THE REMOTEST GARDEN
Pitcairn Island. It’s a small volcanic rock, two miles long and one mile wide, that emerged from the depths of the Pacific Ocean a million years ago.
1,000 years ago, seafaring Polynesians found it covered with wind and sea borne plant life, like pandanus trees with leaves to make thatch huts, miro and other trees for timber, palm trees with coconuts to eat and drink, and flowers galore, all in wild abundance – and most valuably, volcanic obsidian glass and basalt rock to make tools, items you couldn’t make on the coral atolls inhabited by other Polynesians far to the west.
They settled in, planting taro, breadfruit, and bananas. Trade with the distant atolls flourished – but by 600 years ago, internecine warfare among the atolls caused the trade to collapse, and the island was abandoned.
What has happened since is true legendary history. Let me tell you about it – and the people who live its legacy.














