Eating Local Moves In Big-time

By Barbara Fahs

It seems to be happening everywhere. From a rooftop garden in Honolulu taro to banana plants in downtown Hilo, edible public landscaping is taking the country by storm.

In this time of rising food costs, the emphasis on eating more locally grown produce and a return to the basics of gardening, it only makes sense that we should be growing food wherever we can.

Honolulu’s First Rooftop Garden

Rooftop gardens have existed in large cities such as New York for many years. This unique use of space is now spreading to Honolulu, where the first such garden will be built on top of the Automart USA car dealership in Kakaako, according to news on the websites HawaiiNewsNow and CityFarmer on January 4 and 5. A company called FarmRoof is partnering with Kamehameha Schools and other organizations to create a certified organic farm that will encompass 38,000 square feet. The intent is to redevelop this part of town into a “healthy and sustainable urban community.” When the harvest is ready, kale, arugula and mustard greens will help to supply community members, chefs and retailers with fresh local greens.

Hilo Is Becoming an Edible Garden

In Hilo, the Natural Farming Hawaii group has planted taro, bananas and other edibles such as papaya trees in median strips and other areas that were previously wasted ground. In partnership with the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association, the group has only just begun to beautify Hilo with edible landscaping. Their first area is located at the intersection of Mamo, Keawe and Kilauea streets, near the Hilo Farmers Market. Their use of natural farming methods and local materials such as coconut husk mulch from the farmers market are helping to create verdant gardens in the middle of city streets.

Sam Robinson, Coordinator of the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association’s “Let’s Grow Hilo” project explained the decision that prompted the launching of edible landscaping: “It started as a guerrilla movement. I just started planting things around town. It’s a project I’ve wanted to do since I was a teenager because I love to garden and grow my own food. When I first started planting in Hilo, I got permission from some of the business owners where I was doing plantings, but basically I just started doing it.”

The community has shown enthusiastic support of Let’s Grow Hilo. Sam, acting as Hilo’s “Johnny Appleseed,” has been instrumental in getting local Girl Scout troops involved, as well as securing donations of plants, tools, building materials and the loan of vehicles from the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s agricultural farm in Panaewa. “The University has been a huge help, donating even the screws we needed for the Girl Scouts to build garden boxes. We are entirely a volunteer organization, so all help and supplies are an integral part of moving our goals forward.”

What does the future hold for the downtown edible landscaping project? Robinson added, “We hope to expand our garden areas to all of downtown, which includes all the streets up to Kapiolani. And we hope that other towns on the island will also pick up on the idea. We’ll be developing a walking map as we add more garden areas so people will know where they can go to pick their own free fruit and vegetables. Our ultimate goal is to give all residents the knowledge and the means to change their diets for the better by providing recipes and education for healthy meals and snacks.”

On the last Sunday of each month, Let’s Grow Hilo holds a community workday, beginning at 2 pm. For more information and details, contact Let’s Grow Hilo at 935-8850, e-mail them at letsgrowhilo@hotmail.com or visit www.ourdowntownhilo.com. They also have a Facebook page called Let’s Grow Hilo.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

More Info:

Honolulu Rooftop Garden: www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16458416/farmroof-goes-up-on-kakaako-car-dealership and www.cityfarmer.info/2012/01/05/fresh-foods-to-be-grown-on-honolulu-rooftops/

Natural Farming Hawaii: http://naturalfarminghawaii.net/big-projects/grow-hilo/

Hilo Downtown Improvement Association: http://downtownhilo.com/

Let’s Grow Hilo: letsgrowhilo@hotmail.com; www.ourdowntownhilo.com