Tag Archives: 1/4 acre

Agriculture, Farming, Hawaii, Uncategorized

Picture Perfect Pumpkins

March 3, 2016 squash and awe Leave a comment

I frequently reference putting a small block of untreated lumber under your pumpkins and Winter Squash. Many people note that they do not have the time to do so, but also note that wet weather and bugs caused their squash to rot in the field. I recommend making the time to protect your pumpkins with a little extra care. The way I look at it, by increasing your yield through the reduction of waste, you are saving time. I took these photos (below) to give people an idea of what squash that have remained in contact with the ground all season can look like, especially here in Hawaii. Keep in mind that in Hawaii, many of the Winter squash and kabocha that do well here take more than 110 days. Often more than 120 days until harvest. Somewhere in there, as the fruit sets, try to make time to “block” your fruits by lifting them off the ground with a scrap piece of wood. The scrap wood only needs to be 4″x 4″ or so. Once you have the wood blocks, you can use them over and over for years. I keep them in small stacks near the edge of the patch. It does take some getting used to, but it helps to safeguard from rot that can occur due to surface moisture as well as insects that can damage the surface of your squash.

The above featured squash shows what damage can occur. Luckily, the harvest occurred before it caused the pumpkin to degrade on the inside. Since I caught this while it was simply a surface issue, I happily made it into my beloved squash curry for myself. This could have easily gone deeper into the pumpkin and caused the entire fruit to be lost.

With the way I farm, there is no true “loss” because the damaged squash can become nutritious pet food, chicken food, and rich soil building materials. But when you farm small, you need to think smart and safeguard what you grow. Some squash simply drop from the vine, and others may only half develop due to incomplete pollination by bees at flowering. These things happen, and it is just simply part of the natural cycle of things. What you can do, is give a little extra tlc to the fruits, and you will be rewarded with picture perfect produce that inspire chefs to put them on display before heading into the kitchen. One chef that I will not name, has been seen giving a slight hug to the squash as they enter his kitchen domain. Huggable produce is good produce.

This extra step in protecting the skin of your squash will probably add an overall awareness by creating an intimacy with your farm as well. You can tell a lot from how your squash are flowering and fruiting. A watchful farmer can see signs of insects, powdery mildew, the need for some fish fertilizer, pruning, and more, by stepping carefully into the vines. These preventative observations can really make the difference in having a successful season. So while you are inspecting your fruits, give them a boost. You will be rewarded at harvest time.

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Farming Outside the Box Presentation at Patagonia Store Haleiwa Oahu

November 8, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

After the Talk

Surf Ambassador Kohl Christensen

Ms “Beans”

question from David Orr

Farming outside the box

Photos by Tomo Saito

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Scenes From the Late Summer

Gallery September 30, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

old vines and grass rolled and used as mulch

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Proud to Represent Hawaii

September 30, 2015 squash and awe 2 Comments

Hawaii often gets left out of many agricultural events. People often ask me why. It is simple: fruit flies. They have made our exporting of produce difficult for the last 100 years. With that being said, they have also made it the most challenging place to grow many otherwise common vegetables. Marketing has showcased pineapple and sugar, two plantation crops that are uneffected by these pests. But we are not so proud to note that every year, new agricultural pests erode what small food production we have in the Hawaiian islands. When asked why I didn’t bring squash to the expo, other growers just shake their heads. Those who have been around a while usually say, “oh fruit fly? Lucky you are growing anything at all.” They are right.

It is for that exact reason that I began researching, and later breeding squash for Hawaii, and other areas with tropical fruit flies, and the newer introduction, Pickle Worm. When California gets an invasion of fruit flies, they sound the alarms. When Hawaii gets a new pest, it barely makes the news. Another one, is not what any of us need. But they continue to come in every year. That is one of the many downsides of importing over 90% of your food. It leaves the door open for pests from around the world to enter the islands. Don’t believe me, try talking to someone from Australia. We have many of the same issues. I had more than one person ask for my squash at the National Heirloom Expo last year, I had to direct them to the images on my booth, often the response was, “couldn’t you smuggle one in?” I know they meant well, wanting me to represent my breeding and farming efforts with the real thing, but the very last thing I want to do is destroy California agriculture so that I can have something to show. I explained the magnitude of what one selfish act could do.

