 This is Think Tech Hawaii, Community Matters here. We have another episode of the Hawaii Food and Farmers series, so welcome back, it's my week. I'm really excited. I have two Go Farmers with me and they are Miles and JC, welcome guys. Thanks. So, I haven't had a Go Farmer on in a little bit and I'm excited because I've been in the food system, like I was telling you earlier, it's just so multi-layered, I could get anyone, anyone that's doing anything is connected with the food system, so your Go Farmer, can you tell me a little bit about where you go farm and what you grow and what's happening? Yeah, so we go farm in Waminalo at the Windward UH Ag Research Station and we have a nice plot kind of in the middle of the property and we grow kind of a wide variety of vegetables aimed toward the CSA model where you have a, you need to grow a variety to deliver something a little different every week. Oh, okay. And then you folks work in tandem, so JC, do you also farm? I know you are, have been involved in a lot of different farming, a lot of the farm community, can you tell us a little bit of? I've been pursuing herbalism recently and so I just got back on island and jumped right into the farming as well. We both put practices to use that we've acquired over years farming, so we're going to together. How long have you both been in agriculture? You can go first, I have to think. I started farming right out of college, studied environmental science and wanted to get into one of the issues that I found pretty daunting which are our current methods in agriculture. So I just started volunteering at a bunch of farms and wanted to learn kind of the whole spectrum and I then got into nutrition also, so it kind of just all merged together after that. I wanted to grow good healthy food and grow it in a way that's good for the planet too. So ever since out of college, quite a few years now. And was that like in Hawaii or you did that and then came to Hawaii? I did that, I graduated from college in Missouri and then I moved out to Hawaii about five years ago. I've been farming here also like ever since then. And then how much are you miles? I'd say probably three years. Oh. Yeah, so not really that long and it started like three years after I graduated from UH. What did you graduate with, where were you going to UH? I was going for a degree in natural resource management. Oh yes, yes, yes, yes. So I finished in like 2011 and then I was working for a private conservation contracting company, doing field work for a while. And then you folks came together, Kawamana, in Waianae. How was that? Where, I mean, they really have been pioneers in a lot of things, I mean, lots of kind of like cool, innovative, different ideas from the west side. So how was it working there? Learned plenty, liked it. They became my family away from home pretty much. I learned a lot there, grew a lot there. And I actually was, I think, market manager with my title there at the time he came along and so I was helping build a small retail shop at the entrance of their cafe. And then Miles came and was full time on the farm and as a non-profit they just kind of have you as a year by year contract and ours were both up at about the same time. We had grown a lot there and taken a lot from there and still are involved with them as much as possible, refer people to them all the time, love what they do. Right, they're like your family. Yeah. But, you know, at some point you kind of have to ask yourself if you want to start your own. So from when we left there until now it's been kind of a curve towards getting to that point and joining GoFarm was a big step in that direction. How did you guys find GoFarm? Let's see, I kind of knew about it since it's inception and I think I first heard about it when I was woofing at Mulhollah Farms in 2014 so I spent like three months there and I actually applied for the Leeward GoFarm and I got in but then I didn't know how I was going to make it happen. That's right, you had like a bunch of other things going on. Actually no, I applied for the Windward GoFarm while I was living with no car and a tent on a farm on the North Shore so I got to scratch that farm. Yeah, so that wasn't going to work out that time, huh? That wasn't the one you were meant to be in, that wasn't the one that you were meant to be in. You've been farming for more than three years then. Not really, no. There's only three months there, maybe a year and a half ago and a year or three GoFarm. And thoughts on GoFarm? I mean this isn't like me, it's not like, so anyway, let's promo GoFarm. Okay, and I feel like all the people know if they've watched it. There's no biased opinions here. Yeah, this is all voluntary but what have been some of the standout things, I mean because you've obviously, you both have worked on different farms with different people in the agricultural industry. I mean I'm always interested to see like what was it about GoFarm that like helped you get to wherever it is that you were trying to go. Yeah, I can speak on this one. So basically like working like Mahalo Farms and Kahumana Farms was like crucial in gaining like prior knowledge and prior experience and like different seeing how you know things are done in different ways and then coming to GoFarm it's like okay it's a structure now where you learn you know different theories and soil science and in classroom and then go