So, I have been getting many e-mails from former WWOOFers asking if I can post our farmday lessons online. I like to save the lessons for wwoofers on the farm- rather than making them all public-but, it has been recommended that I begin a facebook page for the farm- where we can all post notes, suggestions, events, photos etc... So, I will post some of our farmday lessons there under "notes". I would also like to dedicate this section of the blog solely for questions regarding gardening, (permaculture, book recommendations, links, classes, other farms I recommend, seed saving, propagation, composting, vermiculture, herbs) and any other questions that may come up.
So, feel free to post any questions that you may have and I will check the section bi-weekly and respond to the best of my ability. Bear in mind that there are thousands of different approaches to organic farming, and the ones expressed here are just my approaches at the moment. Part of why I love gardening so much is because you can never stop learning. I will never get to the point where I have learned it all...I will never claim to be a master gardener....i leave that to Mama Earth. So bear in mind when reading my suggestions that they are simply that....suggestions, and observations that I have made. Perhaps when I am old and gray I will compile my years of learning into a book...but for now, I am just jotting down findings and tips that I find useful. I hope that you find them to be helpful as well. Feel free to write down suggestions and comments here as well- we are all students of the universe, all teachers of our passions...so share share share. Aloha nui loa
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The healthy social life is found when in the mirror of each human soul the whole community finds its reflection and when in the community the strength of each one is living." -Rudolf Steiner
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Why do my lettuces start growing taller and taller, and get really bitter tasting? Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteWow! Already two questions:)
ReplyDeleteDanielle- Your lettuces are getting "taller" because they are beginning to "bolt". This means that they are pre-maturely trying to go into flowering/seed mode. Generally this is due to heat- very very common in the summer months and it is still quite hot here in Maui- so, I would suggest moving your lettuces to areas that get some shade during the hottest times of the year. You can also plant taller plants on the sun-side of the lettuces- I love to plant my lettuces in the shade of kale, broccoli, beans, and tomatoes. The good thing is that lettuces are a quick plant to grow- and you should have no problem direct sowing more seeds now in some shade. Make sure also that there is enough compost in your soil- as lettuces do like to eat quite a bit for their size. I also feed my lettuces every 2 weeks on new moon and full moon (when i am on a good schedule- which regretfully i haven't been lately). This also helps to give them very regular feedings. On the new moon I give a tea application of either worm-compost tea, comfry tea, or a liquid seaweed tea....full moon I feed with a sprinkling of chicken manure. I find that if the lettuces are not getting the right amounts of food- they are forced to go into survival mode. It is as if the lettuces know that they are being neglected and left to die....and so they quickly use all of their energy that they have left to produce seeds- so that the cycle of life may continue.
I should also mention that you can still eat lettuce leaves when they are beginning to bolt. That white goop you are talking about is like a protective latex coating....many fruits and vegetables have it and it actually does help protect from scald and pests....but you are right- it will taste bitter. The solution to this is to just pick your lettuces in the coolest times of the day- and rinse them in a cold water bath, and then put them in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours. They will crisp up and become sweeter.
Also it is good to check out some 'bolt resistant varieties' and use local strains as much as possible. Anuenue and Manoa varieties are generally well suited to this climate, my Buttercrunch varieties also do great.
And lastly, try out some perennial salad alternatives. They are more sustainable to grow, take less time and work, and they will keep producing with much less care then the lettuces. My favorites are katook, Okinawian spinach, Malabar Spinach, Brazilian Spinach, Sorrel, Arugula, Kale, Edible Hibiscus, Purple mustard greens, and pohole.
So- when are you gonna write that book for gods sakes?!
ReplyDeleteIs there a minimum stay requirement? We are so excited to come, and are trying to make it work with our work and school schedules... Sounds like an amazing experience!!
ReplyDeleteMal+Emily
Ideally people stay for a full session- 3 months- this tends to be a perfect amount of time to really get the most out of the program, to make real-lasting friendships, get a sense of the island, and get connected with the locals in the community. We do allow for people to extend for an additional season if they have become really vital to the farm- We will take people for as little as 2 weeks in a tent-site if we have the space- though a month is preferred. Feel free to e-mail Rebekah at bellamatina@gmail.com for more information. ALoha~
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you have a favorite seed company that you use? Also, Do you ever teach full permaculture courses, or classes in landscape design? I saw a garden that you designed in Kauai, and one in Hana and they are the most beautiful gardens i have ever seen. I would like to sign up for a class with you, or if you would be open to it a private lesson. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI too would be very interested in taking a course from you. I had wwoofed in Oregon and briefly met you when you were teaching the free permaculture classes at Peoples co-op. You have a great teaching style, and I am living now on the Big Island- and would love to somehow find a way to intern with you. Would you give me a call at 808-628-9981 if you are going to be doing any classes im the next 6 months. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI am trying to get in contact with Rebecca who manages Hana Farms and I hope this is an appropriate way to do so. I am one of the community members at La'Akea Community on the Big Island. My partner Michael met you when you were teaching on Kauai, and we would like to extend the invitation for you to join us here on the Big Island to be one of our teachers for our summer course. Please visit or you can e-mail me at info@permaculture-hawaii.com
ReplyDeleteWe would be honored to have you be a part of our community here for any length of time.
Aloha, and thank you all for the great feedback and questions.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite seeds are local seeds that get exchanged throughout a community- I cannot say enough about this practice, and I really encourage everyone to save seeds, to share seeds with neighbors and friends, and to host seed-exchanges. The seed has a memory, and it builds up a resistance to pests, disease, and environmental factors in your particular area...There is yet to be a good reliable organic seed company on the islands unfortunately. UH seeds are often inorganic and GMO, as are Aina Seeds:( I have been a long time supporter of "JOHNNYS" seed company, Heirloom Seeds, and Bountiful Gardens. I think just make sure that your seeds are ORGANIC, and get a book on seed saving so that you can become your own supplier.
