Transformation

The trick is not to let the jungle and woods intimidate you.  Just start!  

This is an area in the front 1/2 acre adjacent to our driveway.  It is so thick you cannot even walk through it.  This is the understory that grows under and around the ohia trees -- lots of wild rhododendron, guava, ferns, vine and orchids. So, you begin with a chainsaw -- honestly!!  Only when you can SEE the contours of the land and trees can you know what is even there!   

After some initial rough clearing, we begin on the edges using the pruning loppers -- just to see what is really under all the overgrowth and debris. Opening up the area and thinning things down allows the plants to be more healthy and creates wonderful shady nooks.



The more you excavate, the more wonderful raw materials you find to work with -- especially lots of lava that can be used to edge the new bed.  Old logs (that aren't rotten) can also be used to line beds.  Phil is cutting this log up into sections to reuse elsewhere.  Below represents about two weeks work, and although there is no lava wall (yet) there is room to imagine a picnic table, hammock. and lots of room for healthy new plants to thrive.