August 13, 2024

Hawaii Food Security: The Importance of Supporting Local Farms, Growing your Own Food, and Building Community Relationships

In our Hawaiian intentional community, we strive to contribute to the journey toward food sovereignty by focusing on local support, growing our own food, and practicing sustainable living. While we’re still learning and growing, we’re committed to these principles and believe they’re vital for a more resilient and self-sufficient future.

1. Supporting Local Farms: Building Stronger Connections

One of the ways we aim to support food sovereignty is by sourcing produce from local farms. We believe that by buying from nearby growers, we strengthen local economies and create momentum toward a secure and affordable food system on the island. We have community involvement in Hawaii Farmers Union United, and regularly visit farmers’ markets and engage with local farmers, hoping to create a positive impact. Though we’re just a small part of a larger movement, we find value in building these connections and supporting local agriculture.

2. Growing Our Own Food: Embracing a Sustainable Lifestyle

At the heart of our community’s sustainability efforts is our dedication to growing our own food. Our permaculture gardens and food forests are designed to produce a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, and herbs year-round. By implementing permaculture principles, we create self-sustaining ecosystems and closed loop systems that mimic natural processes and minimize waste. Our community members actively participate in planting, maintaining, and harvesting these gardens, which not only ensures a constant supply of nutritious food but also empowers us with a deeper connection to the land.

3. Contributing to Hawaii’s Food Sovereignty: A Collective Effort

We recognize the challenges Hawaii faces in achieving food sovereignty, including the heavy reliance on imported goods. This leaves residents vulnerable to shortages and ever-inflating prices. As a community, we’re dedicated to doing our part by advocating for local agriculture and sharing our experiences. Through Community Garden Days and future workshops, we aim to inspire others and make incremental moves toward self-sufficiency. We know that our efforts are just a small piece of the larger puzzle, but we’re hopeful that they can contribute to a broader change.

4. Building Resilient Communities: Sharing Our Journey

Our focus on local support and growing our own food is part of our ongoing journey. By sharing our successes and learning from our challenges, we hope to encourage others in Hawaii to explore sustainable practices. We’re mindful of the fact that building a resilient food system takes time and collective effort, and we’re grateful to be part of this process.

5. Celebrating Progress and Looking Ahead

As we continue to work towards our goals, we celebrate the small victories and progress we make along the way. From successful harvests to positive interactions with local farmers, we appreciate each step forward. Looking ahead, we remain committed to learning, improving, and supporting the broader movement toward food sovereignty in Hawaii.

In summary, our intentional community is dedicated to supporting local farms, growing our own food, and contributing to Hawaii’s journey towards food sovereignty. We’re still learning and growing, but we’re hopeful that our efforts can make a positive difference. We invite others to join us in this journey and help build a more sustainable and self-reliant future together.

Contact us

Have questions? Reach out to us!

Do you have questions about contribution? Internships? Business inquiries? Fill out the form and we will get back to you as soon as we can!