Curt in the Dirt
@curtinthedirt.bsky.social
Just a guy trying to regeneratively farm his way out of a 20-year destructive military past and hopefully reconnect with my daughters soon.
It's not all volunteer labor and altruism.
Sometimes, it's conch soup, ¼ jerk chicken, festival, homemade sorrel juice, and a little brandy because I'm rimmed out currently.
Lunch was fry fish rice and peas. I'm really *really* going to miss his pace.
Sometimes, it's conch soup, ¼ jerk chicken, festival, homemade sorrel juice, and a little brandy because I'm rimmed out currently.
Lunch was fry fish rice and peas. I'm really *really* going to miss his pace.
December 14, 2025 at 2:00 AM
It's not all volunteer labor and altruism.
Sometimes, it's conch soup, ¼ jerk chicken, festival, homemade sorrel juice, and a little brandy because I'm rimmed out currently.
Lunch was fry fish rice and peas. I'm really *really* going to miss his pace.
Sometimes, it's conch soup, ¼ jerk chicken, festival, homemade sorrel juice, and a little brandy because I'm rimmed out currently.
Lunch was fry fish rice and peas. I'm really *really* going to miss his pace.
Yesterday was a Chainsaw Brigade work party and saw safety/first aid/saw use/service and maintenance course. A crew came together to help aneighboring farm get back on their feet.
The jungle was not the intended venue for chainsaw PPE for this pudgy PNW adapted goon.
The jungle was not the intended venue for chainsaw PPE for this pudgy PNW adapted goon.
December 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Yesterday was a Chainsaw Brigade work party and saw safety/first aid/saw use/service and maintenance course. A crew came together to help aneighboring farm get back on their feet.
The jungle was not the intended venue for chainsaw PPE for this pudgy PNW adapted goon.
The jungle was not the intended venue for chainsaw PPE for this pudgy PNW adapted goon.
Checked the water catchment from February. Cleaned up the storm dead galls and fired up the pump. We are so back when it come to water baby!
December 10, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Checked the water catchment from February. Cleaned up the storm dead galls and fired up the pump. We are so back when it come to water baby!
Back in action in Westmoreland. Did a site survey for a water reclamation and filtration system yesterday. Using just what is readily available on the island is the biggest challenge.
Building a shade house today. More medical herbs to deliver later this evening. Hiding from the sun currently.
Building a shade house today. More medical herbs to deliver later this evening. Hiding from the sun currently.
December 7, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Back in action in Westmoreland. Did a site survey for a water reclamation and filtration system yesterday. Using just what is readily available on the island is the biggest challenge.
Building a shade house today. More medical herbs to deliver later this evening. Hiding from the sun currently.
Building a shade house today. More medical herbs to deliver later this evening. Hiding from the sun currently.
Sunrise 🌅
Sunset 🌇
And all the weird dogs you can pet at night.
Sunset 🌇
And all the weird dogs you can pet at night.
December 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Sunrise 🌅
Sunset 🌇
And all the weird dogs you can pet at night.
Sunset 🌇
And all the weird dogs you can pet at night.
While hauling ABS water pus through the jungle I met the 2 things that mtch ants and mosquitoes for irritation: Puss Claw and burn Plum. I can live with the hooks of e puss claw but burn plum is a real bastard.
This is Samanea saman or Guano Tree. It's like a coral reef on land. Absolutely amazing!
This is Samanea saman or Guano Tree. It's like a coral reef on land. Absolutely amazing!
December 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
While hauling ABS water pus through the jungle I met the 2 things that mtch ants and mosquitoes for irritation: Puss Claw and burn Plum. I can live with the hooks of e puss claw but burn plum is a real bastard.
This is Samanea saman or Guano Tree. It's like a coral reef on land. Absolutely amazing!
This is Samanea saman or Guano Tree. It's like a coral reef on land. Absolutely amazing!
Working on the George Wiliam Gordon Organic Research Station for a week. Re-established water from the w to the pump house, pump house to the post-harvest space. Did some back woods plumbing and electical work and now the green house has a solar powered sprinkler system. Soon planting can restart
December 6, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Working on the George Wiliam Gordon Organic Research Station for a week. Re-established water from the w to the pump house, pump house to the post-harvest space. Did some back woods plumbing and electical work and now the green house has a solar powered sprinkler system. Soon planting can restart
Its been a while since my last update. Did a week in Bluefields/Belmont, then moved west to St Thomas.
