Wassup?

Wassup? was Originally Posted on July 27, 2005 by lavarock

Wassup? is a common pidgin expression in the islands meaning “What’s up?”

Over the years I’ve enjoyed many TV shows, which were based upon reality. I think some were more real than others, but once you stick a camera in someone’s face, their whole attitude may change. Then again, with careful editing the whole story may differ from the facts.

That appears to be what happened with my favorite episode of Trading Spouses. The idea is that two completely different families trade their Mother for a week. Each family experiences a different slant on life.

Because I have not yet read all of the comments on the one family involved, I would rather direct you thoer website and let you read things first hand. I posted a few messages and also described how I learned about editing first hand with a satellite TV news feed. Anyway, head on over to http://www.centertao.org/ts/ I realize that people who have not seen the show will not understand the basis of this families complaint over editing, but there are some pretty interesting examples of TV editing on the site.

As for me, I have been working on websites for people. One site has only needed a few hours work to bring it online, but the owner just cannot find time to load the products in. Hopefully we can get that solved this week.

Also, I have been creating press releases and newspaper ads for the 2nd Annual Cream of the Crop coffee tasting event on August 6th. Last year I won one of the 1st place awards!

I have lots of projects especially here on the farm, which are not getting done. That will have to change soon. I think once I stop giving away free website help and the event is pau (finished) I can get some needed things done here.

One item is the grubbing permit. I can’t begin to clear the middle area and prepare it for coffee until I have a permit. One neighbor has some concerns that I may cause some soil to enter the swale (a shallow depression that carries water away during a rainstorm). I’m looking around and don’t see much “soil” that could cause problems and besides, the clearing I’ll be doing is nowhere near the swale, but I’ll meet with the neighbor and see what’s up.

I am ready to start my new coffee plants and I think I’ll start them from seed rather than plants. This saves money considering that coffee plants could be costing $5 and up and in total I need 5,000 plus perhaps 10 or 20% extra in case of problems. Because I’ll be pruning with B.F. method, I will only need to plant 2/3 of the plants the first year and 1/3 the next.

To complicate matters we have had tremendous increases in construction here recently on island. This has tied up most of the people who have grading equipment and so on. So if I start growing plants now, in a year I may not be ready to plant them. I would have to sell them and start anew. Because that possibility is pretty high, I think I’ll start a thousand or two now and keep a rolling stock in the pipeline.

It could also be up to a year before I can get the catchment system in for watering.

I have been looking for a shelter for the young plants (keikis). I wanted to use a moveable “carport” which are common here. In 10 by 20 or 20 by 20 foot formats, they are an aluminum frame with canvas or plastic stretched over them. This keeps direct sun off the plants as they start to grow. At a cost of hundreds of dollars each, I may opt for a simpler solution. A poly tarp can be attached to the side of a building and stretched out at an angle, thus creating a lean-to at a cost of perhaps $20-$40. That may afford enough protection and yet be inexpensive. Another alternative is to place the plants under the houses lanai where they would get some afternoon dappled sunshine. Wherever I decide, I need to run some PVC and put in some sprinkler heads.

Well, I’ve got an Ebay auction running to sell some coffee but due to some orders pending may have to shut down the sale if I run out of what I have roasted.

I have been juggling things lately as I have medium roasted currently and want to fill some special orders for Full City roast this next week. Then I [i]HAVE[/i] to have some absolutely freshly roasted Medium just a day before the coffee competition on August 6th. I hope to do well but the event is also fun in that I get to meet hundreds of coffee lovers and while I’m there, sample my competition! Needless to say the coffee flavored deserts are worth the trip if not for the Kona Coffee.

Speaking of Kona Coffee, can I remind you of a specific fact?

A KONA BLEND is NOT a blend of various Kona Coffees! It is a way blenders have found to legalaly use the Kona name in hopes that they can sell you a coffee that is NOT mostly Kona. Their blend is generally 10% Kona Coffee and 90% coffee from some other country. You might never buy that coffee from another country because of its taste, but because this blend has the KONA name of it, you think it is something special.

A popular “other Hawaiian island” coffee is mechanically picked. They pick all sorts of coffee cherry and not all of it is ripe. Then they use machines to test the cherry and try to pick out the ripest product. In Kona, we pick all coffee cherry by hand so human eyes can ensure it is ripe while evaluating each cherry. IF it is not, it sits on the tree until the next picking. We feel that this gives you a better cup of coffee than machine picked product.

Although I would love it if you would buy MY 100% Kona Coffee, I realize that some people may like a different roast than I offer or perhaps they have found a better deal. In any event, if you are drawn t othe Kona name in coffee, please consider buying 100% Kona coffee. Our organization, the Kona Coffee Council has a seal, which helps assure you that you are getting what you are paying for. Even 100% Hawaiian is not 100% Kona. Just know what you are buying and if unsure, ask.