Food-producing agroforestry landscapes for Hawaii

publication about food-producing landscapes: AGROFORESTRY LANDSCAPES FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS

This publication focuses on low-input, self-sufficient, and sustainable techniques for growing food in the Pacific. The chapters cover a range of time-tested traditional agroforestry systems, modern agroforestry systems, local sources of soil fertility, pest and disease control, livestock, and getting started with planning and implementation. 

Download the chapters below or purchase the book Agroforestry Landscapes for Pacific Islands at Amazon.com. 

Sustainable Traditional Agricultural Systems of the Pacific Islands by Harley I. Manner. Covers key patterns in traditional Pacific agroforestry systems and presents example agroforestry systems that could be adapted in modern day.	Enhancing Soil Function and Plant Health with Locally Available Resources by Ted Radovich, Archana Pant, Amjad Ahmad, Craig Elevitch, and Nguyen Hue. Focuses on the use of locally available resources to enhance soil function and plant health in the short and long term. The emphasis is on a description of the inputs, pros and cons of use, specific conditions in Hawai‘i and recommendations for food producers.
Pest and Disease Control Strategies for Sustainable Pacific Agroecosystems by Hector Valenzuela. Covers recommended production practices that may be used in agroforestry systems of the Pacific and tropical regions to create resilient production systems and enhance and protect the natural resources on the farm.	Small-scale Livestock Production in Agroforestry Landscapes by Glen Fukumoto. Covers integration of livestock into Pacific Island environments, including local fodder and sustainable waste management.
Grower’s Guide to Pacific Island Agroforestry Systems: Information Resources, and Public Assistance Programs by Craig Elevitch, Garien Behling, Michael Constantinides, and James B. Friday. Describes ten of the most important agroforestry systems of the Pacific Islands and associated practices supported by technical and financial assistance programs through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other state and federal programs. Includes a resources section (technical guides, periodicals, organizations, and species information).	Getting Started with Food-producing Agroforestry Landscapes in the Pacific by Craig Elevitch. Introduces Pacific agroforestry systems in general, and presents the benefits of these systems compared with monocultures and ornamental landscapes. Covers water issues, soil fertility, selecting an agroforestry system, establishment, maintenance, species selection, crops and example systems, and recommended resources.
"Benefits of perennial edible landscapes: A primer for agricultural professionals" How can we address common obstacles to home grown food? What are the benefits of food-producing perennial landscapes? How can people grow food in their home landscapes without increasing their costs? This primer addresses these questions and offers guidance for promoting food-producing landscapes.	"Food-producing agroforestry landscapes for Pacific Islands: A policy brief" summarizes the main conclusions of this project for policy makers.

AGROFORESTRY FOR FOOD SECURITY AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS

There is a growing movement towards the use of perennial food plants in private and public landscapes. This project took place 2011-2015, bringing together expertise from throughout Hawai'i to train professionals in food-producing agroforestry landscapes.

The project resulted in a book that is available for free download (see below). Also, five workshops took place throughout Hawai'i during the first half of 2015 and many of the presentations and some photos are available for download. 

PROJECT SPONSORS

This project is a collaboration of Agroforestry Net and Hawai‘i Homegrown Food Network with sponsorship of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.

Workshops

Creative agroforestry for food production in home, farm, and community landscapes

Agroforestry landscapes are models of productive, low input systems that have sustained people for centuries in Hawai'i. Farmers, homeowners, and communities are rediscovering the many benefits of agroforestry. This workshop gave participants an introduction to best practices in establishing and maintaining a working agroforestry landscape tailored to their needs. Presentations combined traditional, modern, and local knowledge to enable participants to get started on their own systems, avoiding pitfalls. The workshops took place in 2015 on Moloka'i (March 21), Kaua'i (April 25-26), Maui (June 12-13), Kona (June 20-21), and O’ahu (June 27-28). Over 240 attendees and 30 presenters participated in the five workshops. A selection of workshop photos and presentations is below.

Topics included:

• Important Pacific island crops and agroforestry practices
• Enhancing soil function using locally available resources
• Pest and disease prevention strategies
• Food forestry for home and commercial use
• Advice and techniques for landscapers
• Hawaiian cultural perspective on Pacific Island agroforestry 
• Strategies for converting to agroforestry systems
• USDA NRCS assistance programs that support agroforestry practices
• Integrating livestock and poultry
• Local experiences in agroforestry system implementation

Workshop presentations

Workshop sponsors

The "Creative agroforestry for food production in home, farm, and community landscapes" workshops were presented as a collaboration of Agroforestry Net and Hawai‘i Homegrown Food Network with sponsorship of the USDA Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program in collaboration with local partners.

Contact information