As a young man, Bill Tschan left his Swiss homeland and his work as an accountant to see the world. Departing on his great adventure from London by ship, he headed for the antipodes, spending two years in New Zealand before moving to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands in 1968 where he assisted to run an orange and pineapple juice factory. Two years later he started up an import business. Bill married his wife in 1974 and they have four daughters. In 2002, he sold his business and moved to his wife’s traditional home. Bill ‘retired’ to the island of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands where he pursues his hobby of planting and working the soil, striving to be self-sufficient with what he and his family eats. Bill and Teetu had received a 3-acre property on Aitutaki as a wedding gift and Bill set about converting the ‘jungle’ property into one of the foremost collections of rare tropical fruit trees in the Pacific. His ‘secret garden,’ now boasts over 100 varieties of fruits from around the world including the Philippines, South East Asia, South America, South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. Bill has lovingly written and illustrated a comprehensive book that is very close to his heart and his passion. Willy R. (Bill) Tschan’s book, “Secret Garden of Aitutaki – Cook Islands. A Collection of Rare, Tropical Fruit-trees” is destined to become a collector’s item. It comprises a series of colourful photographs of rare, tropical fruits and the trees alongside informative descriptions, including comments on the natural treatments of various illnesses with these plants and fruits. Bill is a self-taught expert on natural remedies. If you are simply an amateur gardener with a few fruit trees, or if you plan to take tropical fruit growing more seriously, Bill’s book will provide you with the definitive stimulation to advance your interests!