History of Food Sourcing/Production in Hawai'i...
Before Jamba Juice and Starbucks came around there was just farms all across the land. The people of Hawai’i traveled the pacific islands in search for a new home until they finally came across the Hawaiian Islands. They came and introduced pigs and chickens from Asia and then started to plant a mixture of imported vegetables and fruits. They came with ‘Awa, Kalo, Ki, Ko, Mai’a, Noni, ‘Ohe, Niu, ‘Olena, ‘Uala, Uhi, ‘Ulu, and ginger (kava root, taro, ti leaves, sugar cane, banana, bamboo, coconut, trumeric, sweet potato, yam, breadfruit, and ginger). The native Hawaiians practiced both wet and dry farming techniques by having wet and dry kalo patches for a variety of taste and flavor. Agriculture was made a part of everyday life for the people of Hawai’i. Food, whether it was planting it, cooking it, eating it as a family, this was something that brought all ‘ohana together.
Cycles...
Carbon Cycle: Carbon is one of the main components of biological compounds as well as a major component of many minerals. This cycle takes place when Carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, exosphere, geosphere, and atmosphere on this earth.
-Carbon goes to plants
-All living things contain carbon
-Plants release Carbon Dioxide when they decompose
-Animals release CO2 when they decompose or rise.
Oxygen Cycle: Helps the circulation of oxygen within the four main regions which are the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
-This is the most common element in your body
-Your body is made of 65% oxygen
Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrogen is converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates in the atmosphere.
-Nitrogen Fixation...When nitrogen gets "fixed" by bacteria, lighting, and ultra violet radiation or it can get fixated. The bacteria put elemental nitrogen into a form that can be used by living organisms and DONT ALLOW it to leave that form and revert.
-Nitrification... When certain bacteria take forms into which nitrogen was fixated and goes through oxidization.
How to these cycles affect the healthy system?
These three cycles all connect to each other in a way. For example, oxygen and carbon sort of just go together. There is carbon in everything which helps the plants to gain more of the element from it as well. On top of that, these are all elements are all vital components for life on earth. These cycles allow their elements to return to usable form by organisms.
-Carbon goes to plants
-All living things contain carbon
-Plants release Carbon Dioxide when they decompose
-Animals release CO2 when they decompose or rise.
Oxygen Cycle: Helps the circulation of oxygen within the four main regions which are the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
-This is the most common element in your body
-Your body is made of 65% oxygen
Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrogen is converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates in the atmosphere.
-Nitrogen Fixation...When nitrogen gets "fixed" by bacteria, lighting, and ultra violet radiation or it can get fixated. The bacteria put elemental nitrogen into a form that can be used by living organisms and DONT ALLOW it to leave that form and revert.
-Nitrification... When certain bacteria take forms into which nitrogen was fixated and goes through oxidization.
How to these cycles affect the healthy system?
These three cycles all connect to each other in a way. For example, oxygen and carbon sort of just go together. There is carbon in everything which helps the plants to gain more of the element from it as well. On top of that, these are all elements are all vital components for life on earth. These cycles allow their elements to return to usable form by organisms.
Food Journals...
After taking note and recording my meals for a few weeks I was able to come to a few realizations. Over half of my food is processed. Most of my classmates and I share similarities as to having the processed section the biggest and the local and organic sections fairly small. There are countless reasons as to why we tend to consume processed foods more often than others. Processed foods are so much cheaper while their shelf life can last what feels like forever. When you have a lot of kids and have to feed a bunch of people the first thing you think of is what is affordable but still good? Having that mindset doesn't leave you with many options. Another reason why could be because they're convenient. Prepping and cooking an entire meal is hard work.
How might we be more responsible for our own food production?
What steps could we take to be more food secure on our island?
When you "buy local" it doesn't just help support the local companies around the island but it helps us keep our crops within our island. Food security is the availability of food and ones access to it. By keeping the food that we produce from the land on our island we are making it more accessible for the occupants on the island. You don't even need to buy your own seeds and start harvesting on your own. Its as simple as just starting off by buying groceries at your local farmers markets instead of the super market. Although some grocery stores carry local produce from the farms near by, but not all.
Healthy Systems Have Limits, Think 1000 years, we are all responsible...
Over time you will either grow a love or hate for the change in your eating habits. You don't have to go vegan to go to the farmers market. Everyone needs a little spice in their life. Start off small by growing some of those or your favorite fruits or vegetable in your backyard. Who knows... you could like it!
When you "buy local" it doesn't just help support the local companies around the island but it helps us keep our crops within our island. Food security is the availability of food and ones access to it. By keeping the food that we produce from the land on our island we are making it more accessible for the occupants on the island. You don't even need to buy your own seeds and start harvesting on your own. Its as simple as just starting off by buying groceries at your local farmers markets instead of the super market. Although some grocery stores carry local produce from the farms near by, but not all.
Healthy Systems Have Limits, Think 1000 years, we are all responsible...
Over time you will either grow a love or hate for the change in your eating habits. You don't have to go vegan to go to the farmers market. Everyone needs a little spice in their life. Start off small by growing some of those or your favorite fruits or vegetable in your backyard. Who knows... you could like it!
Group System
My group and I were assigned the outdoor aquaponics system with the big blue fish tank. The system flows through the fish tank (with the fish poop) and goes through two containers that we grow the crops in. There is a filter in the tank that flows the water through to the containers. We layer the bottom with a layer of rocks and the water flows through one and down to the other and back into the tank. This system is constantly flowing where it provides nutrients to the plants. If the fish die, our plants essentially will die as well. Brandi and I look out for the fish. We named two of them, Dot and Cindy. The water is getting a bit dirty because we just harvested so all the nasty water went down into the fish tank. We have to clean that soon. To do that we will take all of the fish out and put them into another system that is near by so we can drain the tank and wash the sides.
We already got to harvest the kalo that was in there. Our teacher made us laulau and pa'i'ai to enjoy from it. When we got up to the classroom Brandi and I started to pull the roots while Mikalewa and Auliʻi cut down and washed the leaves. We have to wear gloves or the fibers from the leaves will make your hands super itchy. After my group members pulled everything I took it to the side and washed down all the kalo so we could take it up to the classroom to prep.
Throughout the three systems outside we are growing Kaʻala (Bell Pepper), Kai Choy (Hirayama), Puakea (Cauliflower), Edible Podded Pea, and kalo. Throughout the entire garden there are many more different plants being grown as well.
We already got to harvest the kalo that was in there. Our teacher made us laulau and pa'i'ai to enjoy from it. When we got up to the classroom Brandi and I started to pull the roots while Mikalewa and Auliʻi cut down and washed the leaves. We have to wear gloves or the fibers from the leaves will make your hands super itchy. After my group members pulled everything I took it to the side and washed down all the kalo so we could take it up to the classroom to prep.
Throughout the three systems outside we are growing Kaʻala (Bell Pepper), Kai Choy (Hirayama), Puakea (Cauliflower), Edible Podded Pea, and kalo. Throughout the entire garden there are many more different plants being grown as well.