After the rain

Today the rain stopped. It has been raining since last wednesday, 

and torrential downpour without a break for the past three days.

Today we found a water world at the land, the cenote reached across the paths all the way through.

It was really beautiful and the children were in heaven.

Keenan sweetly thought he might help clear the path by pouring water with an empty yoghurt

container back into the cenote. 

 Ahh yes, and another crocodile was spotted yesterday by Abelardo, a bit smaller than the one we moved. So it seems that we will be dealing with these guys for quite some time, catch and release. 

And would you believe it Kaleena still went for a swim, a quick one close to the edge, but still...

She reasoned; "but we have swum here so many times and it seems they have been here all along and never bothered us" I told her to make sure to make a lot of noise and be extra aware.

(To think that I allowed it...... does that make me an irresponsible mama?)

~Update~
Yesterday I felt it was ok to allow Kaleena a quick dip in the cenote, today I feel different. 
Even if these are shy and timid crocodiles, even if locals in Belize are not too concerned about swimming in the rivers with this type of croc, even if these are freshwater crocs, even if they are unlikely to attack, even if they hunt mainly at night, even if there is plenty of food 
such as fish and the like in the cenote, 
even if we were probably swimming with them all along, 
even if the chance of an attack is actually minimal,
 I will not allow Kaleena nor Keenan to swim in the cenote for the time being.
I have also forgiven myself for allowing it yesterday:) 

 All the plants were in heaven...

 all of the papaya seedlings had grown extra leafs

 and the avocados as well, aren't they beautiful?

 To think that all you do is put the avocado seed, pointy side up, into some dirt and a little tree grows.

I know it is like that with all seeds of course, but I just so love to watch the process unfold, especially with such a big dense seed as the avocado (and mango as well), and then to think that in a few years, five or so, we will pick avocados from the trees we started from a seed.

 How about a bucket full of maggots?

The crew has moved to the back where they will have their own kitchen, dry toilet

and rooms. As we were cleaning out the kitchen in the front we came across this flooded compost bucket filled with maggots. Kaleena could not think of enough words to let us know how she felt about the sight. Either way we brought the soupy mix back to the chickens and they loved it!

This is excellent protein for them, so good in fact that Jose is in the process of making a maggot farm up against the outside wall of the chicken corral. Next week we will also add a red worm farm to the chicken area, here the idea is to feed the worms to the chickens and use the worm castings in the garden.  

 The rooster proudly prancing around keeping lookout, he ate a couple himself and like the perfect gentleman left the rest for the ladies

 He is such a lovely rooster, so friendly and lets the children hold him without any fuss, 

and he is so handsome:)

~Blessings~

The past week

Lots of activity on the Land this week. 

At the beginning of the week we did lots of transplanting of seedlings, all from seeds of fruits we have eaten, mostly avocado, mango and papaya. We also transplanted little tree saplings from The Royal Ponsienna that were growing crowded together in a small spot at the front of the land.

We planted the first mango tree on the land from a seed we sprouted when we first arrived.

We plan to grow as many fruit trees as we can reasonably fit. 

Already on the land before we arrived was about 40 citric trees, mandarines, 

sour oranges (huge in mexican cooking) sweet oranges, lemon and limes and a couple of other species.

Growing trees with deep tap roots such a the mango is a bit challenging here, as the depth of soil in any given area is very shallow. We have "breathers" all around, these are holes in the rock that open to the underground rivers and cenotes, and when we find small openings we plant trees such a mango here.

 Kaleena was very inspired, and planted many little plants that she plans to plant in an area around the house for her to take care of, her own garden as she says. 

Then we started clearing out this area which is right next to the kitchen, I plan to keep many different types of herbs here. So far we have added sweet basil, the local basil variety, and a few varieties of mint, also 6 larger papaya trees and also some chaya cuttings gifted to us by a friend( as of yet I do not know much of this plant, only that it is well loved here and considered very nutritious).

 Later once I have more things sprouted I will also add medicinal herbs, 

tomatoes and other culinary herbs. 