While mostly unscathed there twas still some heavy work to be done to open some farm roads.
Running rough and wild in the jungle without proper safety gear almost out me a thigh. Almost.
While mostly unscathed there twas still some heavy work to be done to open some farm roads.
Running rough and wild in the jungle without proper safety gear almost out me a thigh. Almost.
December 6, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Its been a while since my last update. Did a week in Bluefields/Belmont, then moved west to St Thomas.
While mostly unscathed there twas still some heavy work to be done to open some farm roads.
Running rough and wild in the jungle without proper safety gear almost out me a thigh. Almost.
While mostly unscathed there twas still some heavy work to be done to open some farm roads.
Running rough and wild in the jungle without proper safety gear almost out me a thigh. Almost.
New plan worked well. Hit the sadness mines at 0600 and go hard until 1000. Chop and prop is the name of the game. Surprisingly these downed trees are already showing new growth! Limbing them back and resetting the roots with a hasty log-soil-mulch bed to encourage growth. Cross fingers
November 28, 2025 at 3:33 PM
New plan worked well. Hit the sadness mines at 0600 and go hard until 1000. Chop and prop is the name of the game. Surprisingly these downed trees are already showing new growth! Limbing them back and resetting the roots with a hasty log-soil-mulch bed to encourage growth. Cross fingers
Got up too late to get accustomed to the heat today. 07:30 might as well be 1500 in August back home... left on a 42° day. Arrived to a 90° day.
I'm remembering why TX/Afghanistan/Iraq weren't for me.
I'm remembering why TX/Afghanistan/Iraq weren't for me.
November 27, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Got up too late to get accustomed to the heat today. 07:30 might as well be 1500 in August back home... left on a 42° day. Arrived to a 90° day.
I'm remembering why TX/Afghanistan/Iraq weren't for me.
I'm remembering why TX/Afghanistan/Iraq weren't for me.
It's been a month since hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica. I'm finally on ground in Westmoreland Parish, @ Bluefields Organic Farm.
I feel like a raindrop on a forest fire. It's so much worse than I imagined. All altruistic/romantic notions of pitching in to help are gone. The lush jungle is gone.
I feel like a raindrop on a forest fire. It's so much worse than I imagined. All altruistic/romantic notions of pitching in to help are gone. The lush jungle is gone.
November 27, 2025 at 12:04 AM
It's been a month since hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica. I'm finally on ground in Westmoreland Parish, @ Bluefields Organic Farm.
I feel like a raindrop on a forest fire. It's so much worse than I imagined. All altruistic/romantic notions of pitching in to help are gone. The lush jungle is gone.
I feel like a raindrop on a forest fire. It's so much worse than I imagined. All altruistic/romantic notions of pitching in to help are gone. The lush jungle is gone.
Catching up with Mr. Dog before taking off. Poor guy doesn't understand why I just keep leaving him.
November 24, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Catching up with Mr. Dog before taking off. Poor guy doesn't understand why I just keep leaving him.
Leaving Honolulu now. 3 days turn and burn for Westmoreland Jamaica. It's a tough life out here.
November 22, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Leaving Honolulu now. 3 days turn and burn for Westmoreland Jamaica. It's a tough life out here.
Dusting this old thing off as I prepare to head into Westmoreland Jamaica and help out with some hurricane recovery. Working with the team on ground to get in where I fit in. I'll be stepping of 25 Nov.
November 15, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Dusting this old thing off as I prepare to head into Westmoreland Jamaica and help out with some hurricane recovery. Working with the team on ground to get in where I fit in. I'll be stepping of 25 Nov.
Started the day slow but caught Ft Bennett, Grafton, Black Rock (1 & 2), Back Bay, Mt. Irvine Bay, Turtles Bay, & Buccoo before catching a return trip after sunset to Trinidad @ Power Boats.
September 4, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Started the day slow but caught Ft Bennett, Grafton, Black Rock (1 & 2), Back Bay, Mt. Irvine Bay, Turtles Bay, & Buccoo before catching a return trip after sunset to Trinidad @ Power Boats.
