Hāmākua Harvest: Bridging Community and Agriculture
By Britni Schock
Hāmākua Harvest’s mission is to promote and advance Hāmākua agriculture by supporting local farmers, enriching the region’s social fabric, and promoting healthy rural lifestyles for the benefit of Hāmākua’s communities, economy, and environment.
Located just off Māmalahoa Highway (Highway 11) near the town of Honoka‘a, you will see a sign for Sunday’s farmers’ market. This is Hāmākua Harvest, a farm hub in the making, consisting of 70 acres with 15 acres used for operations. Operating branches with both nonprofit and for-profit components, eventually Hāmākua Harvest will be able to support their nonprofit branch with the earnings from their for-profit branch, creating a self-sustained business model.
Michael Gibson, Executive Director of Hāmākua Harvest, says, “It is intended to be a whole system that is vertically and horizontally integrated, completely self-sustained.” Michael is also the owner of Elemental Plants Nursery with knowledge in the areas of business, agriculture and the Hāmākua community.
Michael came to Hawai‘i for the first time nearly 35 years ago and initially came to be a pilot. After six months flying he decided that wasn’t his passion, however Michael had already fallen in love with Hawai‘i. Noting the lack of roadside markets and rich agriculture potential of East Hawai‘i, he was inspired to enroll in various permaculture design courses on the mainland. Being a part of the Hāmākua Ag community, Michael talked to the landowners (where Hāmākua Harvest is now) about his plan to create a farm hub. Michael says, “It’s one thing to have an idea, itʻs another thing to manifest it. I’m totally dependent on a lot of talented people jumping in and putting their names on it.”
Lori Beach, Administrative Director and board member of Hāmākua Harvest comments, “As I see it, our intention is to support small family farmers and personally I’ve been involved in that since the plantations went down 20-plus years ago. This area didn’t really have support for small family farmers because it was all plantations for over 100 years.” Lori continues, “Hāmākua Harvest focuses on the Hāmākua community and the farmers. It is really a way to further the community’s bond with agriculture. We come up with ways to support that, such as the farmers’ market and demonstration orchard.”
The Sunday Farmers’ Market
On Sundays the farm hub hosts a farmers’ market which consists of about 15 vendors displaying local produce, value-added products, and delicious food. During the market, you can enjoy local musicians and entertainment or take part in educational workshops, where you can learn local area history and culture as well as farming methods. The keiki (children) can have fun with different activities set up each week to teach them about their community.
The variety among the vendors makes the stroll through the market unique. Fresh bagels and a hot cup of Hāmākua coffee are there for your liking. Just ask, and the local small business owners will share behind-the-scenes stories about their farms and products.
Papa‘aloa Joe Coffee Company co-owner Jennifer Meyer says, “This is the only market we are at and we do very well.” Jennifer and her husband David offer handpicked coffee that is grown in Pāpa‘aloa, just 30 miles southeast from Hāmākua Harvest. They have been vendors at the Sunday market for almost two years. Beginning by selling their premium coffee beans and David’s handcrafted woodwork, they now sell a variety of treasures at the weekly market.
If you want to have a true farmers’ market experience where you can buy something from the person who grew or crafted it, Hāmākua Harvest Farmers’ Market gives you that authentic experience.
Education and Community
The Keiki Learning Garden is another nonprofit component of Hāmākua Harvest. “We are very interested in serving the community in a really legitimate way. We would like to attract more local people and we see the opportunity through the kids. The kids are the future of agriculture in this district,” says Michael. The farm hub offers weekly classes to Hāmākua youth teaching them about farming, growing food, starting a business, and sustainability. The Hāmākua Youth Foundation has been their partner in creating this educational program.
Hands-on experience also comes from the demonstration farm and orchard on the property. Here the community can participate in activities working with crops and learn about farming in the most economical and sustainable ways. The yield from this three acre orchard will provide the community with locally grown produce.
In addition, Hāmākua Harvest will have a working farm and orchard that produces a variety of fruits and vegetables. “We basically are growing every species and every variety of species that is available in the state in our demonstration orchard, not only to demonstrate and show them off but also as research for our production orchard,” said Michael. The produce will be sold within the community and excess donated to The Food Basket, Hawai‘i Islandʻs Food Bank.
Future Plans
There are other branches of the hub that are in the process of creation including a full-service nursery, selling local trees, vegetables starts, and plants, while also creating income to support the organization. In their effort to utilize green waste, Hāmākua Harvest is planning to have a compost production facility. A farm store will be on the property to support vendors even further and offer a haven of locally made goods to consumers.
Local farmers and artisans will have a venue to sell and promote their products and build their business. Michael says, “Hāmākua Harvest will not only be self-sufficient from the standpoint of energy but with all the activities that go on here. For example, we take all the waste from the farmers’ market, landscape maintenance, the orchard, or anywhere there is organic waste and we turn it into compost. Then we sell compost by the bag at the nursery, or use it in the orchard or for the kidsʻ program.”
As part of their expansion, Hāmākua Harvest will build a processing facility to help farmers with their value-added products. The licensed commercial kitchen will be used for washing and sorting produce to fermenting and flash freezing. This will provide local businesses with a processing facility at an attractive rate in their community.
A learning center is also in the works and will be a place to learn both in the classroom and in the garden. It will be a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about farming, agriculture, and sustainability.
There are also plans to have an affordable housing model that will inspire builders to be more sustainable, using local materials and renewable energy technology.
Vision
As stated by the board of Hāmākua Harvest, “Our vision is a thriving and resilient Hāmākua community where our rich agricultural heritage is honored and cultivated into a collaborative and sustainable future.” ❖
3rd Annual Farm Festival
Hāmākua Harvestʻs 3rd Annual Farm Festival is a growing event that draws from all corners of Hawai‘i Island. Being the official kickoff for Honoka‘a Western Week, the market brings in about 45 vendors, musicians and performers, educational workshops, and a silent auction. There is something for everyone, including the keiki who will enjoy three times more activities at this year’s festival than at last year’s. Michael says, “We put a lot of focus on education during the festival.” The Farm Festival is Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 8am to 3pm at Hāmākua Harvest.
For more information: hamakuaharvest.org