But after having so many inquiries, I just thought my way through the situation. Though I could not bring squash into California, or anywhere else in the US, I could get seed through. I wanted to collect more research data, as I entered year 4 of my farm’s independent research for squash in Hawaii. It was brought to my attention, that maybe I should include it in the Baker Creek squash trials. I will be telling that story at a later time, but for now, I just wanted to share the very good news that the Hawaiian Black Kabocha not only survived, but it produced in a very different environment, and surrounded by all new pests, and squash virus. Why does this matter? It matters in many more reasons other than having a squash in the line up at the expo. It is another potential solution for islands and areas suffering from both fruit fly and drought. It can be a solution for the food production efforts of other places. The labors of one can help many. After the expo I received an angered email that noted how self-centered my actions were. Now, it was time for me to shake my head, knowing in my heart, he couldn’t be further from the truth. So Hawaii, this was for you. Mahalo nui loa for the dozens of top ranked chefs who taught me the nuances of flavor, so that I could be a better informed squash breeder. Because it is simple, if I am going to be breeding for pest resistance, I may as well breed for excellence in flavor and texture as well. Hit that ball out of the park for all of us.

So here she is sitting pretty in the line up. Only a Hawaii grower knows how much that means to get her there.

Agriculture, Farming, gardening, Hawaii, Soil, Zero waste

Farm Clean up: the no-till way

August 26, 2015 squash and awe 2 Comments

In the frantic days before I leave for California, I needed to put some serious order into the farm. I will be going to help harvest the Baker Creek pumpkin seed trails, and just a couple weeks later, I will be giving my speech at the National Heirloom Expo. The excitement is building, because one of my very own farm pumpkins is a part of the trials. I’ve worked hard so to stabilize the variety. I am hoping that when I get there, it will be shining in the sun, and offering resistance to the drought there. But for now, I need to focus on getting my own crop in order. Pumpkin growers frequently count the days when you need to hit your harvest right on schedule for October, and we in tropical and subtropical places need to look 120 days out, and sometimes more.

Hawaii’s high season also creeping closer, where the demand doubles. So, it is simply now or never. This year is a big soil building year, as well as planting all new pumpkin vines. It has been a long summer with quite unexpected weather patterns. We had Winter-like weather for weeks, including flooding, and now it is like Summer again. Adaptability is the name of the game.

The soil strategy is working. I have brought in several tons of hops, mixed them with wood chips from the farm, then piled them on top on salvaged cardboard. The trick is to turn the piles, carefully, letting them air out in all this heavy rain. For those of you just tuning in. In the farmlots, we got several days of flooding after 17 years of drought. Quite a change, but not entirely a surprise. Why? The drought/flood cycle goes together, like it or not. You cannot change the weather, but you can change your soil’s ability to adapt to changing weather. Adding soil structure through organic mulch materials, and valuable nutrients both help. This improvement to soil health also encourages the earthworm, and microbes…and on we go.

People are often overly concerned about how no-till looks, but really, it doesn’t matter how it looks, what matters is how is responds to the needs of your plants. We need to get over our thinking that everything needs to be in tidy rows, with nice big parched earthen walkways between. We are in a drought, and there is a lot more drought coming our way. By planting very close in super homemade soil, the healthy plants adapt and even help one another. I seed select only from varieties that are naturally resistant to powdery mildew (a huge problem in Hawaii) and then I can just let the vines sprawl, without worrying about close planted plants and powdery mildew. What people usually do not see, but you can in these images, is the under story of the mulch. Ever wonder why I have giant green squash leaves the size of platters? It is because I have created a natural fertilizer system on which they grow. When water hits a vine, it encourages it to re-root where the vine touches the soil, or in this case, where the vine touches the nutrient mulch. I can encourage growth by burying the vine, (like giant pumpkin growers do) and encouraging more roots to form and uptake more nutrients. This system is why I get so many tons out of a tiny parcel. A squash plant often produces 2-3 pumpkins, mine may produce 10 times that, because I feed and prune and feed some more. They are spoiled with love.

Here is a look at the mulch before the vines cover the lot. The system is as follows: cardboard, hops and wood chips mixed, some coral sand, coffee grounds, and fermented fish (buried in holes here and there.) Throughout the season, I will feed again with homemade fish emulsion, and top dress with more coffee grounds. Then too, I will add some EM-1 soil microbes fermented in grain to the field. Most of soil making is being done below those sprawling vines. Compost materials are the mulch. Soil is the solution.

