Olomana gardens

A little while ago, I spent some time at Olomana Gardens learning about aquaponics.

How it works: Aquaponics combines aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soil-less farming in nutrient-rich water). Whereas hydroponics traditionally uses petroleum-based fertilizers in the water, aquaponic systems rely on fish waste and water to provide the nutrients for the fruits and vegetables.

Fish poop–with the help of some naturally occurring bacteria–apparently makes great plant food. The water and fish waste pass through a few floats of plants, the plants absorb the nutrients and clean the water, and the water returns to the fish tank. It’s an ecosystem that relies on very few inputs–like chemical fertilizer or water–because its organically fertilized water is constantly recycled.

Though many urban and impoverished areas are looking into aquaponics as a new model of farming (since it doesn't require dirt and very little space), I wouldn't say it's the farming of the future...just one aspect of it. One of the main drawbacks of aquaponics are the many "single points of failure"...if one part breaks, the whole system can fail.

Glenn Martinez of Olomana Gardens still farms using old-fashioned dirt, too, but believes in a permaculture system similar to that in aquaponics--where his geese, ducks and chickens fertilize the water that feeds his taro.

The next cycle begins...

Agritourism comes to Oahu

A few weeks ago, as a guest on the Haleiwa Farmers' Market North Shore Farm Tour, a busload of us headed country for a tour of a few North Shore farms. Haleiwa Farmers' Market (partnering with E Noa tours) hopes to add more farms and tours (i.e. a chocolate tour and Waianae tour) in the future, but for now, it's just this one, running twice a week to Poamoho Organic Produce, Waialua Sugar Mill and North Shore Cattle Co.

Above, Al Santoro on 7-acre Poamoho Organic Produce--the second largest organic farm on Oahu, after MA'O--which lies between Poamoho Gulch and Mt. Ka'ala. A former naval intelligence officer, he and his wife, Joan, converted former sugar cane land to an orchard which now fruits (when in season) mangoes, longan, lychee, Meyer lemons, limes, papayas, starfruit, tangerines, avocadoes, among others.


Chickens and ducks eat any fruit that fall to the ground, helping to keep the bug population down, while also of course providing eggs.


After Poamoho, we make a stop at the Waialua Sugar Mill, which Haleiwa Farmers' Market manager Pam Boyar likes to include on the tour to give a sense of history of the region, where most of the land used to be in sugar production. The smell of roasted coffee greets us and outside, crates of cacao pods are being delivered. We also sample Island X's shave ice with syrup that's made with real, local fruit like mango and pineapple.


Last stop: North Shore Cattle Co, where Ryan Lum talks of their cattle operations at the top of Haleiwa. We finish with a picnic lunch amongst gorgeous views.