Subsistence Farming - Hawaii

We live in an unusual tropical environment (near Kapoho, on the Big Island of hawaii) where growing our own food is enjoyable.

Sustainable food production is different in Hawaii than in most of the mainland United States. In many parts of the world, growing all of one’s food without the use of machinery for farming or processing requires a large input of human labor. Personally, I find it hard to imagine trying to support myself by growing wheat or rice, for example, using my own physical labor. I would if I had to, but I cannot see myself cultivating annual grains just for the love of it.

However, in Hawaii, a family can create a sustainable subsistence farm and provide all of their own food without suffering or undue hardship. In this environment, growing all your own food is actually easy and fun.

I’ll give you six reasons:
1) We have a 12 month growing season. This means that all year round, fresh food is available without any need for food preservation or storage. There is no dormant season, and no particular harvest season. The harvest is spread out over the year. No canning, no refrigeration, no grain silos necessary.

2) In Hawaii, there is a large variety of high quality food plants available for cultivation. The reason is that over the past century, plant collectors have been importing the most interesting and useful plant varieties from every continent over the world. Over a hundred varieties of fruits, greens, nuts, carbohydrates, medicines, herbs, spices, and more, are available for us to cultivate here on our farm. This means that not only one’s vegetables, but staple foods, flavorings, beverages… the whole diet can be grown on the land. I cannot express in words the delicious taste experiences I have access to here on our farm.

3) We have relatively few pests. No deer, squirrels, rabbits, nor gophers. No poisonous snakes. No poisonous insects. We do have fruit flies, and some other insects, as well as birds, mice, wild pigs, and rats, but on our homestead, damage from pests is no big deal. Especially in tropical areas around the world, pests can be a big problem. Here on isolated Hawaii, we reap the benefits of the tropical climate without having to battle an abundance of other creatures for the bounty.

4) Many of the useful and edible plants here are tree crops. This means that one can grow one’s entire diet without tilling the soil ever. No plowing, no tractors, no saving nor sowing seeds, no bending over pulling tiny weeds. Once the orchards are planted, the trees need to be maintained, but the effort is less each year, and the detrimental effect on the soil structure is averted. When I plant a single breadfruit tree, for example, I can expect to harvest hundreds of pounds of staple foods every year for the next 50 years. Compare this to the work involved in replanting grains or tubers year after year.

5) There is no dry season. This reduces, and sometimes eliminates, the need for irrigation.

6) There is an abundance of other kindred spirits on the islands. It is a pleasure to have the support and friendship of other sustainable farmers in our area.

As an added bonus, the temperature never goes below sixty degrees. This means you can get by without walls, or even windows for that matter (a roof is definitely a plus, though). There is no need to chop wood for winter heating or fill your furnace with fossil fuel.

I’m telling you, I am no martyr. I consider myself a very lucky guy, living a sweet life. Don’t get me wrong; it’s physical work, but in healthful proportion. I highly recommend it.