What to do?
24 March 2008
A nice part of being a coffee farmer is that every day is different. I
woke up this morning and tried to decide what needed to be done.
There's a whole long list of things to choose from. There are at least
a half dozen projects already started that need to be finished.
I've already spent several days planting baby trees but there are still
several dozen trees to go. Actually, there are a couple hundred trees
to go, nearly a thousand if you include replanting the macadamia nut
orchard. Several dozen is enough for now though, we already have those
holes dug and the others will have to wait until later, maybe next
year. I looked at the baby trees waiting to be planted, even took a
picture of them, I just can't find the energy to actually plant them.
Maybe tomorrow.
The next project on the list is pouring some concrete. I've already
ordered a fancy new pulper and I'm trying to get ready for it.
Foundation work, plumbing, electricity and a roof all need to be built
before the pulper can be installed. I got out my cement mixer, got
everything set up and ready to go, then realized I had less than a half
bag of cement left. When mixing cement, it's important to have
everything ready to go ahead of time then get it all done in a single
shot. Stopping a cement job in the middle is not good. So I hauled
the cement mixer back under cover and put everything away. I don't
want to go in town just for cement. Maybe tomorrow.
February and March are pruning months in Kona coffee country. It's
important to get all the trees pruned before the April rains bring a
new bloom for next year's crop. Most of our pruning is done but
pruning is just the first step. The next step is feeding all the
pruned branches through the chipper. The chipper is working fairly
well this year, it's only broken once so far, but I spent all day
yesterday chipping and I'm too tired to do it again today. Plus, it
looks like rain. Maybe tomorrow.
Our plumbing is getting old. It wasn't very well installed in the
first place and I've been meaning to redo it all for years now. The
plumbing needs to be redone for the new pulper anyways so I'll redo
everything while I'm at it. I drew up a schematic and purchased all
the parts, now I just have to put it all together. I know better than
to do plumbing on a Sunday though. Plumbing is best done on a Monday
when all the plumbing stores are open. Since I'll probably be busy
tomorrow, I think I'll put off the plumbing for a couple days.
Another project that's been put off for far too long now is a Kona
Earth sign for our driveway. I have several ideas of what I want to
do, I've even started some of the work. I'm not convinced the sign is
going to come out as nice as I'd like so I'm going to think about it a
bit more first. Maybe the day after the day after tomorrow.
I finished the taxes a couple days ago, that should count for
something. Uncle Sam and the state of Hawaii both have big, fat checks
coming their way. I hope they spend the money wisely, I had to work
hard for that money.
Oooo, it smells like Valerie is making cookies. I think I better go
have a spoonful of cookie dough, for quality control purposes of
course. Cookie dough and tall glass of milk, that should be enough
work for today. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.
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