First, we tended the soil. Well… my wife did; I simply watched. Then she fastened a simple, single vine against our retaining wall. Next, she had a trellis built to allow roaming vines to drape over and intertwine, as they’re wont to do. Bees, buds, and flowers were obviously great signs. Within months, voila, we had our own mini-lilikoi orchard. We (yes we) now pick up freshly fallen fruit every few days, slice it, gut it of its luscious pulp, and my wife concocts an amazing jelly/jam from the nectar.
There is a lot of passion (and vermicast) that goes into the making of this delicacy. Hand-made (with on-going inspiration from Mother Nature) the passion fruit provides desserts, drinks, salads, jam, smoothies… the list goes on. Lilikoi acta as a soothing sedative for better sleep and possibly aids in relieving anxiety (now who could possibly have anxiety these days?).
A Conserve Energy Future post states that lilikoi: “improves the heart’s health, decreases the risk of cognitive decline, improves digestive health, promotes restful sleep, offers relief to asthma patients, improves insulin sensitivity, promotes skin and eye health, prevents osteoporosis and more.” Well, sign me up!
The point is (beyond obvious health benefits) that from such humble roots a productive hobby has evolved, a project that reaps intrinsic rewards through physical labor, a sense of tranquility in watching the continuous growth, and a joyous sense in allowing us to provide omiyage to people or simply gifts as a neighborly gesture.
While crosswords, music, golf, and family fun take up much of my recreational chores, being even tangentially involved in this fruity pastime intrigues me as to what might be next. We’re growing chicos, papayas, avocados, and an assortment of fragrant and/or beautiful flowers… on the same property we’ve groomed (and/or ignored) for almost 40-years.
So yes, maybe you actually can teach an old dog new tricks, or at least make him/her appreciate what’s right in front of his/her nose. I credit my beloved wife for all of this produce productivity. I don’t have much of a green thumb nor a cultivational clue, but I can appreciate the planning, love, process, and results.
Maybe you can find a new recreational pastime to ease your mind and/or body into. Maybe there’s something you don’t do that you could do, if only you would do. Perhaps it’s untapped, but out there… beckoning.
Think about it…