out in the field and apply principles and kind of learn things in a structured environment and learn things you know how to do things efficiently and operate on a small scale which can't really find anywhere else in the country really. It's an affordable class and you stick through it through the end and you get access to land in one of the hardest places on earth to get access to your own land. This is true. Yeah and it's experiential learning you know it's not just a classroom but you get to put to practice everything you've learned on the land you know and it's attainable for GoFarm. And I feel like it provides that this is what I've noticed as me being on the farm for in what it is that we're teaching one I mean if you want to geek out on the science we have a lot of science geeks out there man they're just like the farm wizards of the kingdom so that has been that's been actually a really great takeaway I mean just knowing like while there's if you want to geek out there is that but then also that hard work is like a hold and I feel like it's hard physical work but I could see why people would love it like just sort of being out there. Okay so I also brought you out here because Miles went through all the phases he has his plot how big is your plot. Like a little bit over a quarter acre but basically just enough to call a quarter acre. And what do you folks grow. We grow a large variety of vegetables pretty much everything that you're all used to already greens so greens including kale, collard greens, fish chard and salad mix head lettuce, bok choy, carrots, beets, radishes. Oh what are your carrots doing. They're they've germinated and they're doing well. Yes okay I'm always I always want to know like how's the carrot production. I have a good feeling about it. They're a little finicky but we just don't give up. You can I feel like farming it's I've really integrated this in a lot more of like my workshops and my classes is like if you're gonna go into any type of farming resilience is gonna be really key. If you're just like gonna give up first try like maybe you weren't meant for this life. If you're gonna do it you've got to be all cards in and get gear up and gather all the resources you have and say you're a hundred percent in or don't even try it all. Don't even waste don't bother. Where's the one I should look into. Don't go into it if you can't go all the way. I mean you need the passion that's gonna help you peek out when you want to peek out but you also need the physical strength behind it and motivation. And then what about on the remedy side is it in your learning is it how to use all things. Like or the healing properties of all things or how is that going to integrate with what you guys do or move forward with your farm pretty much. So we feel like that the name kind of is all encompassing in that right now the stages that we're growing vegetables and we both see food as your medicine. And so it is kind of a more holistic view on all things natural and cleaner diet and more plant based diet is is really beneficial and we want accessibility to that kind of quality food. And so food is the remedy. Yes. But the vision is to potentially be growing more medicinal herbs too. So you know holistic plant medicine in addition to a holistic diet. I think it's a good move. I mean just as far as you know like what I do for us has a lot to do with the marketplace. So when you're just looking at where things are going and where there's leverage or room. I mean there's so much opportunity but I feel like health is very is very high up there. Can you put the picture of we're gonna give you guys a little really love this one. I really love this one. So this is in Waimanalo for everyone who's looking and doesn't know where that is. It's like the iconic Waimanalo mountain view. And this is your guys plot I'm assuming. No you just went next door and took a picture. Let's go over there to their plot. Can you tell me a little bit about the conditions in Waimanalo just because I feel like sometimes people don't if you don't grow food and you are not a farmer I feel like that doesn't always correlate or there's also some people who never leave Waimanalo and or go into Waimanalo. So what's it like in Waimanalo? Well personally I love living there. It's got everything I need in life and I don't ever need to leave. That's great. I'm one of the types who's never curious about what was ever on the other side of the hill. I mean that's besides the point but if you can successfully farm in Waimanalo you can pretty much have success anywhere because I think it's one of the most challenging places in the world to grow vegetables just because Hawaii's isolation is kind of a blessing and a curse. We've constantly got a new pest coming in. I heard that's where all the pests go to retire. That's what Jay said. Yeah I mean there's it's been an agricultural research station for years and years and there's been it's just kind of a pest magnet and yeah like I said things new things are constantly coming in and nothing ever leaves. And it is seasonal there yeah it is sort of like really really hot in the summer shouldn't grow greens should grow okra. Kind of beg to differ. It's more rain. I think why and I is the exception to where it's hot and you should maybe use caution in what you grow. I think with good irrigation you can do anything you want your around in