Tree spinach, also known as Chaya or Mayan Miracle plant is one of the most low-maintenance sources of continual leafy green vegetables you can grow in the tropics. If you’re looking for an easy plant to start on your homestead, plant some chaya. Growing Chaya or tree spinach in Hawaii is so easy the only […] The post Growing Chaya, or Tree Spinach in Hawaii first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more

You’ve started your homestead and finally, the first crops are coming in! If you are growing your own produce for the first time, this can be a pretty amazing feeling. However, if you’re living off-grid you may face challenges to how to preserve all of that home-grown abundance. What are some food preservation methods that […] The post Food Preservation Methods That Take No Power first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more

Edible vines are incredibly beneficial to any homestead: they take up less growing space in a garden because they grow vertically, and can be used as a natural screen – perhaps covering an unsightly shed that stores your rainwater tank. Also, as the name implies: they produce edible food! Here are eight of my favorite […] The post Edible Vines for the Tropical Garden first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more

If you’ve planted several large trees around your homestead, you may have a shady patch begging for something to be done with it. While plants do need sunlight, there are plenty of edible plants to grow in the shade. Here are 10 edible plants to grow in the shade – including berries, lettuce, ginger root, […] The post Edible Plants to Grow in the Shade first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more

It seems like there are solar solutions for everything: water heaters, televisions, and even ovens. The question is though, how effective are the solar options – like a solar cooker – compared to traditional ovens? Basically – do solar cookers work?  I’m here to tell you that they do.  Properly-made DIY solar cookers can cook […] The post Do Solar Cookers Work? first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more

Today we are talking about toilets. Glamorous, no. Practical and essential? Yes. If you’re living off-grid, you’re going to need some sort of toilet solution. Here are my picks for the best off-grid toilet options that don’t smell, and some that don’t require plumbing, either. First up, let me address some common questions about off-grid […] The post 9 Of The Best Toilet Options For Off Grid Living first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more

When starting a garden, orchard, or fruit forest, you need to be aware of genetics. Yes, plant genetics matter. How a plant propagates plays a role in the quality and variety of fruit you’ll harvest later on. So, which fruits grow true to seed? Here in Hawaii, papaya, Suriname cherries, and rollina are just a […] The post What Fruits Do (and Don’t) Grow True-to-Seed first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more

There are a lot of heat-tolerant edible plants that thrive here in the tropics, but after years of growing a lot of them, I found a few that I like the best. Heat-tolerant edible plants should be the priority foods for any tropical homestead. They will thrive in your garden and require less attention than […] The post Edible Tropical Plants That Can Stand The Heat first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more

There are some vegetables that thrive in temperate climates and need cooler weather to row best – like brussels sprouts and artichokes. But what about another cool-weather vegetable; asparagus? Can you grow asparagus in the tropics? While asparagus usually prefers to grow in growing zones 3 through 8, asparagus can successfully be grown in the […] The post Can You Grow Asparagus In The Tropics? first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more

Potatoes are known as root vegetables that do best in cooler climates. However, it is possible to grow certain varieties of potatoes even in the tropics. You heard that right! There are heat-tolerant varieties of potatoes that can grow in the tropics, as long as you’re in the right spot. Potatoes do best in well-draining […] The post Growing Potatoes in Tropical Climates first appeared on Homesteadinʻ Hawaiʻi ..read more