Thank you also for the kind words for those of you who had seen my gardens in Kauai and Portland. I am currently taking some time off to focus on some health issues, but as soon as I am strong again, I do plan on teaching a few courses this year. I will keep you posted, and hope to have a website up soon with a calendar of events, courses, garden photos, and consultation info.
Thanks for the support and encouragement. It really means the world to me to know that people enjoy the gardens, and that they are inspired enough to get in contact with me. WIshing you all a renewing spring, Rebekah
I heard through the coconut wireless that Rebekah wasn't at Hana Farms anymore. Is this true? Does anyone know what happened or where she is now? What a travesty.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite way to plant Papayas? Does it work to plant them by seed, and should I dry them first before planting them? I heard that Papayas are becoming like corn where it is almost all GMO now, how do you get around that? Do you sell any starts at your farm? I am in Huelo. WOuld be interested in buying starts from you if you have them. Thanks
ReplyDeleteDo you offer farm tours? I know that Laulima and Ono farms does a Saturday farm tour and my family would love to reserve a few farm tours for next weekend. If you offer tours can you let me know what time and what you provide. Thank you. Marianne and Frank Sapsis
ReplyDeleteRE: Maureen
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Rebekah is still at the farm. Indeed it would be a travesty if she were gone. She is just on temporary medical leave but should be back by summer.
Hey guys thanks for the questions and sweet comments.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the papaya question goes....here is what I got for you.
Papaya is polygamous, with three primary sex types: female, male and bisexual. There are some cases where plants produce more than one kind of flower at the same time. Because sex determination prior to flowering is practically impossible, two to four seedling plants are grown together until flowering to assure females for fruit production and males for pollination. You need 1 male for every 10 females to ensure good pollination. (If anyone knows how to tell male vs female by seed please please tell me- I will award you with some fantastic prize;))
Female flowers are borne along the trunk and can be identified by that location and the presence of a miniature papaya fruit inside the base of the flower petals. Male flowers are borne in long sprays that originate along the trunk. Each spray is much-branched with inch-long, trumpet-shaped, male flowers. Bisexual types are practically identical to the females, but have male stamens surrounding the miniature fruit inside the flower petals.
GMO PAPAYAS are a HUGE problem on the island. So I would say ALWAYS get your own seeds from a trusted organic source. My favorites are strawberry and sunrise papaya- and if you live on the East side or Northshore, you can get organic papaya from Laulima, Ono Farms, and Mana Foods.
I always start from seed- so after enjoying a really strong healthy looking organic papaya, save the seeds in a jar, and fill the jar with a hard spray of water to clean off any excess papaya goop. I then strain, and lay the seeds out in a warm dry place on a paper towel or piece of cardboard to dry out a bit before planting. I recommend direct sowing, as papayas don't like being transplanted too much- but if you do decide to begin in pots, just be careful not to disturb the tap-root when planting.
My favorite way to plant a papaya is to dig a good deep hole, and fill the bottom of the hole with compost- or if you don't have compost- you can actually bury your materials right into the hole. A few food scraps, veggie scraps, if you have any comfrey or chicken manure they would love that too;) then I cover the compost layer with a good 5-10 inches of soil....this ensures that the plant is not going to be directly planted into compost or food scraps, but rather, that you give the plant something to grow towards- to reach for. You have just given the plant a reason to spread it's roots deep and wide to get some delicious food.
I would love to eventually begin selling organic starts- but right now we only grow starts for our farm and we share with our neighbors. My friend Jason Eno has just taken over ownership of Hana Nursery and should be coming out with organic veggie starts this year. I will keep you posted. happy plantin':)
Are you guys still full at Hana Farms? You are by far my top choice, i met so many people who raved about working there. DO you have a waiting list?
ReplyDelete- Maureen- thanx ;)<3
ReplyDelete- Frank and Marianne, right now we don't offer farm tours. But hopefully soon:)
- And, regarding future openings. Yes, I am going to begin a waiting list starting May 1st- Right now we have a couple of very patient WWOOFers who have been waiting for the next slot. But, we should have a couple more spaces opening this summer- so best bet is to send an amazing e-mail to wwoofhanafarms@gmail.com
and be patient, we get A TON of e-mails for the summer. Mahalo nui loa to everyone who has been waiting to get in, and thank you for the wonderful e-mails, and encouragement while i have been away. Much love~
aloha, silly question but would like to know for sure,is there wwoofer age minimum at Hana? namaste...
ReplyDeleteI am interested in knowing if Rebekah from Hana Farms ever helps other farms on the islands to set up successful work-exchange programs. I run a farm on the Big Island and have had a terrible experience with wwoofers being lazy, smoking pot, and looking at the process as just a 'free-stay'. It would be wise if you began working with other farms on the islands as you have quite a reputation now (I heard about you from Pat in Hilo). You could make a side business out of it. Well, please think about it. I sent you a message also through the hanafarmsonline.com but I hadn't heard back yet, so I hope you don't mind me commenting here. I would love to invite you to visit our farm anytime. Keep up the great work over there.
ReplyDeleteRebecca I would like to introduce to you Matt Lane who is doing island wide gardens and raising awareness about the importance of utilizing this precious lands resources to grow healthy food to supply for the people of these islands. You would really be a tremendous help to him. Can you contact him please at:
ReplyDeleteWork 808.877.2524
Cell 808.357.0920
m_lane@hotmail.com