 Keenan was a great help with his wheel barrow, he is such a good worker!!

 Even though surely it looks hot, it is hard to appreciate from a picture how insanely hot it is working in this intense heat. This particular day left me with a splitting headache that whole night.

To make sure that we drink enough liquid is essential and still it 

wears you out unlike anything I have ever experienced. 

It is a must to get into the shade every so often to bring the body heat just a bit lower.

Once we had removed the weeds we added a layer of mulch from the cenote and then a thick layer of 

cenote sediments, I will add some compost and finish off with a layer of bark mulch collected from all the trees used in the construction.

 The next day we were fortunate to have some heavy rains, 

and it was a welcome relief to work wet and cool.

 Far from done, but already so much nicer looking...

Yesterday a new rooster arrived to the land, the old one was not doing his job properly. 

The rooster plays an important role in the keeping of the flock, he protects them and leads them to their roosting sticks at night, a good rooster will also bring food to all his ladies, a true gentleman.

 Also we wanted to diversify the blood lines and last week 10 new hens arrived.

The new hens and the new rooster were kept for the day in the new, beautifully constructed hen house, 

 to get acquainted.

Isn't he a handsome rooster, so beautiful and really friendly.

The hen house is so lovely, I really like how it came out, complete with roosting sticks and all.

There is a little door that allows them out to the grazing area. 

There are three grazing area between which they alternate.

As of yet, I know very little about the art of keeping chickens, but I am looking forward to learn all I can.

 And so as the old rooster was no longer needed he became food for us.

Neither Keenan nor Kaleena have ever seen and animal killed as such before, and both were fascinated, though both also wanted to save the poor creature.

Considering that we are currently eating some meat in our diet, I think it is a valuable lesson for the children to see and to know how the animal is killed, it puts eating meat in a different perspective than for example just picking it up in meat department of the super market.

As I was working in the garden this praying mantis came around and as I was taking a picture of him he started attacking with his front legs, so alien these creatures, and quite aggressive, I was surprised at his courage considering how big even my hand is compared to him.

 In the back of the land the water is slowly receding.

It is currently much like a wet meadow, filled with wild flowers and many birds and insects.

It is lovely and so peaceful, and Kaleena says she will spend lots of time there when 

we live on the land.

We are thinking that it will make the most sense to leave it a somewhat wild place, but allowing for human access, perhaps by an elevated wooden pathway to the center of the laguna, with a small deck a hammock or a comfy chair, a perfect spot for bird watching.

In the dry season we will find a different use for it.

 The same thoughts have been occurring to us about the cenote.

Rather than to clean the entire cenote we thought we might keep parts of it wild.

We are hoping that we can create some kind of walkway into the grassy area, 

with perhaps some kind of observation deck/area. 

There are the possibilities of creating little connecting islands through the big trees already there.

We shall see how we do, but the point being that we think it better to allow for wilderness with access to safely experience this wilderness. Then tame other areas for human living and enjoyment.

Creating a nice balance of allowing for nature to be, while also allowing for humans to safely enjoy!

We humans have such a tendency to come in and take over, such as cleaning out the entire cenote, removing all the sediments to allow for a crystal clear pristine swimming hole.

The more we thought about it the less it made sense, 

we will still have a pristine clear swimming hole, just smaller.

Loving the organic process of observing the place, really watching nature and then allowing for things to unfold slowly and naturally. 

 We moved Kaleena's school to the shady area by the cenote and considering that it was the first week I think it went alright, we did have a bit of catching up to do today though.

I went back to somewhat following a Waldorf curriculum.

I like how they present basic grammar through animal fables while at the same time 

learning about the animals and human behavior.

And I really appreciate how this approach catches Kaleena's attention.

 Meanwhile Keenan finds plenty to do, life on the Land is truly right up his alley.

He finds so many tasks to imitate, it is a joy to observe.

Well that was a long post, thanks for staying with me for this long, I would have broken it up, 

but found no time during the week to post.

~Blessings~