Aquaponics, Bananas, Hamakua Coast, Hydroponics, Lettuce, Peak Oil, Sustainability, Taro/Poi, Water, Where We Live

Conversations With My Mom

4 Comments

Richard Ha writes:

I took Mom to Hamakua Springs to get a few tilapia for her dinner.

Mom1

While we were there, we looked at some of the things we have going on.

Corn field

Corn
 
Corn field
Hamakua Springs bananas
 
Corn field
Hydroponic lettuce, with special procedures to control slugs
 

Corn field

Sweet potatoes

Corn field

Zucchini

One thing that strikes me is how much water we have running through our 600-acre farm. We must maximize its usage.

Reservoir

Water Supply will build a new reservoir adjacent to this one and bring electricity right through the farm to the new well, which is right behind this reservoir

I really want to raise tilapia when the price of oil goes so high that bringing it in from Asia is prohibitive.

Tilapia for mom

Tilapia for Mom. These are the small ones, to fry crispy.

And, while doing that, we want to demonstrate how Hawaiians were self-sufficient in ancient days.

Then while we are at it, we want to reforest the streams with ‘ohi‘a, koa, bamboo, kukui, hapu‘u, etc.

  1. Also, how about aquaponics with tilapia and taro?
  2. How about a certified kitchen to make lomi salmon, poi and other things where we and other farmers can add value?
  3. What about classes for at-risk students?
  4. Maybe a permanent imu.
  5. Events set around food?
  6. How about showing how food was produced then and now – ancient and modern?

Mom and I always have these kinds of conversations. I like it.

4 thoughts on “Conversations With My Mom”

  1. Richard, I like your list of ‘how abouts’ and if there is anything I can do to help with any of them, let me know… Imua!

  2. Sonia. Absolutely. I will definitely ask for your advise and help. Mahalo for offering. I enjoy working with you.
    Aloha

  3. Beautiful and impressive farm. Is there some reason grapes, strawberries and water melons have to be imported? California strawberries were over $7 per lb at Safeway yesterday. HECO raised the kw-hr rate last month, due to oil price going up, so they say. And yet the price of oil has declined by over 30% the past month. Is HECO going to decrease their kw-hr rate by 30% next month? Easy answer – no. PUC really needs to crack down on HECO price fixing.

  4. Strawberries and grapes need refrigeration. The sooner we drive our electricity costs down with geothermal –the sooner we will become food secure.

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