WCCC

In preparation for the two new community gardens (and greenhouse) at the Bachelot and Wahiawa locations we’ve been visiting hydroponic (and aquaponic) systems all over the island.  The other day we visited the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Waimanalo.  We were given a wonderful tour by the effervescent Chaplain Bonnie Holcombe.  The garden that they’ve established there is truly an oasis.  Not only were there four flourishing varieties of lettuce, there was a lush wall of tomato vines, an herb garden, and a really impressive composting set-up.  The women in charge of each section briefed us on the set-up and maintenance of each area.  What was really interesting was that some of the women had progressed to the point of experimenting with mini systems.  One woman was trying to grow taro with a bucket!

Everyone was so lovely to us.  The beauty and functionality of their program was inspiring.  Chaplain Bonnie told us that they had documented their process in manuals and were very happy to share their lessons learned.  Each of these visits takes us a step closer to Lanakila realizing some of its own dreams.

First Steps Forward, Marching for Meals

Here’s something short we put together to share the fire spark of spirit in this year’s  March for Meals.

On March 24, 2010, hundreds of citizens, of all ages, gathered at Honolulu Hale.  Most were holding signs.  Signs that read End Senior Hunger.  And together they walked, carefully over the cracking sidewalks, to the state capitol building to get the attention of elected official and voice their alarm over cuts to funding that had been allocated for senior services.

This is the March for Meals. 

Olomana Garden

We visited Olomana Garden in Waimanalo last week.  We’re hoping to establish an aquaponic garden at our Wahiawa location as part of the new greenhouse and two community gardens.  Tom from Olomana took us on a breathtaking tour of Glen Martinez’s amazing permaculture farm.  The simplicity of their natural farming techniques was so inspiring.  We got so caught  up in the beauty of the place and the possibilities that we decided we’d have to go back and take the tour again.  There were a few examples of aquaponic and composting set-ups that, in theory, could be easy for us to set-up.  See slideshow.