Have you ever wondered how the next generations will learn about where their food comes from? Or who will teach our kids how to grow their own food? Did you think that perhaps parents and families would teach their children these things? Think again: all evidence demonstrates that over the past century fewer and fewer parents even know where their food comes from or what a healthy diet is, let alone how to grow a backyard vegetable garden.

The new Hawi Farmers Market is bringing back their known & lively market. In its new location at the entrance of Kohala Village HUB just right across the street from their previous home. Hawi Farmers Market partners are working to bring back the atmosphere of community, collaboration & unity that North Kohala prides itself on.

One crafty solution to the challenges of gardening in the rocky substrate of Hawai'i Island is to use containers. Ocean View resident Velvet Replogle has had success in her organic garden, by doing just this. At an elevation of 4,300 ft, Velvet grows a variety of fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in large plastic containers. The country girl from British Columbia and long time Hawai`i resident sat down with HHFN to share tricks of the trade she’s learned from 35 years of gardening.

Sixteen years ago Velvet and her husband John began planting fruit trees on their Ocean View acre. Situated in a kipuka, the site is dense with native vegetation. “I’ve been vegetable gardening on our property for 8 years, and I now use containers because the 'ohi'a roots invade the beds.

Kaiao Garden is a community food-sovereignty effort that began in 2006. We are located in downtown Hilo behind the Boys and Girls Club. The vision of this 1½ acre garden is a gathering place, a kauhale. The garden supports efforts to feed people, teach kids and adults how to plant and harvest food, practice healthy eating, cook creatively outdoors, heal body and mind, create nature-inspired art work, build structures for meetings and workshops, and educate all who share the following Hawaiian values: