This December’s newsletter finds us near the middle of the Makahiki season, approaching the Winter Solstice (which happens to occur here at 7:30 pm, December 21st), and closing out 2011. As the global, state and island economies continue to flounder, we gain a greater appreciation for our most basic human necessities, air, water and, yes, food.
We take air and water for granted because there seems to be so much all around us. But we’ve become more acutely aware that our food supply is endangered. A natural or man-made disaster could leave us with only a couple weeks inventory of food in our grocery stores. The case for self-sufficiency has never been stronger—yet the movement for providing more local, and sustainably grown food to our populace is still tiny.
Residential area in North Kona, Hawai'i, an extreme case where fruit trees are banned by subdivision by-laws.
Food-producing Urban and Rural Agroforestry Landscapes (2011-2013)
Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network is developing a much-needed manual and statewide workshop series focusing on sustainable perennial food-producing landscapes. Integrating perennial food plants in private and public landscapes has many advantages, including:
Increasing food production in urban, periurban, and rural areas where the food is consumed, avoiding reliance on the fossil-fuel dependent distribution systems.
Reallocating some of the fertilizer, pest management, fuel, and labor resources that are currently consumed in ornamental landscapes to growing food.
Providing opportunities to supply small, local farmers markets with produce.
Expanding opportunities for value-added cottage industries such as preserves, baked goods, fermented products, and other specialty items.
We enter the annual Hawaiian cycle of Makahiki. It starts when the constellation Pleiades rises above the eastern horizon after sunset, and lasts for four moon cycles. Makahiki honors Lono, the fertility god, the god who brings high winds, storm clouds, heavy seas and above all life-giving rain. It is a time to celebrate, to give gratitude for the harvest, and to feast.
Last Saturday an estimated 1700 people participated in Breadfruit Festival 2011--Ho'oulu ka 'Ulu. The festival engaged a wide range of people from experts to novices, producers to consumers, locals to visitors, and practioners to policymakers in the revitalization of breadfruit in Hawai'i. Mahalo to each person and organization who participated in this event, especially our many volunteers and sponsors.
Hawaiian Farmers Market - RR Ave across from Home Depot, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Locally grown vegetables, fruit, plants, baked goods, food items, jams, jellies, fish, poi, Hawaiian crafts and other agricultural products.
Vendors are welcome to apply. Contact: Howard Pea at 959-7802 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