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Planting Chili Peppers in Containers

August 3, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

It is an interesting year for chilis in Upcounty Hawaii. Cold, wet, Winter weather has changed their schedule. This is normally time for their big growth time, but this year the season is different. Am I ok with it? Sort of. This is why I plant so many heirloom varieties. Some are loving this weather, while others are waiting for their time. I learned many things this year. The importance of pruning, and timing the pruning to the plant’s growth cycle. I also learned how to grow chilis from cuttings. Though only one lone Thai Dragon Pepper was a successful grow out from a cutting, it is a lovely plant, and I learned that the method does work, and that I should try it throughout the year to find ideal times.

I also did two rounds of grow outs from seed despite my Spring travels. I have two new success with orange Habanero, and Purple Cayenne. Then back to making sure to care for the varieties that have already shown potential. Like Black Hungarian, and Aji Limon (Lemon Drop.) Two peppers from two different parts of the globe, but both like the highly variable conditions at the farm.

I love to plant and transplant when it rains. Though it is bright and sunny in the video, the skies opened and closed several times in the past few days as yet another tropical storm spins by. I decided to start an absurd number of chilis this summer, knowing that it was now or never. Germination becomes more difficult in the months ahead. Many chilis go semi-dormant in Winter, unless we have a warm Winter. I get them going when we still have longish days, then we will see what the fall brings. It may get hot in Aug and September, which would set them up with strong growth. Or we may be having our Winter now. We never had Winter rain this year…so in many ways this is our Winter.

What I am learning, is that I may love chilis as much as I love squash. They too vary in heat, texture, and flavor. They also have lovely foliage, and flowers. They also are more tolerant than I would have ever guessed. They let the squash smother them, then appear alive and well from under the vines. I have some plants that are 2.5 years old now. They love my homemade fish fertilizer, and the Ghosts seems to like more water than I would have ever guessed. I harvested about 15 Ghosts off one yearling plant that is set right out with the squash. I have it in a container tub, and let it get some of the spray in route to the squash. It is a great way to have them be accessible, while also lifting them up above the squash leaf shade so they have optimal sun. Not to mention, it is easy to collect them so to cook with them, and one watering will water the whole lot. Containers can dry out quickly, so this is ideal. The peppers are healthy, happy, and thriving.

Ghosts warn you of heat with color and a strong scent

So here is a video to give some beginning farmers and gardeners an idea of how to make your own soil mix for your container garden. I recommend that everyone grab up large pots and tubs when they seem them being discarded. They come in handy, and it allows you to have a garden on your lanai, doorstep, or in my case, containers mix right in with other plants on the farm.

I choose to transplant my chili peppers when they get a couple pairs of leaves. That gives them a more substantial root system, and they are less likely to wilt and die after transplanting. I get several plants going in each big container, if they all take, I can always transplant some of them, giving the others more space. I often add a squash vine to the mix ( I know I know) or a basil plant, so to get a variety going. These containers will be put on a wire mesh table top where nutrients, and water will drizzle onto the squash vines. I give them fish emulsion monthly. It works wonders. The two year old plants have over 100 blooms this year…even in partial shade, and unusual weather.

I began fermenting this past week, and I am excited about the flavor of the orange Habanero in one of the squash ferments. More on that later…I am just throwing that out so to encourage you all to grow more than you think you will use. Many people struggle with growing a variety of peppers, so they may be likely to trade for some of your chili bounty.

Agriculture, Farming, gardening, Hawaii, permaculture, pumpkins

Pruning Squash Leaves for Plant Health

July 16, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

I plant close, I’ll admit it, too close. I am a chronic over planter, but I have my methods. One is making sure that, as one farmer summed, ” feed the heck out of your plants.” Yes, I do. Exactly. I set those plants up for success by giving them a lot of micro nutrients, worms lolling about, mulch to hold it all in, and you cannot forget my homemade fish emulsion. Like all good things, success comes from a layering method giving a strong base to grow just about anything.

So it is mid July, it is now finally hot and sunny in upcountry Hawaii, and my May plantings are beginning to sprawl. What do I do? Prune the inner leaves and let the air circulate. Let the other plants like corn, tomatoes and flowers get to see the light, by removing the squash leaves that are very close to each other. A healthy squash plant will have “choke” (Hawaii slang for a lot) leaves. So cut off the ones dusted with mildew, give the bed a good soak with diluted fish emulsion, and let ’em sprawl. In the weeks ahead, they will smother the entire area where I shot this video.

Bear with the video, it is hot and mid day as I deliver this squinty, yell at the camera squash tip. But it is sent to you now, so that you can fully benefit from it. The extra fish emulsion will give it a boost of energy at week 6, a heavy vining time in the squash’s life cycle. So prune, put the leaves in hot compost so to rot it down. Don’t leave the leaves in the garden or you will encourage the powdery mildew. Bag the leaves in an old garbage bag, tie it shut, leave it in the sun to cook and kill the mildew before moving them to your compost.

