Ok, so we’re back now and coming back, it has occurred to me how crazy and different life is here.
Take my garden experience for an example. I decided that I would be a bit more dedicated in my vegetable garden here for two reasons:
a) locals who sell produce at the market often use a lot of chemical sprays without restraint and I don’t want Theresa eating that kind of thing
b) because of the climate, plants that grow in the Solomons grow real well, so I don’t really have an excuse. It’s too easy, really.
So on Saturday I weeded the garden and on Monday I went down to the Kastom Gaden Association with Karen to buy some seedlings. So we bumped along the road, carefully rolled over this log bridge, hearing the creaking and groaning of the timber underneath and we were desperately hoping that it wouldn’t give way. We did a 3 point turn on the narrow road to park in the shade next to the gate for the Kastom Gaden. Karen knew one of the guys that worked there so he took us to the “punnets” of cabbage, by punnets I mean wooden boxes about 50cmx50cm full of beautiful lush Solomon grown potting mix (which is made of ground dried coconut husks, sand and soil) and up to 40 little seedlings. They cost SBD$30.00 for a punnet which is about $5 NZ. So Karen and I chose the punnet that we would go halves on, except that when the lady who sells them came, we found out that it wasn’t for sale. In fact, all the punnets had been sold. Thanks for telling me sooner.
But good news, the neighbours of the Kastom Gaden, also have a nursery. So we wandered to their place, past the passionfruit vine (I WANT ONE!!! But, again they’re not for sale) and then we went about choosing our punnets. Well the neighbours had a lot more variety, so we chose a punnet of coriander, one of bok choi and one of lettuce. But when we went to pay, we came across a number of problems. They don’t sell the herbs, because they don’t have seeds for them so they’re keeping them. Also, at this place, you’ve got to bring your own punnet to bring them home. Well, Karen and I tried to convince them that we could take the punnet home and then bring it straight back, but the rule was the rule. We were a bit stuck until they came up with the idea of just putting them in plastic bags for us. So that’s what they did. They even found an old crumpled up cardboard box and then the guy who seemed to be in charge, dutifully put all our seedlings in the box and the bags.
We paid and went on the bumpy road home again. The seedlings even survived the journey. I put mine under the house until later that day when I could plant them in the cool of the evening.
Oh, that’s right, another thing that’s different, the houses are all raised, partly, to protect them from flood waters, but also, in my opinion, because it’s cool underneath the house, and locals often spend much of their time under the house in hammocks, rather than sweating sitting inside.
Later on after my seedlings were planted, I made little banana leaf shelters for them to protect them from the harsh Solomon sun. These shelters will cover them until the banana leaf withers away and the plants are firmly rooted in the ground and can grown without the shade.
Then I found something to eat for dinner – a long Chinese eggplant. Yum.
