From Indiana to Hawai'i Island

Aloha! A word that we're getting used to saying. And even more so unexpectedly awesome, a lifestyle.

Before moving to Hawai'i Island, we had no idea that Aloha meant so, so much more than just hello. We have been so grateful to be welcomed with such Aloha and we hope that we are returning that loving energy back to each person we meet. And of course the 'Aina as well with our lawn & landscaping business.

So what brought us here and how did we get here?

A question that we get asked almost daily. Some even said we were crazy to move to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and some didn't believe we'd do it. But here we are, living proof that if you want something bad enough, all you have to have is the belief that you CAN achieve it and the drive to make it happen.

The thought manifested in August 2019 when James and I visited the Island for 10 days

on vacation. Jacob didn't want to come because he had never flown before and he was pretty hesitant about being in the middle of the ocean.

The moment we stepped off the airplane, it was magic and we were in love.

They say there's an energy here that some can literally feel, and boy did we feel it.

From the magical Waipi'o Valley where wild horses roam, black sand and lush backdrop with the most magnificent waterfall & and high vibration, to seeing the magnitude of the Hale ma'uma'u Crater in Volcanoes National Park, to the most beautiful and breathtaking mountain and ocean views we have ever seen, and interacting with the most kind and truly genuine people over our 10 day stay, our hearts were captured, and we had to come back, next time with Jacob and for good.

Before we even flew back to Indiana, Jacob already knew we would want to move to Hawai'i. He was right. At first he didn't want to, so we let up a little talking about it and just thinking that one day, maybe after he's an adult we would re-visit the idea. But we literally couldn't stop thinking or dreaming about it. We began talking about it again this time, just James and I. The more we shared our experiences and pictures and honestly the love that we felt for Hawai'i, Jacob agreed to move! I was stoked and will never ever forget that moment for as long as I shall live. I jumped up and down as we were on one of our daily walks as Jacob said, "We can move to Hawai'i."

What THE what?!

Of course we made sure over the next couple of months that he was serious and hadn't had a change of heart since he had never actually even stepped foot on the Island before. But in just 10 short months, we were moving to Hawai'i! It was quite the process, with some bumps along the way. Despite a world-wide 'pandemic' just beginning and the apparent hurdles it would soon create for us, we were determined. We had already sold everything including our rental house, our boat, the lawn care accounts and equipment, my hair salon items, and just about all of our household belongings, Jacob sold his car, and we went through the long & confusing process of getting our dog Daisy all "certified" for flying into Hawai'i (that's a story in itself) we found an amazing home in Honoka'a, shipped my car over, boxed in our 12ft dump trailer and packed it full of our new lawn care equipment and 12 totes of our belongings, hugged and said, "See you later" to our loved ones and began our 8 day journey across the US. One of the inevitable hurdles being our flight from California to Kona was cancelled due to Covid-19 the day before our drive to Cali. Thankfully, we were able to get a flight from Seattle to Honolulu then to Kona the same day as our original flight. So we drove to California, dropped off the truck and trailer to begin it's sail across the ocean, rented an suv and began our long drive to Seattle. We had a blast.

Even Daisy was living her best life. We're all about adventure in this family.

Jacob and Daisy's first time flying on an airplane went without a hitch!

We finally made it! This is our new life and we couldn't be more grateful, humbled and stoked to be here. Jacob loves it, Daisy loves it, and you already knew that James and I love it! Thank you Hawaii, we love you. And thank you for reading about our journey.

<3 Jenna

Mowing Tips For A Healthier Lawn

#1: Change up the direction in which you mow.

This will make sure you're not causing unsightly ruts in your lawn from the tires of the mower continuously rolling in the same spots. Not only are the ruts unsightly, but the ruts are actually the soil underneath the grass being compacted so tightly making it hard for water and air to reach the roots of the grass. Also, the blades of grass grow in the direction that they are mowed, so changing the direction allows a fresh cut on the blades of grass each time.

#2: Stop cutting your lawn too short!

It is vital to the health and thickness of a lawn to mow at the correct height and frequency. Not only will cutting your grass too short cause the grass to grow back faster but it will also leave your grass weak and more vulnerable to damage from pests, disease and drought.

At some point in your life, you’ve probably heard that the shorter you mow your grass, the less often you will have to mow it, which is a commonly held fallacy. Mowing your grass too short does not mean that you have to mow it less often. Actually, if you've cut your grass too short, you're most likely doing your grass more harm than good. Mowing grass too short will actually damage your grass. Because the grass is in distress, each individual grass plant will utilize all of its energy to grow back its blades as quickly as possible, often at the expense of its’ root system. Not only will cutting your grass too short cause the grass to grow back faster but it will also leave your grass weak and more vulnerable to damage from pests, disease and drought.

The best way to ensure that you have a healthy, drought resistant lawn is to mow your grass at the right height. The height you should mow your grass depends mainly on the variety of grass you have in your yard.

How often you mow your grass also plays an important role in the health of your grass and helps to increase growth. A general rule for knowing when it’s time to mow is to never cut more than 1/3 of the grass blades. So, if your correct mowing height is 3 inches, you would want to mow when it reaches 4.5 inches in height. Also, it’s always better to mow your grass too tall rather than too short. Water reaches the deeper roots of taller grass more efficiently which is better for your grass especially during dry or drought conditions.

A few other things to remember about mowing at the correct height. If your lawn has several varieties of grass it may difficult to determine the correct mowing height, so the best practice would be to always mow your grass a little taller. Because taller grass provides shade over the soil, mowing your grass taller will help the root systems hold moisture and will also help keep crabgrass at bay. And, last but not least, grass will always grow better in shady areas when it is mowed a little taller.

To set mower height, place it on a flat surface and measure the distance from the ground to the blade.

#3: Sharpen those blades!

Dull mower blades rip and pull the grass blades, leaving ragged tears that both weaken the plant and promote fungal growth and other grass diseases. A sharp blade on the other hand, makes a clean cut allowing the plant to heal and recover quickly. You can also just replace the blades 1-2 times per year instead of sharpening.

#4: Don't mow wet grass.

When the lawn is wet, the blades stick together making the cut uneven. Mowing wet grass can also damage your lawn and clog your mower. The wet clumps of grass that the mower spits out can smother and kill your lawn if left unraked. It's best to wait until the grass is completely dry before mowing.

#5: Slow down.

Rushing through mowing can cause an uneven cut and could leave heaps of grass clippings on your lawn which may create issues in the future. You're also more likely to notice humps and dips in the lawn when going slower allowing you to adjust the height of the mower before you scalp the grass which will cause the grass to turn yellow in those spots if you mow too quickly and don't adjust the mower height.