In addition to reef education and energy initiatives, the Kohala Center has Ka Hua Aina farm just outside Honoka'a on the Hamakua Coast where it hosts new farmer education programs.
The farm is land reclaimed from the soil intensive practices of industrial sugar cane production. Farm Program Manager, Zoe, was kind enough to spend time showing me around. [We were accompanied by the farm manager's dog on our walk.] The farm currently features both row cropping and Polynesian-style agro-forestry planting. Zoe informed me that native Hawaiian practice of ahupu'a'a really had more to do with land conservation (i.e., you fished and farmed your slice of the land and traded with a neighbor for what you could not produce) than with farming. She further explained that Polynesian style planting refers to planting mostly perennials that require very little maintenance and are 'packed in' from top to bottom (e.g., we walked to a dense planting that had taro and sweet potato underneath sweet pea and larger banana plants). While she enjoys a 12 month growing season, she does not enjoy the 12 month fruit flies and other blights that force creative, organic solutions to keep her crops alive.
The farm currently hosts 'new farmer program' education sessions, which are intended to prepare folks for transitioning to income generating (but diversified and sustainable) farming from hobby farming. We spoke, however, about the imperative for most farmers- whether industrial, hobby, or small/diversified- to have additional employment to make ends meet. As a result, we spoke about how Zoe hopes that the farm will be able to further diversify to provide different sample plots for backyard farming. For instance, if you are not able to farm full time, but would like to begin to live sustainably with respect to food (this is important anywhere, but particularly in Hawaii where isolation means local sourcing is imperative), you might use a small portion of your backyard to grow a Polynesian style garden of taro and banana, but perhaps your neighbor would prefer to do a mix of pineapple and papaya. The farm could show multiple 'backyard configurations' for folks to choose from that would require little time and much potential for trading. Zoe would also like to have the farm provide examples of small-scale critter production as well (both for the reciprocal benefits for the plants and for the ability to produce more humanely raised critters for local consumption).
When we were walking up the farm to see the breathtaking view of the coast from the educational center, Zoe asked if there were similar initiatives to the Kohala Center's farm in Iowa. While I said there were not really organized efforts to systematically challenge industrial model farming in the Midwest, I realized I was woefully under-informed of the efforts at integrated, diversified farming in Iowa beyond CSAs.
As a result, I hope to visit with Scott of Soilmates and the folks at Friendly Farms, etc., around Iowa City to begin learning more about what options do exist for people wanting to engage in diversified backyard farming. I think winter might even be a much more ideal time to visit with farming folks in Iowa because it is the quieter season. I further think these visits could be of great utility to Melanie and I as we think about what we could realistically grow (raspberries, mulberries, apples, watermelon, carnival squash, and hopefully some veggies).
Also on a personal note, I am enjoying the absence of a plan, greater simplicity, and more faith in my heart. I am learning that there is benefit to taking a risk when you trust a decision in your heart. I am also learning to challenge how I think of 'dreams for my life.' I have spent too much time thinking that opportunities to fulfill my dreams had passed. Instead I would like to think of dreams as impermanent and transient. Dreams change and they have their moment in time. The trick is to acknowledge that each new moment is pregnant with each new dream.
I am also recognizing that, while I can grow and learn as an individual, I have certain rather immutable strengths and weaknesses that perhaps it is best not to fight. Notably, I am an excellent generalist. I know a little about a lot of things. I am also skilled at generating project ideas. I am not, however, so good at doing just one thing, or even at learning a lot about any one thing. As much as I might hope to suddenly become a farmer or a marketer or a________, the truth is that I am an educator and a dreamer. I had envisioned a professional development where I became a new person solidly invested in work in alternative energy or food production. The truth is that my professional development is in becoming a slightly deeper version of my original self by researching a variety of positive solutions to a variety of social problems. In so doing, I realized I do not have to volunteer with each program or agency, but that I can instead concentrate my time in learning about the agencies from the people who work for them. The professional development will hopefully result in many more contacts (and networking) with fabulous people and a much greater knowledge of the programs and solutions that exist to do good.
As for tomorrow, there is no plan. Yet. I do hope to visit a former bee farm turned off-grid farm/household. I think there's a farmer's market to visit tomorrow in Waimea. But I'm thinking I just might take Zoe's suggestion to hike the sacred land of the Waipio Valley. She said I would see taro produced according to ancient practices (in cascading ponds). That sounds nice. :) Peace out. B.
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