unfolding

It takes a year to know a place enough to start thinking about making changes to it. I used to tell this to my landscape design clients, back when they were more sensitive and less consumed with the protection of their own affluence.*

We had distinct seasons in New Jersey and I knew them well. Their landscape and its surprises would appear and unfold over twelve months. They might destroy something beautiful before they even knew it was there if they took the “bulldozer” approach to their newly acquired land.

This same approach is most often taken by new land-owners in the rainforest subdivision of Hawaii island where the land I now “own” (see “asking permission” https://kupaaiau.wordpress.com/2020/03/29/hawaiian-concepts-of-space/) and on which I am now living is situated. I am not wealthy enough to bring in a big bulldozer land-clearing monster, but that approach would make my heart stop every time that bucket came near to scraping up these lycopodium

‌or bumping into this ʻōhiʻa

surviving admirably despite the perils of ROD (https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/rod/) on the Big Island.

So, having put behind me all the obligations of my earlier career and subsequent formal education http://www.patriciatratebas.com/about.html, I am now ready to make this my full-time project.

This blog will share the unfolding of this process.

Here is how I see the blog unfolding:

Above the Fold This content will always be free and available to anyone. All subscribers will receive a newsletter blast whenever there's a new blog post.

Beyond the Fold will become a paid subscription which can be paid monthly or annually (at a discount).‌‌**

Why membership tiers?

One: This will turn my writing effort and sharing of details of my plans and progress on the land into a source of income for me to help develop my land. Thank you for your support!

Two: Anyone who lives in and cares for Hawaii (and by this I refer to Aloha ʻĀina, the nation, this island and the archipelago: its birds, plants, seas, rocks, winds, gods, rains and rainbows) knows that there are some things that are not for everyone. Some things are kapu. Some things are not replaceable. Some things are inviolable. Some things should only be shared with people who understand their value and importance. Some knowledge is worth paying for (or earning the right to).

Why subscribe to ʻAbove the Fold’?

These posts will not inundate your inbox. They will be short, concise, thoughtful, timely and universal. They will probably arrive once a week. When you subscribe, please let me know what day and time you are most likely to feel like reading them. Mahalo!

Why subscribe to ʻBelow the Fold’?

Below the Fold will have 2 tiers of posts. The first I am calling “The Other Side of Paradise: Hawaii” (which I intend to also turn into a podcast). This is information about the real life of this place - so not just about me and my land. The second tier post will be called “Plans.” This will go into greater detail about my designs and methods. For those who love creative landscape design, this will be worth the price of admission.

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*The 2008 economic meltdown turned the controlling financial class [Definition: the line-holders & gate-keepers between all the rest of the humans on the earth and the so-called 1% who are withholding the wealth of a made-up economic system from all of the other suffering humans. You know who they are: Assistant VP at the Bank, Corporate lawyer, Insurance adjuster for a major company.] from “people who used to support you and your fair-minded quality-first company” into “Do I know you?” — after being told for 20 years that you are a magic-making artist who has transformed their world—when they thought they had a free ride to the end of time on their pseudo-wealth.

**Those of us who once upon a time read a daily or weekly print newspaper will appreciate that headline news was “Above the Fold” and other less “breaking” news below it, referring to the fact that the paper was folded in half when you bought or received it.

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