I happen to breed varieties that are naturally resistant to Hawaii’s bouts of mildew, they are often unaffected, when a new trial plant is suffering in it’s first season. Only the strong plants survive my plant editing.

Powdery mildew is common here in Hawaii, even in dry up country. I mean very common. If a plant is getting a lot of natural nutrients, good air circulation, sun and water, don’t fret, maybe try a different species or variety of squash.

Only a small percentage of the squash varieties that I trial even like their VIP care. So many varieties simply don’t like growing here. Hawaii has a little bit of everything pests and disease, with the highly unpredictable growing conditions for plants, none of which is welcomed by many squash varieties. I tried to grow the super dependable Hubbard, and it didn’t like the farm conditions at all. Now that the soil is really soil instead of half rotted compost, it may like it. Sometimes it is the time of year that you plant, or even the day that you choose to plant on. If at first you do not succeed, try again. You will be a better farmer or gardener if you fall on your face a few times. Trust me. I do it all of the time.

permaculture, Soil, Zero waste

For the Love of Hops

July 10, 2015 squash and awe 3 Comments

The Beer Garden is the nickname of my small farm parcel. On April 1, 2013 (April Fools Day) I began to soil build. When you know that you are growing a hungry crop, you know that you need to build your nutrients in as part of the plan. So from day 1, spent hops from the award winning Big Island Brewhaus were used to amend the soil. I am doing no-till, so the hops are dug into the growing piles. Much like a 1/4 acre compost heap, it takes some attention and care to see that the soil stays healthy and that your microbes and worms can thrive. People laugh when I say that it is a huge effort to “turn” a 1/4 acre. Remember that each time I turn the farm, my zero-waste principles are at play. Sure, it is easier to rip up plastic ground cloth, roll it into a ball, and drop it into our landfills, then they over till, and spray. That is one strategy, where you may save time there, but in the big picture, you are not saving anything. I do the opposite of that. Each foot will either have a plant growing there, or will be used as a re-rooting place where vines will be buried under the homemade soil and get another hit of nutrients.

Yes, the other method can be done in a day, but your soil is on borrowed time, while mine is surging forward. My labor of hauling and lifting create a nice, rich soil that holds water. In a drought…that is worth gold. So think before we discard. Make connections with these local businesses who would like to help their farmers. Yes “their” farmers. Farmers belong to the community in the best possible way.

Here is a video where I explain a bit more about amending with fermented fish and brewery waste

I always do the warning about hops and dogs…they are poisonous to dogs, so watch your pet. Many dogs have zero interest, but be cautious.

The image says it all. The additions have changed the soil dramatically.

So think about how you can make super soil. This farm is small, but my soil is mighty. Be a steward, and you will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest, reduced pests, and you will be a hero to the kindergartners…and who doesn’t want that?

companion planting, Farming, gardening, Hawaii, permaculture

Interplanting With Squash

June 29, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

Squash are not known being team players in the garden, but are we giving them a fair chance? Squash will grow out and over everything in it’s path, but if you plant other vegetables at the base of your squash you solve many things at once, let me explain.

For example, the Three Sisters method was a smart interplanting solution invented by the Native Americans, including the Iroquois. Don’t believe me? Well, squash stars (well assists) in the beautiful flip side of the 2009 US Dollar coin. That is right, not only I say that squash can play fair in the garden, the evidence is minted.

Though I was not yet able to do a true, successful Three Sisters Native American planting technique, I’ve been able to keep true to the underlying truth that considered what plants need, and how those needs can be connected in a self caring system. I add in cherry tomatoes, or tomatillos, along with beans, corn, and squash. At times I add plantings of okra or sunflowers in lieu of corn. Tall stands of okra become an excellent resting spots for small birds that feed upon the pickle worm moths and other flying foes. They use the okra as a lookout spot before diving in for a bug. So for those of you who think that a squash farm is just squash, you are missing a lot of the fun, and a lot of the harvest. Not only does it create multiple crops from one watering and one application of fish emulsion, but it also is good for the soil.

Need more convincing? Please remember that squash vines will grow away from this central point, leaving the other plants to breathe. So give squash a chance in your small garden or farm. It will smother weeds, feed your family, and reduce water evaporation for those, like me, who grow in drought conditions. If the vines threatened to take over, prune them. It is that simple. There is little to lose, and much to gain.