Waimanalo. It's just the tad cooler than anywhere else. It usually has nice cooling breezes and not currently. But you know when it rains it gets really hot and muggy and the clouds just kind of sock in against the mountain and it never things never really dry out. You know what loves heat and humidity and moisture is the view. Yeah so the challenge the challenge let's all just kind of go down the list. The challenges are a never-ending pest cycle because unlike the mainland winter doesn't freeze everything over and kill insects for a season. So the insects are never-ending and the diseases and bacterial rots are intense during moist weather especially during the winter season when it'll rain and things will never really dry out because it'll rain and it'll be cloudy and it'll just keep raining. Okay just only one more. Okay I'm sorry. I'm painting a really good picture. Hold on hold on. Painting a really good picture. I said we're going to go to break and then we're going to come back and we're going to talk about all the good things. Yeah. So last, last challenge of the, so we have pest diseases. Diseases and not funny, not funny. Yes and let's see soil. Oh soil. Our soil type is also kind of a blessing and a curse. It's a mollusal clay. Don't, I'm pretty confident in that answer. No, no, no. I'm going to go farm graduate. We're just reforming. So I've got the credentials. But it's very compact clay soil so when it rains you have to like wait at least three days before you can do anything with the soil. But very rich. But very rich. Yeah. Botanic, beautiful rich things are looking up. It is naturally, it is naturally as opposed to the central Oahu iron oxide orange soils. We're very naturally mineral rich. So we've got abundance of naturally occurring minerals but it's hard soil to work with, challenging soil to work with. Well I feel like that was enough for everyone to chew on before they're going to head out there or just that I think the point is it's not, it's just not an easy ride. You're going to have some soil. Got to have some knowledge. Got to have some knowledge. Okay, we're going to take a quick break and then we're going to come back and we're going to talk about all the cool, exciting, happy things about farming. Yeah, take it away guys. This is Think Tech Hawaii, raising public awareness. Hawaii Standard Time for an insightful discussion of contemporary Asian affairs. There's so much to discuss and the guests that we have are very, very well informed. Just think we have the upcoming negotiation between President Trump and Kim Jong-un, the possibility of Xi Jinping, the leader of China remaining in power forever. We'll see you then. If you're not in control of how you see yourself, then who is? Live above the influence. And we are here with Roots and Remedies from Waimanalo and this is Miles and JC and they're talking to us about being new farmers, growing new things. And one of the main things that is coming up is you folks have a winter CSA that's about to launch in October-ish in October. It's coming up really quick. And I kind of just wanted to do a little bit of what is a CSA and why is that important? Do you think you can tell us? Because I feel like we get that a lot. I always tell people the quick version is it's like a food box or a food bag. But I feel like the drawn out version is so much more than that. I feel like it's- It's origin. Yes, yes, yes. So it stands for community supported agriculture and the idea I think was initiated in more seasonal growing areas. That makes sense because that's why it's like the weeks that they got it. Okay. Right. And asking your community members to support you in a way where they give you money up front is beneficial for the farmer to do a lot of things that cost a lot in the beginning of the season. You know, seed and equipment and all these things to set up and then- Compost, fertilizer. Well, I mean the list goes on. But here it's still, I mean it's still showing your support by being willing to pay up front to your farmer and commit. Really, it's about commitment and that support, that commitment and, you know, wanting to have that farmer be your farmer is, it creates a relationship. And so what we do then on our end is we have that support from that community member. Usually it's for residents, you know, and you get an entire box or bag of veggies. We offer seven to ten items in our box and then you receive that box weekly. And it's a variety, you know, we make sure that there's a good balance to it. You know, you always want to get some greens and some roots, maybe some culinary herbs. And maybe some new things you've never worked with before. It can encourage you to kind of broaden your spectrum of using vegetables and, you know, you know that you're getting it from a good quality source. Whereas the gamble in a grocery store can be that it's imported or fresh. You know who the source is. You know it personally. You will actually interact with that person. And if you wanted to get into it, you could go to where it is being grown. Exactly. And we love visitors. We've already had some cakey to our plot and the kids are really, it's fun to spark that interest in them and have them see that carrots aren't just, you know, from a bag in the grocery store. That everything comes from a place. And little nubs, you know, have tops and they're pointy and they come out of the ground. So how long