bar.

Duckie and Tim were in top form:

Duckie and Tim.
Duckie and Tim.

The display at the bar is nice with all the greens from their garden.  This is Tim making a drink for me!

Tim At The Bar.
Tim At The Bar.

It was a great excuse to go out and it gave us the chance to dress up…Gnome’s mother had sent us some lovely new clothes (nice stuff…not our usual farm attire).