Tablas Island Coconut Harvest

Coconut Harvest on Tablas Island

Coconut harvesting happens every three months.  We live in a coconut grove with coconut palms stretching an estimated 60 feet in height.  The first picture will show the grove looking toward Sunset Beach, the second a newly thinned coconut stand.  Thinning coconut palms allows the sun in resulting in  a better crop.

 We could hear big coconuts hitting the ground at a rapid rate.  With a little investigation, we discover someone 60 feet up the tree dropping coconuts to the ground using a big knife.  Here he is, small but mighty, ready to climb another coconut tree!   Next the bullock is hitched to the family crafted cart for transport to the coco bin.   He will pick up the coconuts that are newly cut from the tree as well as nuts on the ground.  This way they can be processed simultaneously. 

First the husk has to be removed.  A  special three legged sturdy tree is found in the forest to form the stand for the iron spear.  The spear is mounted to drive each coconut down on to split the coconut husk into four parts, peeling off each quarter, leaving the husk intact to toss over to the pile ready to build the smoldering fire to dry the coconut meat in the coconut bin.

This is a family business. .  Mother skillfully cuts the coconut in two with her cutless and quickly removes the loose fibres so they won’t catch fire while drying.   Children enjoy coming to the coco bin to help throw the split coconuts into the bin where they will dry.   In the picture to the right the mother stops to remove the edible seed inside the coconut so we can eat the seed.  The seed is the size of an egg and delicious to eat.

The coco bin is prepared with the coconuts on top to be dried and the husks below to light and smolder to dry the coconuts.

Again, we were very fortunate to be able to witness first hand coconut harvest at our doorstep!

Allan and Lydia Sorflaten