Fulfilling a Hawaiian Dream

Living in Hawaii has been a dream come true for Janemarie. After raising her daughter in California and working in various positions from administrative assistant, front desk clerk, preschool and kindergarten teacher, Janemarie was ready to try something different. After a two-month visit to Hawaii, Janemarie returned to California and began making plans to relocate, with the hopes of working or living on a Hawaiian farm. "I was ready for a change, ready for an adventure. My daughter was going off to college, and I wanted to fulfill some dreams. They included living closer to nature, learning organic farming and experiencing a low-impact lifestyle, as opposed to the 9-to-5 rat-race lifestyle that was led by so many folks around me in Oakland, California."

Having enjoyed her success with home and classroom gardens, Janemarie was interested in learning more about organic farming. She made visits to several Northern California farms, including Old Mill Farm near Mendocino. She spoke with the caretakers there and learned of The Caretaker Gazette. Janemarie subscribed to the Gazette, and a few months later she found the ad she had been looking for. An "Off the Grid" Macadamia nut farm in Hawaii was seeking a mature female caretaker. "That's me!", though Janemarie. She answered the ad immediately. "Some of my friends thought I was nuts, giving up a secure teaching position and venturing off into the unknown. But, I haven't a single regret. I was ready to leave the hectic city scene behind for a slower paced lifestyle. Hawaii is absolutely beautiful. I love being awakened by the songs of birds, snorkeling alongside turtles and dolphins, and spying the breeching of migrating whales. It's fantastic!"

The Macadamia nut farm is solar powered, with propane tanks for cooking and heating water. The sole source of water is rain. The farm is on a catchment system, which collects rain on the roof, and channels it into two large water tanks for storage. Water is very precious on this part of the island and usage must be carefully monitored. Janemarie's duties include watering and feeding the macadamia and citrus nursery, as well as maintaining the grounds and caring for the owner's dog. The property is home to a variety of fruit trees, including papaya, banana, citrus and avocado, which provide tasty treats all year round!

Janemarie enjoys the quiet on the five-acre farm, 40 miles from the tourist town of Kailua-Kona. Instead of hearing early-morning garbage trucks and car alarms as she did in Oakland, she is awakened by the sounds of many types of birds, singing as the sun rises over the mountain slopes. "One thing I've really enjoyed about living on this farm is the opportunity to live almost completely outdoors. My ‘cottage’ is very unique, as it's walls are only chest high, and there are no glass windows- it's all very open. Birds fly right through and at night the gecko's come out for their fill of insects. The roof is made of tin, and when it rains hard--well the sound is tremendous! One has to have a love of all nature's creatures to be comfortable here. Luckily, I've always  been interested in insects and small reptiles! Although untrained, I'm a naturalist at heart."

She starts her day with a cup of coffee, grown right outside her door. Then she follows this with some Tai chi. "Living alone has been a wonderful gift. The hours of solitude give one time to connect with oneself and to contemplate spiritual matters. An avid reader, I spend my quiet evening hours with a good book. Or simply watching the stars." Besides her chores on the Macadamia Nut farm, Janemarie has supplemented her income by working on two other farms. One, an organic supplier of herbs, salad greens and edible flowers, the other a 100-year-old coffee farm. “I love working outdoors, observing the growth cycles of the plants and learning organic methods.”

"This past fall I fulfilled another life-long dream to study massage. I was fortunate to learn the traditional Hawaiian techniques known as 'Lomi-lomi'. The month long course was a wonderful healing experience. I am currently working as an apprentice and plan to have my license by the end of the year. Caretaking has been a wonderful experience for me. I’m so glad that I learned about the property caretaking field, as it has given me a new direction and I am following my bliss. Mahalo!"