2010 was a big year for us, moving from the scale of garden scale production to small commerical quantities of a number of products-- and we're pleased to report that these flew out the door! This year we've probably doubled production capacity once again, especially in the taro planting, as the quality of the waena farmed product has proved to be uncommonly high and in great demand. We're interested in working with local poi producers who may have needs for particular varieties that can often be hard to find. Let us know, as we'll plant them for you!
Our small scale aquaponics system has also proven to be a great boon and a very scalable design for the small producer, capable of netting returns on investment in short order, and as designed as a modular system is easily expanded to accommodate new products. We can't imagine the farm without it any more and would encourage a well thought out system for any small producer. Ours is completely off grid, and automated and we've got 150 square feet of grow tables that run off of one 130 watt solar panel. This system will produce 5 crops a year at a density of 1 lb a square foot in premium greens.
As for the forestry part of the project, our earliest koa plantings(3 years) are now approaching an average of 20 feet in height and we're accelerating the program, hoping to put a hundred more in the ground this spring. The nitrogen fixing effects are becoming notable already and the trees and proximity planting are flourishing. We're hoping this year some of our trees may be mature enough to begin to set their own seed, if so, that's going to be a major victory in closing the on site cycle. Wish us luck!
2010 was a big year for us, moving from the scale of garden scale production to small commerical quantities of a number of products-- and we're pleased to report that these flew out the door! This year we've probably doubled production capacity once again, especially in the taro planting, as the quality of the waena farmed product has proved to be uncommonly high and in great demand. We're interested in working with local poi producers who may have needs for particular varieties that can often be hard to find. Let us know, as we'll plant them for you!
Our small scale aquaponics system has also proven to be a great boon and a very scalable design for the small producer, capable of netting returns on investment in short order, and as designed as a modular system is easily expanded to accommodate new products. We can't imagine the farm without it any more and would encourage a well thought out system for any small producer. Ours is completely off grid, and automated and we've got 150 square feet of grow tables that run off of one 130 watt solar panel. This system will produce 5 crops a year at a density of 1 lb a square foot in premium greens.
As for the forestry part of the project, our earliest koa plantings(3 years) are now approaching an average of 20 feet in height and we're accelerating the program, hoping to put a hundred more in the ground this spring. The nitrogen fixing effects are becoming notable already and the trees and proximity planting are flourishing. We're hoping this year some of our trees may be mature enough to begin to set their own seed, if so, that's going to be a major victory in closing the on site cycle. Wish us luck!
