Maui Come and Gone

Kicking and screaming I've returned. We all had an amazing time and were welcomed with open arms at O'o Farm and Haliimaile Community Garden. We also toured several native botanical gardens that are hard at work preserving endangered species and agricultural traditions. It was truly an honor to share my time learning about farming on Maui and meeting the wonderful people behind the cause. Of course plenty of pictures are on there way, but in the meantime here are a couple from different hikes on the island.

Gone to Maui

Seeds in the City is off to explore island farming life for the next ten days. I found this great map on the Maui County Farm Bureau website that shows all the different farms and gardens. I will be volunteering at O'o farms and I can't wait to see how things are done over on the island. There will be MANY photos to follow. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on places to visit.

Planting For Pollinators

Seed World magazine ran an article last December that contained some pretty startling statistics. The author, Shannon Shindel, stated the facts, “at LEAST 80% of the worlds crop species require pollination with an estimated one out of every three bites of food coming to us through the work of animal pollinators which includes birds, bees, butterflies, bats and beetles that transfer pollen between plants... the declines in health and population of pollinators in North America and globally pose a significant threat to biodiversity, the food chain and human health”.

What Can We Do?

We can try to provide food, shelter and a water source for these hard workers and eliminate pesticide use if at all possible. In our garden we haven’t put one drop of chemical in or around our garden and yes there are pest galore but also an amazing amount of Beneficial’s that are helping to maintain a balance.

The Pollinator Partnership with NAPPC have a wonderful website that gives great tips and if you enter your zip code it provides you with your own personal full color guide specifically tailored to your region. Some of the many plants they suggest for San Diego’s Coastal Chaparral include; Yarrow, Milkweed, California Poppy, Sunflowers, Roses, Lavender, Blueberry, Eggplant, Strawberry, Geranium, Watermelon, Squash and Tomatoes. Also check out UC Berkley's easy to read and understand guide to the Urban Bee Garden.

ECOLIFE Foundation

Ecolife is a local foundation that is truly inspiring. They will be featured on the CBS evening news tonight.


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