do subscriptions usually last? And then do they come around seasonally as well? Or what has your been, what is the take from your farm? So the plan is to do eight months out of the year. So the CSA for four months, short break, and then another CSA for four months. So it's basically a CSA for eight months out of the year because we need some time to rest and recuperate and during that time it also takes time to grow things. The soil as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like all things, all holistically connected. We'll probably be growing every month out of this year just because it's our first year and we're going to try and work as hard as we can to put some money in the bank and get things going. So we'll probably hope the hope is to maybe get some restaurant accounts going every week and we'll be at, we're just applied to be at the Saturday morning Cacaaco farmers market. That ham? That is the farmers market. Oh, that's great. So we're going to try to establish a presence there and get the word out. I think that's good. And that'll encourage us to continually sow crop successions and not get lazy. And we want to be available more than just for those who, you know, for those who can't commit to that long of a period of time or whole box, you know, we want to be able to interact with the greater community also and that provides that opportunity and some exposure. But this CSA, the winter CSA will be 16 weeks. So we're going to start mid-October and we'll go through January. Can you put up the other photo? There it is. Yay. There it is. All the info. All the info right there. And then if they wanted to contact you, I mean, the information is on the flyer, but you also, you folks are also on the social network as well. Yeah. And we're going to put that up. Oh, there it is. Is that correct? That's correct. There it is. So that's their Instagram that was just flashed. Root underscore remedy. And I feel like I have seen that you folks have been posting and kind of like, yeah. Not me. Not I. I have seen a shift. JC does the Instagram. We like to share the knowledge and the beauty. Yeah. And the values of your farm. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And that way also of email. Just call us. Phone numbers. Pick up the phone and old fashioned style. Oh, Miles likes that old fashioned style. I will. You'll hear my voice and I'll hear your voice and we'll communicate. She's like, well, or you can send us an email or DM us on Instagram. Yes. Yes. So always, always and methods. And that's going to be launching pretty soon. So I think that it's so cool that you'll also be doing going to test out the farmer's market. Kylu said, no. Cock-a-doodle. Cock-a-doodle. Cock-a-doodle. Saturdays. I kind of test that market too. So people are looking for, I feel like people are. And everyone in Jen's society is sort of like at some point you're running for some type of connection with reality. And I feel like if you're in town a lot or if you're in the country a lot like kind of having that place or space to merge. Yeah. It's helpful. So that is the main product. Is that correct? That is like the main product is the 16 week CSA. So it's $30. But then everybody pays up front. Yeah. They pay for the 16 weeks. Yeah. So yeah. 16 weeks of $30 a week adds up to 480. And it is asked to be paid up front. But we're also willing to work with you. Just give us a call and we'll try to figure out. See what's the vibe. A plan that works for both. See what's the vibe. And then when you're thinking about the future for I mean I know like you're fresh in it. Like we're doing subscriptions. We're doing markets. We're germinating. What do you hope for the future of agriculture or the future of your farm or in Hawaii? Like you know next three years. Try to give a timeline on that. Before I used to just let people go. I used to just let people go. And then you used to get like way, way far. Like oh how about just three years now. Okay. Yeah. I think programs like GoFarm are going to have a significant impact on the future of farming in Hawaii. He just believes this on his own you guys. This is not. This is not. Endorsement. No. I'm seeing it firsthand. I'm seeing you know you educate someone and then you give them the opportunity to grow. And then you know it's great you know. Not the magic happen but I think it has to happen. There's no other choice. If it doesn't happen you know the. Gonna be a bummer. Yeah it's kind of grim. The other side of the story. We're making changes little by little. So we hope to be a testament to that. And see you know a little less imported and a little more production on Island. That is very awesome. Thank you guys so much for coming over the mountain and coming into the downtown and coming up the elevator and being in this room with no windows. I'm so grateful for all the work that you folks are doing and I'm super excited to see like all the new. I'm excited for the remedies component. I'm excited to also have another farmer like in the like on the street in the game in the game because they feel like the more real ones that are there that are sort of even just like neighborhood style. I think is a good key like there's room in there. We've got a lot of passion to share. All right everyone that is the end of today's Food and Farmer series. Miles and JC. Root and Remedy. Roots and Remedies. PSA subscription. See you later.