Author Archives: themanicuredfarmer

Ever since I can remember, I enjoyed growing things.  I had a coriander patch when I was about 8 years old. It did not produce much, but it did produce some coriander.  I think the idea of a seed turning into a plant always seemed like magic to me.  I would soak beans in waterContinue reading “For the love of Farming”

When I decided to get serious about farming, I wanted to do it organically and sustainably.  I must have forgotten I live in tropical Africa.  The bugs were relentless, the diseases were in plenty and I was fighting a losing battle. If you were raised in Nairobi in the 1980’s and 1990’s, you will rememberContinue reading “Let’s get Technical”

Aside from the sheer love of it, I went into farming to make money.  As I said, not a red cent has shown up in my pocket to offset the enormous investment made so far. Then again, grit and tenacity dictate that one sticks it out a little longer before they throw in the towel!Continue reading “What’s on the Farm?”

I have always had chicken on the farm.  When I decided to get serious about the farm, I inherited my mother’s chickens.  All ten of them.  They had been ten for roughly five years.  Farm hands can depopulate your farm quite efficiently if you are not watchful. So, I took up the ten chickens andContinue reading “The Descendants”

Did I tell you I am a fulltime employee? I am.  Which means all this happens during my time.  My free time.  If you have ever needed to focus, start a side business while employed.  You will soon realize how much time is wasted on social media, Netflix and useless chit chat. At my placeContinue reading “Keep Going!”

You know the game.  It’s best played in a pool where the “It” person is blindfolded and yells Marco and the rest of you yell Polo!  The idea is for the “It” person to find and tag one of the others using only sound.  Once you are tagged, you are the new “It” person.  IContinue reading “Marco? Polo”

I am guessing by now you are super curious about the chicks!  Those beautiful bundles of fluffy joy that were hatched in an incubator and were being hand raised by human mothers?  Well, here goes. After roughly two weeks of being human mothered, fed, watered and generally doted over, we woke up one Monday morning,Continue reading “This, That and The Other”

Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz; (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-born American escape artist, illusionist and stunt performer, noted for his escape acts. His first act attracted notice in Vaudeville in the United States and then as “Harry ‘Handcuff’ Houdini” on a tour of Europe, where he challenged police officers to keep him locked up. Soon he extended his repertoire to include chains,Continue reading “Houdini!”

Truth be told, that sounds like a line from the movie Men in Black, but there is method to this madness.

Twelve years ago, I got a Jack Russel puppy from my neighbor, and named her Spotty.  She had a huge heart shaped spot on her side and was the size of a tea cup when I got her.  I did not think much of the adoption.  I had wanted a dog and I went out and got one…