Tag Archives: sustainable

Agriculture, Essays and Reflections, Farming, Hawaii, Marketing

Three Cheers for the Media

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I just want to write a note to bring attention to the efforts of editors across the country who made the decision to include a story about sustainable agriculture in their papers.  It may not seem like much to some of you, but it means a lot to we small farmers and heirloom seed preservationists/researchers who are trying to get our voices heard.  The idea?  That we have answers right in front of us.  Myself and many others have been trying our best to share old news that is also good news:  Heirlooms matter.  So it is all the better when editors get an opportunity to pick up an AP article about such things and run with it.  So farmer hat is off to the Editorial staff at the following publications:

SFGate of San Francisco, California

The Washington Times of D.C

Lancaster Farming of Ephrata, PA

The Star Advertiser of Honolulu, HI

MySA of San Antonio, TX

and of course the team at the West Hawaii Today of Kona, HI who put the ball in motion.

For running this article about my farming efforts in their publications.  Each and every action matters from seed to soil to getting the word out to others.  So thank you news teams for helping to share a bit of good news.

Hawaii, Marketing, Zero waste

For the Love of Baskets

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

squash basket

farm car

Bringing a bit style to my deliveries are the baskets the I use. I have tried my best to make a sustainable, stylish solution to delivering to the chefs of Hawaii. They have loved the vintage style that both the car and the baskets add to their day. I have even been asked to leave my ol’ little car out in front of Merriman’s restaurant at their 25th anniversary party. Both “Pixie”the car and the delivery basket brimming with squash are featured on this month’s special 4-course squash menu at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.

Both examples prove that an inexpensive, stylish, zero-waste solution comes in ahead of mainstream produce marketing. Rethink your marketing and delivery system and you may win by creating a big cost savings for your farm, and a meaningful connection with your customers. Do it your own way…guerilla style.

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The Gettles of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Visit Farm!

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The Gettles of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Visit Squash and Awe farm

Honored to say the least, it was a pleasure hosting the Gettle family as they toured Hawaii. I began my farm with Baker Creek Heirloom seeds, and I continue to this day with their company. Last April 1st, I took a chance by growing only heirloom seed as a means of trying to bring back squash growing to Hawaii Island. I thought that maybe I could avoid the many pests and disease here in the islands by using historic varieties. Bingo…it worked and with a great deal of style, beauty, and flavor to boot.

I loved the Gettle’s company, and I believed that they were an honest company that I wanted to do business with. Who would have thought that they would visit my pumpkin patch just prior to the farm turning one year old. Some times dreams do come true. That “chance” I was taking put me on the map for local produce. I grew exceptional, big, flavorful squash and worked directly with chefs to make a market for them.

Thank you Jere, Emilee, Sasha, and wee baby Malia!

Some of the take aways from their seed: Great germination, wonderful flavors, pure seeds, history, a wide variety of Winter squash and so much more.

Agriculture, Farming, Pollination, pumpkins

Pick the Right Variety

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To answer some very valid questions that people have asked me about GMOs in Hawaii.  Yes, GMO squash cross pollinates, and yes it would wipe out what I do. But to look for a solution to squash growing here in Hawaii is to look at the track record of squash varieties. The reason farmers are failing with squash is that they are planting within the family Pepo which is not hearty to any pest, nor to any disease.  Pepo gets absolutely slammed with every disease here, and every pest, so that is why so much spray is normally associated with squash here in the islands. Plant the right varieties, namely family moschata, and your problems are reduced exponentially, and no sprays needed…and bomboocha sized squash are created.