Went way off script and decided to see Tobago before I had to leave. Last night I hopped a fishing boat out of Toco (Trini) and shot across to Crown Point (Bago). Saw No Man's Land, Pigeon Point, the Nylon Pool, and Store Bay before settling in to the Crown Point Beach Hotel for the night.
September 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Went way off script and decided to see Tobago before I had to leave. Last night I hopped a fishing boat out of Toco (Trini) and shot across to Crown Point (Bago). Saw No Man's Land, Pigeon Point, the Nylon Pool, and Store Bay before settling in to the Crown Point Beach Hotel for the night.
Some wall panels at different stages of completion. Each started as:
1) a wood frame + up-cycled wire weave wattle.
2) A base daub of cob (rice straw + 2 sand + 1 clay) is added.
3) A thick clay plaster (1 clay + 1.5 sand + chopped straw )
& finally
4) A lime plaster (1 lime + 1 sand) to seal it
1) a wood frame + up-cycled wire weave wattle.
2) A base daub of cob (rice straw + 2 sand + 1 clay) is added.
3) A thick clay plaster (1 clay + 1.5 sand + chopped straw )
& finally
4) A lime plaster (1 lime + 1 sand) to seal it
September 2, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Some wall panels at different stages of completion. Each started as:
1) a wood frame + up-cycled wire weave wattle.
2) A base daub of cob (rice straw + 2 sand + 1 clay) is added.
3) A thick clay plaster (1 clay + 1.5 sand + chopped straw )
& finally
4) A lime plaster (1 lime + 1 sand) to seal it
1) a wood frame + up-cycled wire weave wattle.
2) A base daub of cob (rice straw + 2 sand + 1 clay) is added.
3) A thick clay plaster (1 clay + 1.5 sand + chopped straw )
& finally
4) A lime plaster (1 lime + 1 sand) to seal it
My addition: 1 part clay, 1 part white sand, 3 parts saw dust & 1 tbl spoo instant coffee (for color).
September 2, 2025 at 7:55 AM
My addition: 1 part clay, 1 part white sand, 3 parts saw dust & 1 tbl spoo instant coffee (for color).
The Plaster Test Wall at Wa Samaki. These sections represent a library of earthen plaster mixes drying under the worst conditions (painted concrete to the back, western setting sun to the front.
How they dry and hold up is on full display for future uses
How they dry and hold up is on full display for future uses
September 2, 2025 at 7:52 AM
The Plaster Test Wall at Wa Samaki. These sections represent a library of earthen plaster mixes drying under the worst conditions (painted concrete to the back, western setting sun to the front.
How they dry and hold up is on full display for future uses
How they dry and hold up is on full display for future uses
It's good to be back in the Caribbean doing these kinds of things. I really should slow down and appreciate these moments more.
Today was a good day. I'll leave you with something dumb:
Today was a good day. I'll leave you with something dumb:
August 28, 2025 at 2:35 AM
It's good to be back in the Caribbean doing these kinds of things. I really should slow down and appreciate these moments more.
Today was a good day. I'll leave you with something dumb:
Today was a good day. I'll leave you with something dumb:
Day two of the break saw a trip to Las Cueavas Beach and then a dip in Zorro falls to clean up and head back.
August 26, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Day two of the break saw a trip to Las Cueavas Beach and then a dip in Zorro falls to clean up and head back.
After the farm visit, we hit De Boyz Bar with some of his work crew, then went down to La Brea and Vessigny Beach for the sunset.
August 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
After the farm visit, we hit De Boyz Bar with some of his work crew, then went down to La Brea and Vessigny Beach for the sunset.
Had a 2 day break. Used day one to Visit Nigel of Nigels Chocolate in San Fernando Trinidad. The man is an absolute gem. Got a walking tour of a newer area of farm land where coffee, breadfruit, and cacao are being integrated into the established landscape.
August 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Had a 2 day break. Used day one to Visit Nigel of Nigels Chocolate in San Fernando Trinidad. The man is an absolute gem. Got a walking tour of a newer area of farm land where coffee, breadfruit, and cacao are being integrated into the established landscape.