I’m so in love with my passion fruit vine. Like, more than like, like. Love!

Not only does it give me bucketfuls of tantalizing and delicious fruit, but it also is always lush with bright green healthy leaves all year round. It is drought-proof as well it seems and the most vigorous grower of any of my plants. It is the fastest, prettiest, and tastiest way to provide privacy as well!

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Not to mention the mesmerizingly beautiful blooms that last for all the warm months here in San Diego.

What I’m really digging lately is how the vine can be trained for a makeshift roof as well. Not only does it provide much needed shade to help keep my compost piles moist, but it also keeps out the pepper tree droppings. Pepper trees rob the surrounding soil of all the nutrients and I don’t trust the leaves or peppercorns being in my compost bin. That bitch is selfish, and selfish in means selfish out to me. So pepper tree is banned from any compost activities until I see some solid research that says otherwise. Anyone know if it’s safe and I’m being paranoid?

Regardless, I so love the effect of this canopy. It reminds me of the hobbit home I wanted to live in as a child. Ah crap, who am I kidding. I still want to live in a hobbit home.

I also made a little natural shed to the left to store straw bales and a wheelbarrow. It’s so dense on that side that it keeps out a lot of rain and er’thang stays nice and dry. When it comes to this lengthy drought keeping the compost bin moist is a challenge so shade is key. That sun is a killer most of the year in my yard.

But not lately! We’ve been getting some above average rainfall this winter. I never thought I’d say those words again! Above. Average. Rainfall! All of my plants have been singing lately! Songs of lush and vigorous growth and a whisper of great yields this coming season. The cloudy skies bring a much needed cool down for the damaged and burnt soil throughout the area. It’s a good thing. Plus, I get to carry around my umbrella a lot and use it as a cane when I’m in my fancy pants and ties. Super classy.

But something that I haven’t had to deal with in years is a completely gross and soggy chicken run! Not so much a good thing. My ladies don’t approve of it either and I can’t let down my special ladies y’all! At least the heavy and saturated poopstraw is practically composted already. But man, it’s sure heavy dragging all those barrels back and forth to the bins. Luckily I’m a spry old man. Hardened and grizzled by determination and a daily regiment of power/rock squats.

A friend helped me gather the fresh straw supplies that I needed. My little Tbird makes a piss-poor truck. It’s good to have friends. It’s even better to have truck friends. Cheers truck friend 😉

I love fresh straw day. You can lay down in there without fear of the dreaded poop encounters. Added bonus: you can cuddle with puppies too.

The hens seem to enjoy it as well. All that fresh pecking and scratching is what they dream about.

All in all, I’ll never say no to more rain. I’ve also been cleaning up the paths and beds from all the guinea fowl destruction. Soon my oasis will be running smoothly and looking great again. So, that’s pretty neat.

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